JCCV: Jews feel ‘excluded, less safe’ Since October 7

Jewish Victorians have experienced a significant downturn in their quality of life since the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023, according to a new report by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV).

Jews have felt more isolated within workplaces and organisations, have experienced a decline in mental and emotional health, feel less safe, and are spending a lot more time on media and social media relating to events in the Middle East and issues impacting the local Jewish community.

“Jewish Victorians have been excluded – or have felt the need to retreat – from diverse areas of public life, workplaces, education and queer spaces due to rising antisemitism. This has been most acutely felt in the creative industries,” the report stated.

Turning Point: The Victorian Jewish Community After October 7 detailed the doxxing of 600 Jews as “genocidal Zionists”, which led to exclusion and contract cancellations in the arts world. Jewish tertiary students were exposed to “assaults, threats and verbal abuse”, overwhelmingly by individuals not connected to their university.

Jews in Victoria have reported post-traumatic symptoms, have accessed mental health services and have found difficulty attending school or work. Elders “have suffered heightened anxiety” as they revisited memories of horrific antisemitism in the 20th century.