I grew up at a time when antisemitism was retreating – at least in public expression. Democracy and liberalism appeared to be dominant and spreading. Political scientist Francis Fukuyama spoke confidently about the “end of history”.

Since October 7, I have keenly realised that history has apparently reverted back to the most primeval of times. I sadly appreciate the fear felt by my mother, who as a young girl, had acid thrown at her by antisemitic teenagers in Lithuania. I understand, in a new way, my father’s sonorous silence at the incomprehensible loss of his mother, brothers, and sister and so many family members in the Holocaust.

I certainly never expected to feel this way in Australia. I had, after all, left racist, apartheid South Africa to live in a society that championed justice, equality and safety for all. Yet this all changed while watching a mob outside the Sydney Opera House on October 9 burning flags and shouting obscenities against Jews.

It can’t get much worse than this, I thought, for Australia’s Jews. But then we witnessed the violent pro-Palestinian provocateurs in my own Melbourne suburb as we welcomed in the Shabbat. Surely, this was the worst it could get – but then the protesters outside the Melbourne City Council meeting last month shredded my heart yet again.

Many Jews already felt insecure when wearing a kippah or Star of David in public and have avoided doing so. Like so many, I have been befuddled at how anti-Israelism has swiftly segued into anti-Judaism, and the targeting of individual Jews. I feel deep sorrow that Melbourne’s proud Jewish community is being intimidated by mobs, graffiti, and anti-Jewish words.

Jews stand accused of using money and power to manipulate and exploit Melbourne City Council and politicians, of spreading their “tentacles” into the arts and music world. Suddenly, Jewish philanthropy towards hospitals, theatres and galleries is presented not as charity, but cynical manipulation.

Polarisation and extremism, the toxic twins of our age, are now treated as celebrities.

Jewish Australians who attended the Melbourne City Council meeting – in which the council voted against a proposed motion calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war after almost two hours of public submissions followed by another two hours of council debate – didn’t come to belittle and insult their detractors, or shout anti-Islamic tropes. Yet they still needed police protection just to exit the building as epithets about “rich Jews” were aimed at them.