Jewish communities across Australia remain resilient in the face of an unprecedented surge in antisemitic incidents, with Sydney's Chabad organization leading a defiant public Hanukkah celebration Tuesday night as the festival of lights began.
This show of strength comes as troubling new data reveals antisemitic incidents in Australia have quadrupled over the past year, according to a report released Sunday by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ). The organization documented 2,062 anti-Jewish incidents between October 2023 and September 2024, compared to 495 in the previous year.
The surge began immediately after Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, with one of the most shocking incidents occurring at the Sydney Opera House, where protesters chanted antisemitic slogans while police stood by. Throughout the year, Jewish communities faced escalating threats, including a violent riot outside a Melbourne synagogue that forced an emergency evacuation, and a brutal assault on a 44-year-old Jewish man in Sydney that left him with spinal fractures and a concussion.
ECAJ research director Julie Nathan, who compiled the report, emphasized that even these stark numbers "understate the seriousness of the surge in antisemitism." The incidents range from targeted harassment of Jewish-owned businesses to hate graffiti on homes and physical assaults on the streets.
In one particularly disturbing case, 600 members of the Jewish community were doxxed, leading to job losses and forced relocations for safety. The perpetrators represent a diverse spectrum of anti-Israel interests, including both far-left and far-right groups.
Community leaders are calling for stronger action from authorities. "The response from political and community leaders has been tepid at best," Nathan said, warning that without resolute action from governments and police, the situation could continue to deteriorate.
The findings mirror similar patterns across the Western world, where Jewish communities are experiencing antisemitic activity at levels not seen since the Holocaust, with increases of 100% to 300% reported in many countries.
The Times of Israel contributed to this article.
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