Education, education, education
A reported spike in incidents targeting Australia’s Jewish population has prompted The Executive Council of Australian Jewry to call for the establishment of a national education campaign on anti-Semitism.
ECAJ co-CEO Alex Ryvchin, Holocaust survivor Ernie Friedlander and ECAJ IPP Jillian Segal Photo: Henry Benjamin/J-Wire
Data collected by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry showed there was a more than 700 per cent increase in reported anti-Semitic incidents between October and November compared to the same time last year.
The following statistics are the reported numbers of antisemitic incidents that occurred in Australia from 1 October 2023 to 30 November 2023. These figures are provisional and based only on the incidents that have been reported so far to the ECAJ, either directly or via its constituent and affiliate organisations and the Community Security Groups. As in the past, many incidents can take weeks or months to be reported, or if reported elsewhere, for the reports to be passed on to the ECAJ. There were 316 reported antisemitic incidents in October 2023, only 5 of which were reported between October 1 and 7. A further 346 incidents were reported in November 2023, making a total of 662 antisemitic incidents reported during October and November 2023. By comparison, there were 495 anti-Jewish incidents reported in Australia for the entire 12 months to 30 September 2023.
Tensions have been particularly high since the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas.
The Gaza conflict has led to pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli rallies in Australia and around the world.
Hamas, considered a terrorist organisation by the Australian government, killed 1200 Israelis and seized 240 hostages in a cross-border raid on October 7.
Since then, Israeli forces have besieged the coastal enclave and laid much of it to waste, killing almost 19,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
The council said anti-Semitic incidents recorded in Australia included death threats sent to Jewish organisations, a protest in a Melbourne park opposite a synagogue that resulted in worshippers being evacuated and vandalism of Jewish businesses.
ECAJ co-CEO Alex Ryvchin, Holocaust survivor Ernie Friedlander and ECAJ Immediate Past President Jillian Segal fronted the media
“This is just the peak of the iceberg (and) reveals a deeply troubling time for our community and indeed for our society,” council co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said on Friday.
“It’s created a great deal of anxiety and vulnerability in the community.”
Ernie Friedlander, a Holocaust survivor who was shortlisted for the 2024 NSW Senior Australian of the Year, said anti-Semitic incidents were not just an attack on Jewish people but could also stoke wider societal hatred and division.
“I just hope that people will wake up, stop, think and consider the consequences of their action when they want to discriminate,” he said.
The council has called on state and federal governments to establish a national anti-Semitism education campaign to ensure Australians understand the impact of such incidents on the community.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s immediate past president, Jillian Segal, said an education campaign could counter “disinformation, myths and the unknowns that people are just reacting to” and bring about greater understanding.
“Because if people understand what’s behind these thoughts that they might have, I think they will stop and behave in a cohesive manner,” she said.
There has also been a spike in Islamophobic incidents following the October 7 attack, including multiple cases of school children reportedly being abused due to their faith.
AAP with Reuters and J-Wire
The big question is how do we get people to listen? In this current environment, they certainly are not interested in doing so. And much of what we’ve seen has been dormant antisemitism rising up to be expressed because it’s been felt it won’t be countered. And largely, that’s been true; it hasn’t been countered, at least by government and police, just a whole lot of words that fall away until the next incident.
Alex Ryvchin, I think, has been very impressive in his cogent outspokenness on radio, in the media and in public. It’s the way to go, not to put up with anything any more. October 7 is a defining point in time insofar as that is concerned.
Yes, we must try with education, because understanding makes an enormous difference to any conflict, but you can’t force people to partake. And you can’t alter bigotry and hatred if those involved in it enjoy it. I think we must be more creative and assertive in being who we are – not be too polite or facilitating of others, but rather warm, confident and candid as if what we are exuding, what we have to offer, is unarguably positive and is there and not going away. This is our history, this is who we are and we’re still full of love, energy and intellect. Get to know us.