Dave Portnoy Comments on Sydney Hanukkah Shooting

Dave Portnoy expressed his thoughts on the recent shooting during a Hanukkah festival in Sydney, Australia. Authorities are treating it as a targeted terrorist act directed at the Jewish community. He referred to the incident as a “last-minute situation of inevitability,” linking it to a rise in anti-Semitism.

“I wish I could say I’m shocked, but with the current state of the world, it feels almost unavoidable,” Portnoy stated during Sunday Briefing. He described the situation as tragic and sad, lamenting that the lack of surprise in such an event is perhaps the saddest aspect of it all.

During the event known as “Hanukkah by the Sea,” at least two gunmen opened fire on people celebrating the first night of Hanukkah, resulting in 11 deaths and 29 injuries, according to officials.

Portnoy criticized the normalization of openly anti-Semitic language. “There are bloggers and individuals spouting radical anti-Semitic views who are accepted in mainstream discussions,” he noted. “So, was I surprised? No, it was bound to happen.” He also criticized political leaders, specifically targeting incoming New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, for not denouncing inflammatory rhetoric related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

He pointed out the dangers of a political climate that allows such sentiments to flourish, saying, “Now we have a mayor in New York City who refuses to engage with these issues. This only exacerbates the situation.”

Portnoy further remarked on the ongoing harassment against Jews, referencing the rising tide of anti-Semitism exacerbated by the Middle East conflict, alongside a sense of Israel losing public support. He shared that he receives numerous disturbing messages daily filled with hate, which he described as a troubling new trend, saying, “Messages like ‘Jews, kill yourself’ are unfortunately becoming commonplace.”

He articulated a growing concern about the pressure many Jews feel to remain silent to avoid becoming targets. “Honestly, I think many prefer to keep quiet and avoid scrutiny,” he said.

While he admitted he doesn’t have a foolproof solution to combat anti-Semitism, he urged “normal, rational-thinking individuals” to speak out. “I believe it’s essential for those people to stand up and say ‘enough is enough,’” he asserted. “We must marginalize and challenge this hateful rhetoric actively.”