ECAJ collaborates with Catholic Religious Australia on new resource
'Without a deeper understanding, antisemitic incidents can be lost in and overlooked by generic anti-bullying policies'
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has partnered with Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) to combat the alarming spike in antisemitic incidents across Australia with the launch of a comprehensive educational resource.
CRA and ECAJ on Monday unveiled “Addressing Antisemitic Bullying: A Resource for Catholic Leadership and Formation,” designed to equip Catholic schools, communities and agencies with tools to identify and address antisemitism.
The centrepiece of the initiative is a filmed conversation between Catholic educators and prominent Jewish community figures, who share insights and experiences dealing with antisemitic incidents. The video comes with customisable discussion guides suitable for staff meetings, professional development sessions or workshops.
ECAJ co-CEO Peter Wertheim explained, “Antisemitism has specific indicators – as do other kinds of bullying such as Islamophobia and prejudice against First Nations peoples.
“Without a deeper understanding, antisemitic incidents can be lost in and overlooked by generic anti-bullying policies.”
CRA president Gerard Brady said, “To their credit, Catholic school principals are typically highly motivated to embed values of respect and inclusion, and anti-bullying policies are already in place.
“What our Jewish colleagues help us to understand is that not all bullying is the same – there are specificities about antisemitic bullying that are not always well understood.”
The resource arrives amid a concerning surge in antisemitic incidents since October 7, though the project itself was initiated prior to this date.
Importantly, the materials avoid politically contentious issues, instead viewing antisemitism through the broader lens of human dignity and existing anti-bullying frameworks.
The collaboration marks a significant milestone in the 60th anniversary year of Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document that revolutionised interfaith relations, particularly between Catholics and Jews.
While specifically developed for Catholic networks, the resource is freely available to all educational institutions and community organisations via the CRA website.
Access the resource: catholicreligious.org.au/addressing-antisemitic-bullying
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