There are so many things that bother me about yesterday’s fucking horrific murders in Sydney that, quite frankly, I don’t know where to start. But inspired by The Sound of Music (as all my life is ruled by awful Julie Andrews movies either featuring really bad Cockney accents or ones with children running from nazis), let’s start at the very begin-ning.

Chanukah is the ‘festival of light’. In every respect it brings light and it brings joy. Best thing about it from my perspective; there’s no prayin’. Its not a ‘religious’ event, just a festival. Involving light (candles), doughnuts (doughnuts) and presents. Not sure about the relevance of presents but possibly because it falls around Christmas so whilst everyone else gets presents, that becomes a worthwhile bandwagon to jump on. And because its a non-serious, non-synagogue, non-prayin’ deal, everyone loves it.

There’s an organisation called ‘Chabad’. That’s ‘ch-‘ from the back of your throat. As in ‘challah’ bread. As in… Chanukah. They’re a really religious lot. And they are a massive, worldwide brand. They provide everything any (normally religious) Jew could want, anywhere in the world. If you’re in Burma and you need a kosher meal, there WILL be a Chabad house somewhere near. There always is. And they’ll feed you. Or let you pray. Or anything else you need. (We needed to send a replacement credit card out to the younger daughter who was travelling round south America and we didn’t have an address, obviously, but sent it to a Chabad house that she’d be near in however many days time). They are into ‘mitzvahs’. That’s, basically, good deeds. Because the Messiah won’t return until we (all of us, the entire world’s population) get our shit together and act ‘proper’!!! So they do loads of good deeds, many of which are religious in nature. So if they get some fallen atheist like me and get him to say a prayer after his dinner, that’s a ‘ker-ching’ moment for them. Another mitzvah; the Messiah’s getting nearer. Basically; they’re good people. Who set up, in every city on every continent, great big menorahs (candleholders for the 8 days) on beaches, in parks, Trafalgar Square, Bondi Beach, everywhere, to share the light with Jews, non-Jews, Zoroastrians, anyone. Every person brings them a little closer to the Messiah (don’t ‘old yer breath), and me nearer to another doughnut.

And it was into this place of goodness and light, of families and happiness, of Godly deeds and good will, that two deranged fuckwits decided to open fire with rifles. Men, women, children, anyone they could murder. Indiscriminately. Were the 16 victims Jewish? Probably, but they didn’t ask. Were they Zionists? Supporters of Netanyahu? IDF veterans? Or just a bunch of Aussies enjoying a great atmosphere by an iconic beach?

I’m devastated both for those killed and injured, but also for what this says about the state of the world at this moment. And can’t help wondering when they declared ‘open season’ on Jews.

(Not very) Happy monday

A xxxx