In the last 10 days or so, we have witnessed an upsurge in violent attacks on Jewish institutions, as well as individuals, in the West.
In early March, three synagogues in Toronto, Canada were hit by gunfire within five days. On 9 March in Liege, Belgium, a blast damaged windows and nearby structures at a synagogue. On 12 March, a man rammed a pickup truck packed with explosives into a Jewish community centre, including a preschool of 140 children in Michigan and opened fire. Through the quick and heroic actions of security guards and authorities, no one but the terrorist was killed and a catastrophic atrocity was averted.
Over the weekend in the Netherlands, there was both an arson attack on a Rotterdam synagogue and an explosive device detonated outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam.
All these events are connected by a desire to end Jewish civilisation and life in the West.
The New Zealand Jewish Council expresses its solidarity with all the affected communities and profound dismay at these attacks, often accompanied by justifications, moral inversion and “context” that no other community would expect or tolerate when (if ever) attacked.
“The Jewish community in New Zealand remains vigilant while committed to living openly and peacefully and contributing to the broader society of Aotearoa,” Ben Kepes said. “We are grateful to the Government, law enforcement and security agencies who work with community organisations to ensure that places of worship, education and gathering remain safe.”
The Council noted that public discussion about international events should remain grounded in facts and respectful of the safety and dignity of communities both overseas and in New Zealand.