Stop Hate

The recently published annual report on antisemitism documents a staggering 2062 incidents recorded between October 2023 and September 2024. These numbers, while shocking, confirm what many already feel deep within their existence.

For those who have experienced such hatred, these figures are far more than statistics – they are a reflection of daily lived horrors and traumatic experiences. The chants of “F**k the Jews”, “Where’s the Jews”, and other vile slogans echoed during various incidents, such as the one on October 9 of the previous year, remain haunting.

Events like the chaotic protests in Jewish Melbourne’s Caulfield area last November have left a deep sense of unease and unrest among community members. The vile expressions from hate preachers in parts of the country, calling for the downfall of an entire community, haven’t gone unnoticed but instead prompt revulsion and fear.

Instances where friends and acquaintances have been targeted and exposed maliciously, leading to doxxing in February, highlight the gaping vulnerability that antisemitism generates. The vandalism of Jewish-owned businesses and harassment of their owners have further exacerbated this feeling of insecurity.

Safety measures have even infiltrated daily life, forcing younger children to attend school without uniforms to avoid harassment, while older students conceal their identities at universities or avoid campuses entirely.

But the purpose of the report isn’t to reiterate what this community already knows too well. It serves a dual appeal to the rest of the nation – particularly its leaders. It calls upon them to recognize how an integral part of the wider Australian fabric has been marginalized, vilified, and continuously targeted through threats, harassment, and aggression.

A vital line in the report pinpoints a critical concern: “The physical, verbal, and other forms of attacks on Jewish individuals, families, and community venues will continue to worsen unless governments, police, and others demonstrate resilience by taking decisive actions to stop the growing wave of hatred-focused acts against the Jewish community and hold those accountable.”

The appointment of Jillian Segal as a special envoy to combat antisemitism marked progress, yet her call for an inquiry into antisemitism in universities was overlooked, indicating a gap in critical governmental listening and action.

Although last week’s legislation to criminalize doxxing is a move in the right direction, it is insufficient. More comprehensive and committed actions are demanded not only from federal and state governments but also from every tier of society’s leadership. It’s a collective responsibility.

Antisemitic hatred transcends the threat to just one community; it is a virulent element that erodes the social cohesion and integrity of the entire nation. The call to stop hate, therefore, seeks the safeguarding of societal solidarity and unity.

Indeed, systematically addressing antisemitism and all other forms of hate is not just an obligation – it is a step towards fortifying the foundation on which any diverse society must stand.