PM vows to ‘do more’ to tackle antisemitism
Rabbi Kahn told The AJN the 90-minute meeting was "productive and positive" as the rabbis stressed the need for Albanese to publicly tackle antisemitism.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese left rabbis with a commitment that he would do more to combat rising antisemitism in Australia after a candid and crucial meeting in Sydney last week, but at least one Rabbi cautioned “time will tell”.
The meeting, held on Friday at Central Synagogue, was initiated by Rabbi Moshe Kahn and attended by the Rabbinical Councils and rabbis from New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Federal MPs Allegra Spender and Josh Burns were also in attendance.
Rabbi Kahn told The AJN the 90-minute meeting was “productive and positive” as the rabbis stressed the need for Albanese to publicly tackle antisemitism.
“He gave us a commitment that he will and he gave a commitment that it would be bipartisan,” Rabbi Kahn said.
“He said he will call it out whenever he needs to and whenever he is asked to. He committed to doing more.”
While some rabbis expressed that Albanese “said the right things”, Rabbi Levi Wolff told The AJN the Prime Minister acknowledged he needs to be at the forefront of bringing up the issue of antisemitism instead of simply reacting to it.
“I think it was strongly impressed on him that antisemitism has risen to levels that are totally unacceptable,” Rabbi Wolff said.
“Families and children are feeling unsafe. This country has been a safe haven for Jews, specifically after WWII, but we feel that for the first time that’s been eroding. He looked us in the eyes and he said ‘I understand where you’re coming from, I’m sorry you’re going through these things and I’m going to do my best that things should change.’
“This was actually a meeting that Moshe initiated and it was about helping the Prime Minister take an accurate temperature of what’s happening in the Jewish community and helping him appreciate how we felt thrown under the bus.
“In many ways we are suffering in huge ways because of a lack of leadership.”
Labor MP Burns said the meeting was “powerful” and that Albanese understood more needs to be done.
“The rabbinical leadership spoke extremely clearly and well on behalf of the community,” Burns told The AJN.
“The Jewish community needs to be free from discrimination, intimidation and harassment and that is something the Prime Minister understands deeply. We all must work together across the entire Parliament in order to assure that Jewish people can stand taller and walk freely.”
Teal MP Spender said part of the discussion was around the need for a “united front” from Parliament on antisemitism.
“We can’t politicise this issue,” Spender told The AJN.
“This isn’t about parties, this is about our country and about everybody feeling welcome. We’ve got to look after each other in these hard times.”
Spender also mentioned the “sobering” contribution by rabbi and West Australian Supreme Court Justice Marcus Solomon, who told Albanese his family had been in Australia for 200 years and they had seen more antisemitism in the past six months than ever before.
After the meeting Albanese posted on his social media: “Students must feel safe at university classes. Families must feel safe in their own neighbourhoods. People must feel safe to practise their faith in peace.
“My government will always stand for the freedom of all Australians to express and explore their faith. To strengthen their sense of identity through their faith. And to teach their children about their faith, and the faith of their ancestors.”
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