I cannot fathom why the zeitgeist is incapable of criticising Israel without also questioning its fundamental right to exist, and not condemn the actions of terrorist organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah. What are we missing?

Despite the tragedy, I still hold onto hope. I believe the majority of Australians, including those within the Muslim community, reject extremism and desire peace. I believe that good people recognise the brutal role Hamas has played in the suffering of Palestinians, as well as the immense pain Israelis have endured.

Tragedy and destruction tend to blur our vision. At this very moment, Israeli men, women and children are being held hostage in Gaza. Rockets are raining down in northern Israel, displacing entire communities and spreading wildfire in the region. Innocent Palestinians are suffering immeasurably from the scale of loss and destruction.

Yet, amid this profound tragedy, something remarkable is unfolding. Our community has drawn closer, rekindling the ties that bind us. A renewed sense of Jewish identity has blossomed, alongside a deepened connection to Israel.

The inward reflection of the past year, though, must not give rise to a bunker mentality, and isolate us further from Australian society. The sense of betrayal we have experienced must not push us towards retreat, but inspire us to engage more fully with the world around us.

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Exclusion is exactly what those who perpetuate antisemitism hope to achieve. We must resist that isolation with every fibre of our being and continue to contribute to this country, to our shared society, and to stand up, and ensure that our sunburnt country is not scorched by a vocal minority of extremists.

We cannot allow ourselves to be defined by antisemitism or by the hatred directed towards us. Instead, we must reaffirm our commitment to our faith in Australia, and to the shared values that unite us.

The fight against antisemitism is not just a fight for Jews — it is a fight that concerns us all. Silence in the face of hate is complicity; we must stand up, refuse to be silenced, and ensure that the legacy of October 7 is not one of surrender, but instead one of strength, resilience, and hope.

Jeremy Leibler is president of the Zionist Federation of Australia and a partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler.