A Tale of Two Gatherings
Thousands of Jews gathered in Sydney last night. And no-one chanted "gas the Palestinians".
Thousands of Sydney Jews gathered for a special vigil in Dover Height’s last night. And you know what was weird?
Of the 9000 Jews in attendance, none chanted “gas the Palestinians”.
Sydney’s Jews did not fire flares toward police.
Nor did they set fire to Palestinian flags.
No-one yelled “F*k the Muslims”, and not a single Rabi screamed into a microphone about being “elated” at Palestinian deaths.
There was no gloating over Muslim casualties in the war Hamas began on Saturday.
The Dover Heights gathering was a very different event to the pro-Hamas march that brought international shame to Sydney on Monday night.
Police were not required at last night’s Jewish gathering to ensure non-Jews were unharmed.
To be sure, the police presence was huge. But police were on hand to protect Jews from Muslim extremists rather than the other way around.
Palestinians were not warned to stay at home.
Last night 5000 Jews came together to grieve their dead, to comfort one another and to pray. They were joined by politicians from every political party, except of course the Greens.
Jews, badly let down by the NSW Government’s failure to control Monday night’s “gas the Jews” rally at the Opera House, graciously stood with Premier Chris Minns, accepting his apology and his reassurances that there would be no repeat.
The contrast between Monday night and last night was stark.
And it provided just a glimmer of hope. Hope that, maybe, Monday night’s debacle was not the true Australia. Hope that we are indeed better than that.
And if Sydney’s Jewish gathering was any indication, we most certainly are.
Their history goes back to Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob.
And you shall name him Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction. But he will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand will be against him; and he will live in defiance of all his brothers.” (Genesis 16: 23)
“Two nations are in your womb; and two peoples will be separated from your body; and one people will be stronger than the other; and the older will serve the younger.” When her days leading to the delivery were at an end, behold, there were twins in her womb. Now the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so he was named Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. (Genesis 25: 23-26)
“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was Esau not Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and given his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.” Though Esau says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins”; this is what the Lord of armies says: “They may build, but I will tear down; and people will call them the territory of wickedness, and the people with whom the Lord is indignant forever.” And your eyes will see this, and you will say, “The Lord be exalted beyond the border of Israel!” (Malachi 1: 2-5)
Esau married one of Ishmael's daughters, his cousin and that is where the Arabs came from.
These two gatherings - Sydney Opera House - Dover Heights are a demonstration of the psyche passed down by Hagar to her descendants and the psyche of Isaac passed down to his descendants.