ECAJ slams government inaction on antisemitism
J7 leaders visit Melbourne and tour burned out Adass Israel Synagogue to show solidarity with Australian Jews.
The president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry has accused the Albanese government of failing to act to combat antisemitism, describing Australia as “leading an international race to the bottom”.
Daniel Aghion made the comments outside the burned-out Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne on Thursday, flanked by representatives of the J7 group, comprising Jewish bodies from the United States, Canada, Argentina, Britain, France and Germany.
Aghion criticised the government’s lack of response to a strategic plan delivered five months ago by special envoy to combat antisemitism Jillian Segal, AC, as “unacceptable”.
“We would like to see a response to the strategic plan as soon as possible,” he said.
“The government has had it for five months now, and there has been not any form of no response – positive, negative, nothing. It has been silenced.”
ECAJ’s latest annual report recorded 1,654 incidents of antisemitism in the past year, with 738 occurring in Victoria alone.
“Melbourne is now the most unsafe place in Australia to be a Jew,” Aghion said, noting Victoria had recorded more incidents of anti-Jewish hate than any other state over the past two years.
In a deeply personal statement, Aghion spoke of his own connection to Melbourne and Australia.
“We don’t have horns. I don’t hide them under my skull cap. Here, I am an Australian. I was born in this city. I have lived my entire life in this city. I’m a proud Melbournian. I’m a proud Australian, and I’m a proud Jew,” he said.
“I’m part of this country, and it is important that the government’s response to the outbreak of antisemitism in this country makes sure that I and the other parts of my community feel as welcome in this country as any other person.”
The J7 delegation, representing communities from seven nations that are home to 90 per cent of the Jewish diaspora, inspected the remains of the Adass Israel synagogue.
Richard Marceau, senior vice-president at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs in Canada, said the global Jewish community is united in facing the threat.
“When we wake up in the morning, we’re a big family. We wake up in the morning and we see this here and we know that it could happen in Canada,” he said.
“This synagogue could be Canada, it could be Montreal, it could be Toronto, it could be Vancouver, it could be Washington, it could be New York, it could be London, and it could be Paris.”
Marceau noted that Canadian Jews, despite representing just one per cent of the population, are targeted in 70 per cent of religiously motivated hate crimes.
“Our schools have been shot at. Our synagogues have been firebombed. Our community centres have received death threats, and the promise of Canada has been broken.”
Marina Rosenberg, senior vice-president of international affairs at the US-based Anti-Defamation League, said each nation represented is experiencing a dramatic rise in anti-Jewish hate.
“Unfortunately, you are not alone in your pain, but you are not alone in your resilience,” she said.
“We are here to show that we are together fighting this tsunami of anti-Jewish hate that we’ve been seeing, not only here in Australia, but all over the world.”
Michael Wegier, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said the resilience of Jewish communities worldwide is rooted in tradition.
“What happened here a year ago in Melbourne has happened around the world and other places, including tragically, in the UK,” he said.
“We are not allowing that to define who we are as Jews.”