It is time to get serious about safety

If I was going to a public Chanukah event in 2025 in the diaspora, and there wasn't security presence there, at this point, I wouldn't go.

This is a picture that the NYPD posted in response the the m*ssacre of Jews in Sydney yesterday. They said "While there is currently no specific or credible thr*at to Hanukkah celebrations here, the NYPD will be out in full force at events and synagogues so that our communities can gather safely."

I have no idea how long this protection will be offered given the new government coming in in January, whose incoming mayor has declines to condem "Globalising the Intif*da." And of course, that is just New York.

Yesterday showed us, realistically, our level of vulnerability. I think there will be some who will say that I'm overreacting. That I'm fe*armongering. I pray that I'm never proven right.

But, I think we need to be realitic about a global thre*t against Jews.

In some locations around the world, it will be possible to have police protection. I don't know how useful they will be in all circumstances, it depends, who, where, against what, and how many.

In other places, as a community we are going to need to invest in security. Whether we train ourselves, or hire teams to protect our events, schools, and shuls, it needs to be done.

I know the expense is going to be enormous. Its been many years of discussing security concerns in many places and most balk at the costs.

I really don't see how realisitically, it is responsible beyond this point not to take it seriously.

They claim that it has to do with Israel. It's not.

It's because we are Jews.

It doesn't really matter what we are doing either.

I think we are in unprecedented times.

We have never been so spread out, to the four corners of the world, and simeltanouesly facing essentially the same threat.

We've never been so updated, minute by minute, on the details of events happening around the world.

It's real.

Our global Jewish community is so much smaller than people realize.

Most people I know, knew someone, ot knew someone who knew someone who was k*lled or injured yesterday.

I had several friends updating me on the status of people they knew.

It all feels like its breathing down our neck.

There is a major pychological compnent to antisem*tism.

That being said, Chanukah is all about the moment we fought back.

Where we said, this ends now.

It's enough.

It's enough h*tred. Enough d*ath. Enough f*ar.

We cannot deny who we are. We need to live as proud Jews.

But those statements are incomplete without saying that it is also time we live realisitcally and not stick our heads in the sand.

We can be Macabees again. Israel certainly has had to figure that our the hard way.

Diaspora: it is time to get serious about safety.

If you are a leader, if you are a community member: use your voice.

Use your resources.

I'll repeat myself, if there wasn't security at a Jewish event in 2025 in the diaspora, I wouldn't go.