An inquiry has revealed a staggering 300 per cent increase in antisemitic incidents across New South Wales since the attack in Israel on October 7. The Jewish community in Australia has expressed feelings of heightened vulnerability and insecurity, with prominent figures, such as David Ossip, President of the Jewish Board of Deputies, highlighting the distressing situation. Incidents have included the vandalism of Jewish institutions, families removing their mezuzot, and students disguising their school uniforms in public settings.
Ossip stated that for the first time, the Jewish community feels unsafe not due to their actions but solely based on their identity. Testimonies to the inquiry presented chilling cases of antisemitism, including a Jewish student being verbally harassed by peers who directed abusive slurs at him, exemplifying the distressing environment. Additionally, there were reports of a student at Rose Bay Secondary College who shared an image of a Jewish classmate along with a caption referencing the Holocaust, further demonstrating the alarming nature of these incidents.
The inquiry underscored the severe threats faced by the Jewish community, with businesses, places of worship, and families increasingly becoming targets. The financial burden of maintaining safety has also escalated, particularly for schools, where some synagogues have now mandated that families arrange for private security, even for minor events.
Last year, reported antisemitic incidents numbered 181, sharply rising to 510 in 2023, reflecting this disturbing trend. Community leaders are calling for greater awareness and support to combat this wave of hatred and restore a sense of security within the Jewish population.