I woke up at 7 AM to the news: a horrific, targeted mass shooting at a Hanukkah party on a popular Australian beach. 11 dead. Dozens injured. More news to come.

Honestly? I am so tired. And I just woke up.

I am tired of waking up to surging antisemitism. I’m tired of the harassment, the violence, and the targeted hunting of Jews.

What is there left to say beyond the typical condemnation, sympathies, & platitudes? Does anyone actually care about the surging antisemitism that has again stolen more Jewish souls? Will anyone do anything? Say anything?

When people kill Jews for being Jews in your community, what will you do?

In less than 12 hours, my community here in Windsor will hold its annual outdoor Hanukkah candle lighting on our riverfront. This news will shadow above us like dark clouds, ominously imposing their presence regardless of our desires to celebrate.

I hate that there hasn’t been a communal Jewish celebration where I live – THAT I CAN REMEMBER AT 37 – without that lingering fear. Without the literal need for a police presence.

This shouldn’t be what it means to be Jewish – OR ANY RELIGION – in a democratic society.

The bleak irony for me is that I was scheduled to judge films for entry to the Windsor Jewish Film Festival today. Many of those films deal with themes of persecution and violence targeted against Jews. Instead, I get to watch today’s actual antisemitic murders that claimed 11 lives.

11 Jews dead (so far…) simply for being Jewish.

Tragic. Bleak. Reality.

Unfortunately, this is unexpected only to those who haven’t been listening. Jews have been screaming about this nonstop at the top of our lungs since Oct 7 (and quite frankly before that as well, but the choruses have grown louder and louder since).

Our leaders fail us.

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