Australian Jews call for tougher decisions from magistrates to quell anti-Semitism

The former president of the Jewish Board of Deputies and his children have felt unsafe since a swastika and the misspelt German phrase “Jew Gate” were daubed on their home.

The former president of the Jewish Board of Deputies and his children have been left shaken after returning from holiday to see a swastika and the misspelt German words “Jewish Gate” daubed on their house, prompting growing calls for tougher law enforcement to combat anti-Semitism.

Property investment company owner Lesli Berger has called on the Federal Government to take tougher action to reverse the tide of anti-Semitism in Australia post the October 7 attack on Israel, saying the sense of safety of his three children has been compromised.

NSW Police are analysing their database of graffiti tags and have fingerprinted the desecrated gate wall bearing a mirror image of a Nazi swastika sign and phrase ‘Jordan Gayter’ – believed to be the misspelled German phrase for Juden Gatter, or Jewish Gate.

“Two of my late grandparents were holocaust survivors, they were in Auschwitz and emigrated from Slovakia to live in Sydney; growing up they’d tell me stories of how this all started, just like this,” said Mr Berger, 47, the former president of the Jewish Board of Deputies who lives in the predominantly Jewish area of Bellevue Hill.

“My three children have been affected, I never thought I’d see the day were someone would see fit to daub a swastika on my house. It’s a bitter blow to see the rise in anti-Semitism in our beautiful country over the last 14 months.

“This has got to stop, enough is enough,” he said.

The former president of the Jewish Board of Deputies Lesli Berger and his children returned home from holiday to see a swastika and the misspelt German phrase words “Jew Gare” daubed on his gate wall. Picture: Supplied

Mr Berger has called for tougher decisions from magistrates to stamp out anti-Semitism which has soared 316 per cent across the country since October 7 last year.

Current president of the JBD, David Ossip labelled the incident that happened on December 15 “profoundly disturbing”.

Former president Jewish Board of Deputies Lesli Berger has been left rattled after finding a mirror anti-Semitic graffiti on his gate. Picture: Supplied

“Offenders must be prosecuted and receive sufficient penalties to ensure such conduct is not normalised,” he said.

Australian law prohibits the use of Nazi symbols, to perform the Nazi salute in public or to publicly display, or trade in, Nazi hate symbols since January.

Knowingly displaying or using a Nazi symbol without reasonable excuse carries a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison or an $11,000 fine in NSW.

Intelligence officials warn Australians are being drawn towards neo-Nazi ideologies, with extremist groups recruiting new members.

Red Swastikas were sprayed across a North Sydney Council truck parked at neutral bay yesterday (Saturday Dec 28). Picture: Supplied

Police are making inquires after North Sydney Council truck parked in Primrose Park in Cremorne was seen plastered in red swastikas on Saturday.

Couple Christopher Carrig, 20, and Taylor Bayly, 20, were spared jail over spraying neo Nazi vandalism at 24 locations at Macquarie University in January, while a 16-year-old boy was arrested and charged for drawing a swastika on a toilet block in Dee Why.

Swastikas were painted on a North Sydney Council truck (Saturday Dec 28). Picture: Supplied

The Australian Jewish Association believed Sydney was the focus of an “epidemic” of anti-Semitic graffiti.

“There’s little point having tough laws if they are not applied against the offenders,” said chief investigating officer Robert Gregor

“It’s time for all levels of law enforcement to take anti-Semitism seriously.”

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