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We are heartbroken and outraged by the terror attack in Australia that targeted the Jewish community.
To our Jewish siblings: you should not have to carry fear simply for being visibly Jewish. Antisemitism, like Islamophobia and all forms of hate, must be named clearly and confronted consistently, no matter where it appears or who it targets.
Moments like this test whether our commitments to pluralism, human dignity, and shared safety are real or merely rhetorical.
Solidarity is not a feeling; it is something we practice.
Three Things People Can Do Right Now
1. Reach out, personally and locally.
Don’t wait for the “right words.” A simple message to a Jewish friend, colleague, synagogue, or community organization such as “I’m thinking of you and I stand with you” matters more than silence. Presence and care are powerful.
2. Speak up clearly against antisemitism, without caveats.
Condemn the violence plainly. Avoid deflections, justifications, or “whataboutisms.” We can hold multiple truths at once, but violence against civilians and attacks on religious communities must always be unequivocally rejected.
3. Help create safer, more humane communities.
Support Jewish institutions when they ask for help. Learn to recognize antisemitic tropes when they appear: in conversations, online spaces, or organizing spaces you belong to. And commit to the long work of bridge building so communities are not isolated when harm occurs.
A Final Word
Solidarity means showing up when it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient, or politically complicated.
It means refusing a zero-sum mindset and choosing our shared humanity instead.
To Jewish communities in Australia and around the world: you are not alone.
Maha Elgenaidi and Zachary Markwith, PhD
ING Directors