‘An assault on our sense of safety’: Mount Scopus’ Burwood campus defiled with antisemitic graffiti

A leading Melbourne Jewish school campus has been defiled with hateful graffiti, leaving students scared and putting pressure on the state government to “call out or stop the antisemitism”.

The words 'Jew die' graffitied on the front fence of Mount Scopus' Burwood campus on Saturday. Picture: Supplied.

The front fence of Mount Scopus’ Burwood campus was seen defiled with antisemitic graffiti on Saturday.

The words “Jew die” were written in black spray paint on the white fence at the school.

Mount Scopus is recognised as “one of the world’s leading Jewish day schools”.

A year 11 student of the school who wished to remain anonymous said the vandalism was extremely distressing.

“I am scared and sad that this is happening in Australia in 2024,” she said.

“I also wonder why the government is doing nothing to call out or stop the antisemitism.”

Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission Dr Dvir Abramovich said he was sickened by the hateful vandalism.

“As a former student of Mount Scopus College, I am shattered and sickened by this open call to murder Jews,” he said.

“Such sickening words of hate and violence, aimed directly at children, are dangerous, especially during this atmosphere in which antisemitism is at an all-time high.

“This is not just graffiti scrawled by evil people who seek to instil fear in our communities, it is an assault on our sense of safety.”

The words 'Jew die' graffitied on the front fence of Mount Scopus' Burwood Campus. Picture: Carly Douglas

Dr Abramovich said more needed to be done to stop the racism and hate.

“It may be an uncomfortable truth for our government, but this runaway problem is skyrocketing, and this latest chilling incident tells us once again that there are troubling signs that cannot be ignored,” he said.

“I hope that Victoria Police are able to identify and charge the individuals responsible for this abhorrent act.”

Deputy premier Ben Carroll, whose office was targeted by vandals this month, also condemned the actions of the vandals.

“I’ve spoken with the principal of Mount Scopus College and conveyed my disgust at the antisemitic graffiti,” he posted to X on Saturday.

“This has no place in Victoria. Hate has no place in Victoria.

“Our strength is our diversity. We come from 200 countries and practice 135 faiths.”

Vandals filmed themselves tagging the words “blood on your hands” on Mr Carroll’s Niddrie office on May 15 or 16 in a move he later condemned.

Jewish Community Council of Victoria President Philip Zajac said, “The death threat graffitied on Mount Scopus College, Victoria’s oldest and largest Jewish school, has left our community devastated and in shock.

“Mount Scopus is a welcoming school where our children and grandchildren go to learn. I went to school there, my children went to school there.

“Tens of thousands of Jewish Victorians were educated at Mount Scopus. I cannot comprehend the depravity of the person who decided to scrawl that slogan on the school fence.”

Mr Zajac said the JCCV had been warning the government, police and other leadrs about a dangerous rise in anti-Jewish hate.

“That message has not been heeded and look where we are today,” he said.

“This graffiti cannot be seen as anything other than a death threat against Victorian children on the basis of their faith and culture.

“It is time for clear action – increase penalties for serious vilification, lower the barrier to prosecution and take steps to prevent hate from continuing to thrive.”