Bondi Beach Massacre

Eradicating the twin sins of antisemitism and anti-Judaism

Philadelphia, PA, Tuesday 12.16.25 … It is now two days since the horrific massacre on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. On this second day of Hanukkah, let us reflect on the poison of the twin evils of anti-Judaism, which is prejudice against the religion, and antisemitism - the prejudice against Jews as a race. These targeted slayings are my departure point for this reflection.

Is it a difficult time to be Jewish?

Yesterday during our nightly phone call, my beloved former husband, Bob Ingram, asked if it was a very difficult time to be Jewish. Despite divorcing in the late 80s, Bob and I have remained best of friends. We co-owned and published, the South Street Star, a biweekly community newspaper located in the South Street neighborhood of downtown Philadelphia. Now we speak almost nightly, not only reminiscing, but also putting our still sharp wits to issues of the day. Bob is a secular Christian and I am a secular Jew. As we age, we both are becoming more open and spiritual.

Yes, Bob, it is a difficult time to be Jewish.

After our call, I mused more deeply, honestly hoping that regardless of religious (or non) affiliation, creed, race, gender or nationality, others are finding it a very difficult time to be human, to be people of good faith who continue to watch the renewed slaughter of the Jewish people without standing up for change. Loudly. Vocally.

Roots of the twin hatreds of anti-Judaism and antisemitism

Having no religious training, I have nevertheless been a student of the twin hatreds of anti-Judaism and antisemitism, learning that they are historically the longest systematic hatred on the planet directed at one group. (Of course women and others have been historically marginalized, but not targeted with such precise focus.)

The Jewish religion and Jewish people have been vilified for millennia. Early signs have been scientifically documented from ancient Egypt around the 3rd century BCE (Before the Common Era) by archaeological data. Of course, the legendary Biblical story of Moses and Pharaoh that is germane to the three major monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - is another more widely known example.

Once Rome ascended over Egypt, anti-Judaism intensified, stemming from refusal of Jewish citizens to worship Roman gods and emperors. As was the case in ancient Egypt, the Ten Commandments forbade worshiping false idols.

With the rise of Christianity, anti-Judaism morphed to a more widespread, vehement anti-Jewish sentiment, now indicting the entire race. This period was marked with mass exterminations, severe laws against Jews, and forced conversions. It escalated as Jews became scapegoated for any catastrophe such as a person dying, a business failing, a solar eclipse, or the black plague. Ultimately, antisemitism changed from an anti-religious sentiment to one against an entire group of people.

As this hatred and fear of “the other” took hold, centuries of brutal discrimination, pogroms, ghettoization culminated with the ultimate - Hitler’s final solution - the Holocaust.

Modernity seemed to provide refuge

For one moment, post-Holocaust modernity seemed to provide refuge from the relentless pursuit against being Jewish or practicing Judaism. The religion itself evolved into distinct groups even within the orthodoxy, and then into Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist denominations. Many modern Jews chose assimilation or secularism while holding on to a proud cultural, or racial, identity.

Rabid racism raises its banners

More recently, whipped by multiple fundamentalist or right wing movements such as White Supremacism and Nationalism, Islamic Jihadism, and a myriad of other political, economic, religious and racial factions, antisemitism is once again rising brutally and quickly. It is especially fueled by the Israeli right wing destruction of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip after the October 7th attack when Hamas murdered more than 1,200 innocent men, women, and children — including 46 Americans — in the most brutal terrorist attack in Israel’s history. Alongside these killings, Hamas took 254 hostages, among them 12 Americans. Yet, Israel’s political right’s scorched earth policy is morally compromised and brutal.

Yes, it is a difficult time to be Jewish.

Another massacre, another day?

As Australians collectively weep we watch as citizens of yet another country bury their innocent men, women and children. They were an intergenerational group of Jewish beach goers were enjoying the first night of Hanukkah on the storied sands of Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, when maniacal father and son haters with automatic weapons mercilessly massacred them - sadly yet another such attack in a landscape of accelerating antisemitism. We cannot think that this will stop without everyone’s activism.

This Holy time of year for people of many faiths requires us to ask:

Can humanity stop the hate? Can people of good faith collectively call upon their better angels to allow the Jews and other marginalized peoples to live in peace? It is a question worth asking.