Australian antisemitism worse than in United States

Antisemitism in Australia is currently worse than in the United States, according to Australian-born reform Rabbi Danny Schiff, who divides his time between Israel and America.

Speaking during his current visit to Melbourne, Rabbi Schiff attributed the difference to America’s stronger evangelical Christian presence.

“My reading is that antisemitism is worse right now in Australia than it is in America,” he said.

“I think there are a number of reasons for that. One being clearly that there is a stronger Christian presence, evangelical presence in America, which is very, very supportive.”

The rabbi described the current period as clearly the worst time in the last number of decades for Australian Jewry, with antisemitism being “fuelled by all sorts of very, very problematic tendencies.”

However, Rabbi Schiff argued that combating antisemitism was primarily a responsibility for non-Jewish allies rather than the Jewish community itself.

“I think that antisemitism is almost always a non-Jewish problem. It’s not something that the Jews can fix,” he said. “The best response to antisemitism is to live the strongest, most committed Jewish life you possibly can.”

He emphasised that effective action required support from outside the community.

“I think that the key to fighting antisemites is having good non-Jewish allies who are prepared to take up the fight for us. Ultimately, antisemitism is an expression of a malaise in the broader society that needs to be addressed.”

Rabbi Schiff made his comments while in Melbourne to conduct a three-part adult education course at Temple Beth Israel, examining “Judaism and Democracy in Israel: The Current Challenge.”

The seminar addresses fundamental questions about Israel’s identity that he believes remain unresolved nearly eight decades after the state’s establishment.

“We haven’t yet fully addressed the question of what does it mean to have a Jewish state, and how does Judaism really function within the confines of that state,” Rabbi Schiff explained.

He suggested that current tensions around judicial reform and Haredi military service stem from these deeper questions about Jewish statehood.

Rabbi Schiff described the 21st century as “the Israel century” for the Jewish people, noting that Israel will soon house more than half the world’s Jewish population.

He concluded with an appeal for Jewish strength rather than defensive responses to current challenges.

“What we have to offer as a people, and the sort of vision that we bring to the world is probably more needed now than at any other time,” Rabbi Schiff said.