The Native Iowan

It happens so frequently that we become accustomed to it…

I once lived in a land where a Civil War was being fought. Folks there, then became accustomed to the sound of gunfire. In a true Graham Greene tradition, I recall sitting in the tropical night, lights low, drinking heavily as gunshots went off. Every hour, on the hour sentries along a several mile-long ridge-line would fire off a shot. First shot would come from the West side, and several following shots would be heard down the line. We’d time the intervals and laugh when a shot was late, a sentry was sleeping.

We got used to it. Accustomed to it.

And that was sad, understandable, but sad. Our lives there and then were not normal. We had been put in an abnormal situation that we “made the best of”. We accepted the civil conflict because we could not do anything else, other than leave. We adapted and made accomodations.

As 2025 closes we prepare to celebrate a New Year, as we mourn another, ANOTHER, senseless act of Antisemitism here in Australia.

I say “another” because there have been many, many over recent months, years.

And they have been allowed to happen. No outcries from leaders as Synagogs got torched. No condemnation as chants for Gassing The Jews, River to the Sea or Global Intifada were being shouted from the Opera House steps. No condemnation of Imams that preached violence. Nothing said when violent acts were openly celebrated.

Here are some of the identified victims:
Matilda: A 10-year-old girl
Peter Meagher (Marzo): A retired police sergeant and rugby figure
Dan Elkayam: A talented French national and football player for Rockdale Ilinden FC
Rabbi Eli Schlanger: A Chabad rabbi and father of five
Rabbi Yaakov Levitan: A coordinator for Chabad activities and secretary of the Sydney Beth Din
Alexander Kleytman: A Holocaust survivor who tried to save his wife
Reuven Morrison: A businessman and Chabad community member
Tibor Weitzen: An 78-year-old member of the Bondi Chabad Synagogue
Marika Pogany: An 82-year-old volunteer

The world is on fire. We have become complacent, gotten use to reports of senseless violence.

Sad, very sad indeed.