Rising Tide of Hate: Antisemitism Surges in Australia, Leaving Jewish Community ‘Traumatised’ and Scared
- A senior rabbi reveals progressive Jewish movements are facing abusive phone calls, bomb threats, and lockdown drills amidst a surge in antisemitism.
- Jewish Australians are being vilified regardless of their background or views on the Israel-Palestine conflict, with some facing death threats and harassment.
- The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion hears that grant funding for security is sporadic, leaving Jewish organisations struggling to protect themselves.
- Experts warn that the growing threat of antisemitism is not just a security issue, but also a psychological welfare crisis for the Jewish community.
The Jewish community in Australia is reeling from a surge in antisemitism, with many feeling traumatised and scared. A senior rabbi has revealed that even progressive Jewish movements are facing abusive phone calls, bomb threats, and lockdown drills.
Rabbi Allison Conyer, who chairs the Union for Progressive Judaism, told the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion that the phenomenon has increased “almost exponentially” since Hamas’s terror attack on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza.
Rabbi Conyer provided several examples of how antisemitism has affected Jewish Australians, regardless of their background or views on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
She spoke of a young adult who was told “we don’t want your Zionist scum here” by a socialist group she attended, and another student who defined herself as anti-Zionist but received death threats.
“This is blatant antisemitism, hiding itself and using Zionism as an excuse,” she said.
The commission also heard from Lesli Berger, the immediate past president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, who spoke of the emotional toll of antisemitism on his family.
His Sydney home was targeted with a Nazi swastika in December 2024, and his children were left feeling vulnerable. “The entire Jewish community has been traumatised,” he said.
Experts warn that the growing threat of antisemitism is not just a security issue, but also a psychological welfare crisis for the Jewish community. The commission heard that grant funding for security is sporadic, leaving Jewish organisations struggling to protect themselves.
Rabbi Conyer said that substantial workloads are being shouldered by volunteers, and sensitive details of particular security arrangements have generally been suppressed.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The surge in antisemitism in Australia has significant implications for national security, law enforcement, and community cohesion. The Jewish community’s feelings of vulnerability and trauma underscore the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing hate crimes.
As Rabbi Conyer said, “reject the binaries” and work towards a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Security analysts say that the rise of antisemitism is a wake-up call for Australian authorities to take a more proactive approach to addressing hate crimes.
Law enforcement insiders warn that the lack of funding for security measures is a ticking time bomb, leaving Jewish organisations exposed to threats. Industry observers believe that the psychological welfare of the Jewish community must be prioritised, with more support for those affected by trauma and harassment.
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion will continue to hear evidence from high-ranking bureaucrats in the NSW and Victorian premiers’ offices and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
As the inquiry unfolds, one thing is clear: the Jewish community in Australia needs urgent support and protection from the rising tide of hate.
antisemitism in AustraliaJewish community in AustraliaAustralian Bureau of Statistics