The Australian government’s disgraceful decision to bar MK Simcha Rothman from entering the country should send shockwaves through every Jewish community in the world. Rothman, an elected representative of the State of Israel, was scheduled to meet Jewish schools and synagogues in Australia, a visit meant to strengthen Jewish pride and connection. Instead, the Albanese government chose to humiliate the Jewish people by shutting its doors on one of our own.
Let us be clear: Rothman is not a fringe figure. He is a leading lawmaker who has dedicated his public service to ensuring Israel remains both Jewish and democratic. His visit was about inspiring Jewish children, energizing communities, and building bridges with the Diaspora. What threat could possibly come from an Israeli MK speaking to Jews in their synagogues and schools?
The truth is, there was no threat. The only factor at play was fear. Fear of offending the anti-Israel activists who are increasingly dictating policy in Western capitals.
In blocking Rothman, Australia has done something shameful. It has legitimized those who want Jewish voices silenced. This is not just an insult to Rothman personally, but to the State of Israel and to every Jew who refuses to be told when, where, and how they are allowed to speak. It is a dangerous precedent that reveals the moral bankruptcy of governments more concerned with appeasing Israel’s enemies than respecting Israel’s representatives.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s response was nothing short of brilliant. He called Australia’s actions what they were: an unprecedented insult to Israel, its democracy, and the Jewish people. Sa’ar spoke for all of us when he reminded the world that silencing elected Israeli leaders is not diplomacy.
This moment should be a wake-up call. Throughout history, attempts to silence Jews have come in many forms. The Greeks banned our faith. The Inquisition censored our books. Nazis burned our people alive. And now, in the 21st century, Western democracies deny Israeli leaders entry under false pretences.
A Jewish voice that does not conform to the majority’s demands is declared dangerous and pushed aside - we must reject this with every fiber of our being.
Diaspora Jews, especially in Australia, should be outraged. When their government says an Israeli MK is not welcome, it is not just rejecting him. It is rejecting them too. For Jews, Israel is not a distant foreign state. It is part of our identity. To block an Israeli leader from entering Jewish spaces abroad is to tell Diaspora Jews that their identity must be policed by the state.
Australia’s leaders should hang their heads in shame. They owe an apology to Rothman, to Israel, and to the Jewish people. But more than that, we must learn a critical lesson. No one will defend Jewish voices but ourselves. The world will always find excuses to silence us. It is our duty to speak louder, stand taller, and refuse to let anyone dictate the terms of our identity.
Simcha Rothman wanted to bring a message of Jewish pride and support to Australia’s Jews. The Albanese government tried to silence that message. They failed. Jewish voices will not and cannot be silenced - ever.
Rabbi Raphael Shore is the Executive Chairman of OpenDor Media, an award-winning film producer of Tragic Awakening and a best-selling author of Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Jew: Learning to Love the Lessons of Jew-Hatred