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.