NCJWA survey finds antisemitism widespread

The National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (NCJWA) on Wednesday revealed the alarming results of a national research survey of Jewish women’s lived experiences of antisemitism, finding 81 per cent of Jewish Australian women say that they or an immediate family member has experienced Jew hatred since October 7, 2023. Moreover, one in five Jewish women report that they or an immediate family member has been subject to physical violence or verbal abuse.

Other disturbing findings included: 69 per cent report accusations that they are “genocidal” because they self-identify as Jewish, Israeli or Zionist; 66 per cent say they have been blamed for the actions of the State of Israel or the IDF; 59 per cent encountered claims that Israel has no right to exist; 52 per cent heard claims that the October 7 attack on Israeli civilians was “justified” or did not occur; and 43 per cent encountered accusations that Jews are modern-day Nazis.

Concerning comments made by respondents included: “A nurse at a Queensland hospital screamed at me and said I didn’t deserve care because I’m Jewish,” “A manager at my work made fun of the rapes of Jewish women,” “I’ve had death threats on the phone, by email, and online,” and “Educators at my university question the Holocaust, and said that Yad Vashem (the Holocaust museum in Israel) has a pro-Jewish bias and so can’t be trusted.”

The NCJWA survey received 668 responses – 152 between July and August 2025 and 516 between December 2025 and mid-February 2026.

A NCJWA report stated, “Of those who responded to our survey after the Bondi massacre, almost all said they now actively managed their safety through vigilance, self-censorship or by adjusting behaviour.”