A Moment of Clarity, A Moment of Pain

It's horrible what happened in Australia. We all agree...even the Prime Minister of Australia agrees. It was an attack against Jews...but you see, it wasn't only an attack against a Jewish community as PM Albanese wants you to believe. It was an attack against Israel. Jews are the People of Israel. It doesn't matter where you live. If you are Jewish, you are part of the people of Israel. And as we've seen today, that makes you a target. That's what happened today in Australia.

One of the 11 people murdered (current total), was an Israeli...one. One was British. And most were, presumably, Australian. It was an attack against Jews that occurred on a Jewish holiday, but the painful truth is that it did not matter to those "gunman". Gunman who should be called terrorists but won't be because that might offend somebody...the same somebody who attacked the US on 9/11, and Madrid on March 11, and London on July 7, and Israel on October 7, and now Sydney.

What the gunmen wanted was two-fold. To hurt Jews, and to hurt Israel. They did not target Australia, a land that has made it clear about their anti-Israel feelings. Did they really believe that wouldn't backlash against Jews in Australia.

The Guardian, the "alleged gunman" 
and the gun....OMG.

One person who was caught in the crossfire with his wife and young children said, "It was clear something like this would happen. I never imagined I’d be there with my wife and children." He also referred to the "insane antisemitism" in Australia.

The painful truth we have to accept is that these terrorists were looking for a soft spot to attack Jews because they, correctly, see Jews as part of the people of Israel. 

Look at the Guardian. Do you see the words "Jews" or "Israel" there? That is the evil that is the media. 

But we cannot allow this. We. We Jews. We Israelis. We, the people of Israel. We were the target. The Guardian's headlines
robs us of our identity every bit as much as those terrorists tried (and succeeded) in robbing us of life.

For once, CNN actually came closer to the truth. They admit it was an "attack on Australia's Jewish community", they identify the holiday, and even announce that it has been declared "a terrorist incident". Where they fail is on the action. Those people were not killed, they were murdered.

But at least, at least we have our identity...Israel is not mentioned here, but that's okay. Just as we all know the identity of the attackers, we know the victims. We are the victims. 

Every Israeli who lit Channuka candles tonight did it with sadness in their hearts, pain in their thoughts.

Perhaps the most important words that need to be said to Australia today were written by Rabbi Eli Schlanger (z"l), the Chabad Rabbi who was murdered hours ago in Sydney, Australia. 

Writing to the Australian Prime Minister, Rabbi Schlanger wrote, "As a Rabbi in Sydney, I implore you not to betray the Jewish people and not to betray G-d Himself.

"This land was given by G-d to Abraham, then to his son Isaac, and then to Jacob, to be the eternal homeland of the Jewish people.

"Throughout history, Jews have been torn from their land again and again by leaders who are now remembered with scorn in the pages of history.

"Today, you have the opportunity to stand on the side of truth and righteousness. By rescinding this act of betrayal, you will not only honor the Jewish people and our heritage but also align yourself with the word of G-d."

The land that Rabbi Schlanger (z"l) wrote of was Israel. The betrayal of Israel and the Jewish people sanctioned today's actions. In Judaism, we believe forgiveness can only be granted to those who atone for their sins. Just as it is not the right of Jews living today to forgive the Nazis of decades ago, it is not our right to forgive the Australian Prime Minister of his sins against Rabbi Schlanger. The only one who could do that is Rabbi Schlanger, and he will soon be buried.

And though this may sound shocking, there is another issue that must be made clear. The two terrorists who opened fire today in Sydney were aided by the police and the government of Australia because it was an attack that never should have happened. And when it did, it should not have taken TEN MINUTES to stop it. 

The police failed and so did the government. By rewarding the Palestinians for starting a war that brought destruction to Israel AND to their own people, they set the stage, invited the attackers, and failed their people and ours.

This tragedy could have been avoided, or in a worst-case scenario, foiled within minutes by armed guards who should have been in place and ready. Instead, the government failed to take the necessary precautions and 11 innocent victims and their families have paid an awful price.

And the moment of clarity? It won't matter. Rabbi Schlanger and the others died in vain. They have joined a seemingly endless line of Jews murdered for what they believe and Who they worship. Not for what they did but for what they are. Jews.

Oh, sure. Albanese will shed tears for the Jews of Sydney today, lower the flags and try to say the right words.

As Rabbi Schlanger prophetically sentenced Albanese. The verdict will come in God's time because Albanese chose the path of betrayal. He betrayed the Jewish people and he betrayed G-d Himself.

We will bury our dead in the coming days, as we always have...and hopefully we will stop trying to correct BBC and the Guardian and Albanese and his government.

The truth is obvious to Israel...and that is all that matters. This attack was directed at Israel, but there is a message for the Jews of Australia too. It's time to pack a suitcase. Time to get ready.

We can't save you unless you save yourself.