EDITORIAL: The reality of everyday anti-Semitism emerges

Imagine having to check whether it is safe to pick up your click-and-collect shopping.

Being abused. Spat at. Having a taxi driver drop you at a cafe, not your actual destination — a synagogue. Not wearing high heels in case you have to run. For your life.

Such are the everyday lived experiences of Australia’s Jewish community which emerged during the first day of hearings of the Royal Commission into anti-Semitism and social cohesion.

There were many examples of how the Jewish community has been forced to take precautions to go about daily life.

To do what other Australians can do without a care in the world.

The Jewish community had been warning about the anti-Semitism which had seeped into life in Australia even before two gunmen killed 15 people during last year’s Chanukah by the Sea celebrations at Bondi Beach.

But the first day of hearings on Monday brought home in harrowing detail how the wave of hate has forced the Jewish community to live a life unrecognisable to others.

Stefanie Schwartz, president of Mt Sinai College in Sydney, spoke about the security precautions Jewish schools must take such as risk assessments for “walks across the road to the park” and terror attack evacuation drills.

Sheina Gutnick, daughter of Bondi massacre victim Reuven Morrison revealed how she weighed the risks of exposing her children to environments where they could be targeted for being Jewish.

“I weigh up where I can pick up click-and-collect items and the suburb it’s in due to real-life attacks that have occurred in certain places in Australia,” Ms Gutnick said.

Witness AAK said they lost a close friend because of a disagreement over pro-Palestinian protests.

AAK said they told the friend someone would die one day if the protests were left unchecked.

“It took three years but sadly . . . my words did become devastatingly true,” they said. “After that my friend texted to tell me she loved me.

“I told her dead Jewish people don’t need love, alive Jewish people need people to listen to them when they feel like history is repeating itself,” AAK said.

The commission heard witness after witness detail the hate they faced. And the fear it created.

The truth has always been out there for those who would listen. Not enough did before blood flowed at Bondi.

Let’s stop for a moment. Consider the poison that must have festered in a human heart for a person to arm themselves and go to a park to murder others just for who they were.

Think about how it feels to be part of the targeted community knowing that sentiment was out there.

And consider that while the daily intimidation and harassment of the Jewish community was magnified by the demonstrations on our streets after the murderous Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, let’s not fool ourselves.

It was going on before October 7 — to our great shame.

Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by Editor-in-Chief Christopher Dore.