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Of all the terrible incidents of grotesque antisemitism we have seen around the world since the barbaric massacre in Israel by Hamas on October 7 2023, it is the terror attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne which is the most personally confronting for me. I spent almost seven wonderful years of my life living in Australia, and despite being born in Canada, Australia is my second home after Israel. I moved to Australia in 2007 after serving in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) during the Second Intifada. I worked as a veterinary nurse in Bondi and made my home in Sydney - truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Like so many immigrants to your country, I found Australia overwhelmingly welcoming, open, tolerant and free. Australia is one of the most successful multicultural nations anywhere in the world, but since October 7, all this has changed. Jew-hate has exploded in Australia; what has happened to the loving, welcoming Australia that made me so happy all those years ago? The largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust has unleashed a torrent of antisemitism in Australia that I never knew existed, and that state and federal governments have clearly failed to adequately deal with. On October 8 2023, Sheikh Ibrahim Daoud addressed a protest organised by Hizb ut-Tahrir, delighting in the murder of Jews. He said: “I’m elated. It’s a day of courage, it’s a day of resistance, it’s a day of pride, it’s a day of victory.” On October 9 2023, outside the Sydney Opera House, a pro-Hamas mob shouted “F*** the Jews!” and “Where’s the Jews?” Have any of these people been prosecuted for this hate speech and intimidation towards Jews, no. Jewish students don’t feel safe on university campuses around Australia anymore, and a Jewish academic had his office invaded. “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” isn’t just a chant, it’s calling for the destruction of the State of Israel and the slaughter of Jews. Why can’t university officials understand this and stop the hate directed towards Jewish students? Near where I used to live in Sydney, cars and other property were recently set alight and then defaced with the most horrific antisemitic messages. There was a confrontation between Jews and pro-Palestinian protesters outside the synagogue in Caulfield of my friend Rabbi Daniel Rabin. Anti-Israel protesters descended on a synagogue in Melbourne in November last year after Jews were falsely accused of arson. There have been several other shocking incidents where Jewish Australians have been pelted with rocks, shoes and eggs. Some have been spat at, one had a can of drink thrown at him, and many have been abused in the street. Earlier this year “a 77-year-old Jewish woman was spat on, threatened and kicked multiple times, by protesters opposing a rally to counter antisemitism, outside the Victorian Parliament House”. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has done some important work tracking the increase in Jew hate incidents in Australia since October 7. ECAJ Research Director Julie Nathan found that from October 1 2023 to September 30 2024, there were 2,062 anti-Jewish incidents. "In the previous 12-month period, ending 30 September 2023, these same bodies logged 495 incidents. Accordingly, there was an increase of 316 per cent in the overall number of reported anti- Jewish incidents compared to the previous year," a report stated. This is completely unacceptable. The Australian government must do more to combat extreme Jew hate but as Julie Nathan said in her report, “the response from political and community leaders, university executives and civil society has been tepid at best”. As Federal Court Judge Justice Michael Lee recently said in a powerful speech, since October 7 there is a “stark and discomforting realisation that despite living our whole lives in this country, and thinking we knew it so well, we do not now recognise an aspect of it”. He also observed that “the growth and mainstreaming of antisemitism we have all seen emerge over the last 13 months must be tackled, but understanding how it is to be tackled requires some understanding of how we got to where we are”. More leadership is required from the Australian government. They have pandered to the anti-Jew mob since October 7 by banning a former Israeli Minister from entering Australia. Ayelet Shaked has similar views to me, will I be banned from Australia too? The Australian government is now voting against Israel at the UN. Does it surprise anyone that as Justice Lee said, antisemitism is being ‘mainstreamed’ in Australia when the government says that there should be a Palestinian state without requiring them to recognise our right to exist first, and to release the 101 hostages still held captive by Hamas monster? At the time of writing, the perpetrators of the terrorist attack on Adass Israel Synagogue are still at large. I hope those responsible are caught, prosecuted and severely punished. Australia was one of the first nations to vote to support the State of Israel at the UN, we hope we can rely on Australia’s support again soon. Australia is one of the world’s great democracies and multicultural nations. I just hope the Australian government can find its voice in stamping out the scourge of antisemitism domestically, and to support democracies wherever they are imperilled, like Israel. Israel is fighting for its survival against the murderous proxies of Iran who embody the very antithesis of Australian values - it’s high time the Australian government recognised this fact and acted accordingly. Sharren Haskel is the Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.Dylan Harper: Even Before College He Was UNSTOPPABLE! Dylan Harper is the real deal! Harper is the son of former NBA player Ron Harper ’s and brother of former Rutgers alum Ron Harper Jr.. Dylan Harper was a star at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. Harper certainly proved his talent throughout his high school career by accumulating the Mcdonald’s All- American MVP award, the Jordan Brand Classic MVP award, and was named the Morgan Wooton Mcdonald’s National High School Player of the year. He also led the Ironmen to a state championship in his final year in high school. Harper has shown time and time again how unique of a talent he is and needs to be getting the recognition he deserves. Life in the Big Ten Dylan Harper has been the most dominant point guard in college basketball this year and he’s only a Freshman. His averages to start the year are 23.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists a game. Harper reminds me of Jalen Brunson with how shifty they are and finding ways to score but the difference is, Harper is 6’6 compared to 6’2 Brunson. Harper has shown off his offensive dominance this season scoring 20 points or more in 9 of the Scarlet Knights 12 games. One thing to note, Harper doesn’t play down to his competition. Against #5 ranked Alabama, he scored 37 points while adding 2 steals and going 15/16 from the line. Harper also dominated against the Fighting Irish with 36 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, just an all around masterpiece of a performance. Another thing to keep an eye on is that we have also witnessed the clutch gene of Harper in multiple games already this season. Against a tough Big East opponent in Seton Hall he hit a three at the buzzer to give the Scarlet Knights the 66-63 victory over the Pirates. Harper also got to the line and hit a game winning free throw to give Rutgers an 85-84 win over Notre Dame. He is top 5 in points per game and the way he affects the game is like none other and we are watching a star in the making. Dylan Harper’s THREATS: The Top Prospects CHASING the #1 Pick In most mock drafts we see either Cooper Flagg or Ace Bailey in the main conversation’s for that #1 draft pick. Flagg and Bailey are both shot creating forwards who can play elite defense. Cooper Flagg has been leading the Duke Blue Devils in points, rebounds, and assists per game. He has been the heavy favorite to be that #1 pick but I believe Harper has proven just as much at the collegiate level. Ace Bailey is teammates with Dylan Harper at rutgers and has shown out very well in his freshman year. Averaging 17.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and a steal a game which has kept scouts eye on him early. Bailey will be a legit player but Harper is already an NBA level talent and I believe Bailey might need a little more development time. Dylan Harper has some fierce competition but I truly believe he has what it takes to be a superstar in the NBA and become a great in no time. Right now, the top 3 picks look to be occupied by the Wizards, Pelicans, and Raptors which all of these teams are in dire need of a lead guard to run the show which Harper can do right away. Whatever team Dylan Harper ends up getting drafted by is getting the steal of a lifetime and a future face for their franchise. This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.PlayStation’s 2024 Spotify-esque Wrap-Up is here
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