Why is Australia turning against its Jewish community?

It’s sad to say, but the antisemitism within Australia’s Jewish community is not exactly a new phenomenon. In fact, there has been a long history of antisemitism, dating back to the 1880s when a strong sense of Australian nationalism began to emerge. 

Unlike the first British Jews who were sent to Australia in 1788 for having committed crimes, these new Jewish immigrants, of the late 1800s and early 1900s from Germany, Poland and Russia, were fleeing the deadly pogroms in their respective countries. Those 15,000 newcomers, were met with much suspicion, amplified by politicians and the media, which negatively portrayed them, by publishing anti-Jewish cartoons and tropes.

Despite this dark history, though, Australia has been considered a safe and welcoming place for the approximately 120,000 Jewish people who reside there today.

Perhaps part of the reason is the positive impact they have made in Australian society, as recorded in the National Archives, stating that “Jewish people have made strong contributions to the Australian community. They have participated in numerous professions, including business, the law, politics and many fields of the arts (especially theatre, music and literature).”

Nonetheless, even with that sterling endorsement, the atmosphere seems to have reverted back to those days when Jews were not embraced as part and parcel of those who lived “Down Under.”  Of course, the major catalyst was the October 7th massacre – an event which should have engendered sympathy and compassion but, instead, released a pent-up rage against Jews and their homeland.

But all that anger didn’t begin a little more than a week ago, when the doors of a Melbourne synagogue were set on fire, in an attempt to burn those inside who had just sat down to share a Shabbat meal. Nor was the savage vandalization of “Miznon,” an Israeli-owned restaurant, a one-off incident. 

The last couple of years have seen more brazen attacks than ever before. As expressed by one Jewish Australian, “The Jews don’t recognize our country anymore. The children of Holocaust survivors have told me they’re glad their parents aren’t alive to see what Australia has become. Members of my community have beefed up the security around their homes, putting bars on windows, fearing an attack. Some are nervous about wearing a Star of David necklace in public. Others wonder if they should take down the mezuzahs from their front doors. They debate removing their kids from Jewish schools, or at least telling them to change out of their uniforms before walking home. No one wants to live this way.”

And although Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister has made the obligatory statement that, “Antisemitism has no place in Australian society,” it mustn’t be forgotten that just one month ago he harshly condemned Israel, stating that their actions were completely unacceptable as he made false claims that Israel was withholding food from starving Gazans – calling it an outrage.

Does he take no responsibility for his vilification of Israel, a country which he pronounces guilty of having committed a genocide – even if he didn’t use that specific word?  Because how would anyone judge the acts of a nation that deliberately withholds food from starving people, if not tantamount to genocide? 

The expression, “The fish stinks from the head down,” might actually be the most fitting way to characterize what takes place when a leader of a country vehemently condemns the actions of a people, portraying them as murderers. Why wouldn’t his own population support his assertions? 

It is this kind of disgraceful rhetoric which must be attributed to the head of a country that has seen a massive outbreak of anti-Jewish sentiment, manifesting itself in the open persecution of innocent Jews who are not even necessarily connected to Israel and certainly not to its policies.

It wouldn’t even matter if the mainstream media were to miraculously admit the truth, that there was no Israeli blockade, depriving Gazans of access to food. Because a Google search of the subject initially brings up fallacious reports from multiple Human Rights Watch Groups, the U.N., PBS, the BBC, the New York Times, Al Jazeera, CNN and the World Health Organization. Only after wading through all of that, you might eventually discover that a 3,000-calorie intake of food was provided per day for each Gazan, more than the 2,000 calories consumed on average worldwide.

In fact, a 2024 study of “highly respected academics and public health officials, after analyzing data, disclosed that the supply of food entering the Gaza Strip, during the war, was more than sufficient for the population’s daily energy and protein needs.” That did not change in 2025. What did occur was the hijacking of food by Hamas terrorists who blocked the Gazan people from accessing the generous and constant supplies which were meant for them. But Albanese left out that part.

This was reported by AIPAC, who wrote, “Hamas attempted to set up checkpoints and barricades to prevent Gazans from reaching the aid distribution centers. When they failed, Hamas incited riots at the sites. Hamas is threatening to kill aid workers and Palestinians who receive free aid. Despite these efforts, food continues to be distributed.”  

Regrettably, these are the obscured facts which are not common knowledge, because they are swept away under the carpet of keeping everyone in the dark. That is how the worst can be said and believed about Israel.  It feeds into a calculated and dishonest strategy of stirring the pot of hatred. But that’s only where it begins, because that then evolves into the anger and outrage which gets expressed. What follows are the physical attacks and the violent outbreaks taking place right in front of our eyes.

It’s not too hard to see the connection, but, make no mistake. It is one which is deliberate in its attempt to castigate the Jewish people worldwide.  In this particular case, we are watching it unfold in Australia. Rather than going to reputable and credible sources for news, individuals fall prey to mainstream media and the Web which provides a wonderful platform for antisemitism.

Australia is just one of many nations which is spreading that deadly virus. The only way to fight it is by making sure that everyone knows the real scoop, because they’re surely not getting it from the news!