I would have liked to start this Diary entry with happy Chanukah. But just as the Jewish world prepared to light the first candle commemorating the overthrow of Greek tyranny and the restoration of our Temple, the tragic news from Australia broke. Once again, our tribe finds itself reeling over yet another barbaric terrorist blow to our people.

Some Jews feel that “Never Again” was a promise the world made to them. They feel betrayed. But “Never Again” was a promise we Jews made to ourselves. We need to keep it. Not by songfests, or speeches about solidarity. But by taking the proper security precautions, including buying weapons and learning how to use them. And if where you live now doesn’t allow that, move to a place that does.

When I went shopping for challot this Friday at the local kibbutz bakery, I saw a young family carrying their groceries to the car. The father had a pistol in his back pocket. Terrorists don’t get ten minutes of grace in a place where many people have defensive weapons.

Instead of the usual condolences and heartfelt prayers, and calls for unity, I would like to send my brothers and sisters in Australia the sincere and heartfelt advice of one who has experienced and survived a terrorist attack: protect yourselves preemptively as much as you can! Check security before attending any event outside your home.

At the risk of being lambasted for victim-blaming, what I write comes from the deepest love and concern: what the hell was Chabad thinking in advertising and promoting a mass Jewish event without providing any adequate security?! What world are Australian Jews living in? When will they internalize that “their country” will not protect them? That they are on their own?

If I sound angry, it’s because I am. I am incandescent with fury. We are a very tiny people. We simply cannot afford one, single, solitary additional victim of terror. Every Jewish man, woman or child lost is a world. It is an unborn child, a father or mother, who could bring more Jews into the world; more joy, progress and spiritual depth to our people and the world.

The fact that crazed jihadi fanatics entered a Jewish event with such ease and stood calmly shooting to kill without a single attempt being made to stop them for ten minutes, is inexcusable. That the first interruption came from grocery store owner Ahmad Alahmad, and not a security guard, policeman or attendee, is sickening. Jewish billionaire Bill Ackman is raising a cash prize for Alahmad, which now stands at more than a million dollars. It is well deserved. But the fact remains, it was an outrageous and sickening scenario.

I blame the organizers. I blame the incompetent police. And most of all, I blame the Australian government and the people who elected them for their promotion of murderous Jew-hatred and for welcoming jihadi immigrants with open arms. So much for your touted “gun-control.” Whatever refuge Jews once found in Australia, it is gone; that era is over. Come home.

But all is not black. There are points of light.

For example, Israel continues to widen the streets in the terrorist enclave of Tulkarm, destroying dozens of houses, making it easier to patrol and uncover weapons.

Other good news includes the great strides made by the IDF in dismantling the firepower of Hamas with the targeted elimination of Raed Saad, head of Hamas’ military production system division, along with Alaa Al-Hadidi, another senior members of the system. According to Abu Ali, Hamas is depending on this production facility to rebuild its military arsenal (mostly based on remnants of IDF bombs) after most of its production workshops were destroyed.

Another light we Jews can enjoy is that reflected by the election a Jose Antonio Kast as the head of Chile, replacing the Jewishly-hostile former regime. As our friend Milei in Argentina said: “The left is retreating, freedom is spreading.” That is always good news for Israel and for Jews.

Lighting Chanukah candles with police forces and the family of fallen hostage Ran Gvili, PM Benjamin Netanyahu had this to say:

“We know there will be further attacks. The safest place for Jews is where we can defend ourselves — in Israel.” Vowing to bring Gvili home, he

condemned Australia’s PM for emboldening Hamas with recognition of a Palestinian state. “Like the Maccabees, we are few against many — but we fight for modern civilization against those who want to drag us into darkness.”

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