Australian Jews concealing their identity due to rising fears of discrimination, anti-Semitism
With anti-Semitism increasing, and recent attacks such as Israeli fans set upon at a football game in Amsterdam, Australia’s Jewish community is taking drastic measures to protect themselves.
National
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EXCLUSIVE
Jewish Australians are hiding their identity to protect themselves against anti-Semitism and discrimination as fears mount that the sort of violent riots that recently erupted in Amsterdam could happen in Australia.
NSW Police are investigating after anti-Semitic thugs torched one car, spray painted nine others and vandalised three buildings in Woollahra in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, a region with a strong Jewish community.
Australian Jewish Association [AJA] chief executive officer Robert Gregory said he knew of Australian Jews removing Mezuzahs, small cases containing Torah verses, from their doorposts to hide they were Jewish and said many were angry at the Albanese government for allowing anti-Semitism to spread.
“Many feel that Labor has been weak on confronting anti-Semitism and is sacrificing the Jewish community in order to secure votes in Western Sydney,” he said.
“Many are questioning whether the anti-Jewish violence that occurred in Amsterdam could also happen here.
“Some of the same conditions are certainly present. There is a feeling that police have not taken attacks on the Jewish community as seriously as they would if it was any other minority.”
This masthead has been told of Jewish Australians concealing their identity by hiding the Star of David before taking taxis or Ubers, and not speaking Hebrew in public places to prevent being identified as Jewish.
An anaesthetist has stopped disclosing her Jewish identity after being repeatedly accused of genocide while an academic was warned by a colleague to not mention her Jewishness to protect her career.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) head of legal Simone Abel said many members of the community felt overwhelmed by the constant false narrative that being Jewish was in some way bad.
“Jewish professionals are increasingly aware that their symbols and identity have been appropriated and twisted to paint a false picture of them as supporters of human rights abuses, cunning manipulators of wealth, influence and power, and much more,” she said.
“Many now hide their Magen Davids [Star of David] or other religious symbols when going on public transport, walking alone, taking taxis/Ubers, or going into meetings with non-Jews.”
Concentration camp survivor Eddy Boas, 84, moved to Australia from Holland in 1954 because his mother feared a repeat of the Holocaust and wanted to move as far away from Europe as possible.
Mr Boas said he was angry at the Albanese government for allowing anti-Semitism to fester in Australia and said there were parallels between what was happening today and what happened in the 1930s.
“I know Jewish people who don’t wear anything around their neck anymore,” he said.
“I have never felt unsafe in Australia and I shouldn’t, nobody should, and we have a government that allows it to go on.
“It will only get worse.”
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said the violence that erupted after a Europa Football League match between Dutch team Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel-Aviv was a warning sign to the Jewish community in Australia.
“Each act of aggression seemed like the opening shot of a storm brewing — a harbinger of something bigger, more sinister, and darker. Jews in Australia are already living on high alert,” he said.
“The violence in Amsterdam doesn’t just add to the anxiety — it amplifies it, like a sudden gust that fans the flames of an already smouldering fear.”
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