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‘They came to kill us’: royal commission hears horrific accounts of antisemitism faced by Jewish children in Australia
TL;DR
Jewish children in Australia are experiencing severe antisemitism, including abuse at school and witnessing Nazi salutes. A mother testified that the environment has become increasingly hostile and dangerous for Jewish families, particularly after the Bondi massacre.
Key points
- Jewish children face antisemitic abuse at school
- Witnessing Nazi salutes and swastikas
- Bondi massacre increased fear among Jewish families
- Children internalize the reality of antisemitism
- Emotional distress reported by Jewish children
Mentioned in this story
AustraliaBondi
Jewish children in Australia face antisemitic abuse at school, see swastikas daubed on walls and witness classmates perform Nazi salutes: they live with antisemitism “all day, every day”, a Sydney Jewish mother has told a royal commission hearing.
The woman, known as Dina before the commission, said Australia had become a more hostile, more dangerous place for Jews, most horrifically demonstrated by the Bondi massacre in December in which 15 people were shot and killed.
“And it’s impossible for children not to internalise that they are living through that reality.
“They hear antisemitism around them all the time … they see the stickers … they see the graffiti, they know about Bondi. It’s become part of their psyche.”
Dina told the commission she had overheard Jewish children saying they would be too scared to go to a Hanukah party now, and gave evidence that when her family went to Bondi, her eight-year-old child started crying, telling her: “Now, when I come to Bondi, I think about dying”.
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Dina said the Australian Jewish community was “living a very different reality” to the non-Jewish community and that the Bondi massacre was the violent manifestation of unchecked antisemitism across Australia.
“The reality is, they came to kill us. We just weren’t there. And it’s living with that truth that makes it very hard to feel safe as a Jew in Australia.”
The second day of the public hearings before commissioner Virginia Bell heard evidence from Jewish parents who say they fear for the safety of their children, who grow up facing a rising tide of antisemitic abuse, graffiti and attacks.
In evidence before the committee, Natalie Levy said her daughter was one of only two Jewish children at a government school in Sydney.
“She sees swastikas etched all around the school, children saying ‘Heil Hitler’ and putting up their hand in a salute. She sees things that no 15-year-old should see,” Natalie said of her daughter.
“She’s a very proud Jewish young lady but she’s scared. She’s scared for me being here [giving evidence to the commission] today.”
Levy told the commission that antisemitic rhetoric had become normalised in contemporary Australia.
Q&A
What types of antisemitic abuse are Jewish children facing in Australia?
Jewish children in Australia face antisemitic abuse at school, including being subjected to Nazi salutes and seeing swastikas on walls.
How has the Bondi massacre affected Jewish children's perception of safety?
The Bondi massacre has made Jewish children feel unsafe, with some expressing fear about attending events like Hanukah parties.
What did the mother testify about her child's feelings towards visiting Bondi?
The mother testified that her eight-year-old child cried about the fear of dying when visiting Bondi, indicating deep emotional distress.
What is the significance of the royal commission hearing regarding antisemitism in Australia?
The royal commission hearing highlights the pervasive antisemitism faced by Jewish children in Australia, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and action.
