Message from the South African Zionist Federation

A Jewish community gathering in Sydney to celebrate Chanukah was violently targeted in a vicious terrorist attack. Families, children, and community members came together to mark a festival of light and were met with hatred and violence simply for being Jewish. The lives lost will not fade into statistics; their deaths will remain a painful and enduring memory for the Jewish people and for all who believe in the sanctity of life. 

The attack in Sydney did not occur in isolation. It unfolded within a global climate where antisemitism is increasingly normalised, where Zionism is relentlessly demonised, and where calls to “globalise the intifada” are shouted openly, defended by activists, and excused by political leaders. That language carries real meaning. It gives permission for violence against Jews wherever they gather, pray, or celebrate their identity. 

When incitement is allowed to flourish, extremists feel emboldened. When antisemitism is reframed as political critique, Jewish communities become legitimate targets in the eyes of those already inclined to violence. The result is tragically clear: Jewish festivals turn into scenes of terror, and Jewish lives are placed in danger. 

Our hearts are heavy, and our outrage is unwavering. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Sydney and across Australia as they mourn, grieve, and begin the long road forward. The memory of those killed will accompany this Chanukah and many to come. 

Governments and leaders cannot distance themselves from the consequences of the climate they have fostered. Rhetoric matters. Silence matters. The failure to confront antisemitism – including when it disguises itself as anti-Zionism – creates an environment in which violence becomes foreseeable rather than unthinkable. 

The Jewish people will remember the victims. We will mourn them. And we will continue to demand accountability, protection, and moral clarity so that Jewish life, faith, and celebration are never again met with terror. 

• Craig Pantanowitz is the national chairperson of the South African Zionist Federation.