A feel-good story in tough times

Large Pro-Palestine protests. Hostile media. Jews accused of arson. A synagogue evacuated during Friday services. Antisemitic undertones at places of work. A sense of disorientation and mistrust of neighbours that were previously considered friends.

 

Significant numbers of members in this community are descended from Holocaust survivors, and they carry its trauma in their DNA. Some lifelong Jewish residents of Melbourne have confided in me their thoughts of arranging a home base in Israel.

 

In the meantime, it’s a game of ‘wait and see’.

 

The nervous energy, so prevalent in the community here, has been dissipated somewhat by a wonderful enterprise. Items needed in Israel are being donated and shipped over. Volunteers of all ages from the Jewish community help in sourcing, sorting, and packing items for soldiers and for evacuees from border towns. Notes of encouragement are included with the packages. The feelings of solidarity and usefulness amongst the volunteers are phenomenal.

 

Among other activities, this is an initiative of Team Oz and United with Israel -Australia-NZ.

 

Many thanks to team member Maaian Galant for showing me around.