Rabbi abused amid alarming escalation of antisemitism

Political leaders have been urged to condemn the “escalating” abuse of Victoria’s Jewish community after a Melbourne rabbi was traumatised by a series of threats.

A prominent civil rights organisation has called on political leaders to publicly condemn the “escalating” abuse towards Victoria’s Jewish community after a Melbourne rabbi was left traumatised by a series of threatening late-night voicemails.

The senior rabbi, who is the grandson of a Holocaust survivor whose family lost many relatives at the hands of Nazis, received the two “vile” messages from an unknown man on Tuesday night.

The anonymous caller began his tirade by stating: “Hello Jewish scumbag, I’d just like to congratulate you on your new label, Captain Apartheid, because that’s how Jewish people are going to get named … It’s stuck to you like s--- to a blanket”.

A second voicemail message, left just ten minutes later, told the rabbi to “dump that stupid religion that got made up a million years ago by f---ing paedophiles”.

“You are going to die with it. That’s your new name, Rabbi Apartheid, p--- on you,” the caller said in the phone exchanges.

The oldest running synagogue in Melbourne, The East Melbourne Shule.

Most of the expletive messages, which were obtained by the Herald Sun, are too graphic to publish.

A Victoria Police spokesman confirmed officers are investigating “harassing phone calls” made to a place of worship in Doncaster on Tuesday February 1.

“Officers have been told two phone calls were made to a landline number at the facility and on both occasions harassing voice messages were left around 9.40-9.50pm,” he said.

“The investigation is currently ongoing.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

The rabbi said his family had been left “frightened” by the late-night attack, adding they never expected to be the victims of racism in Australia.

“These voicemails spewed with hate were frightening to say the least and my wife and I are concerned about our personal safety,” he said.

“I would never have imagined that people in Australia hate Jews so deeply. As a senior Rabbi of the community, I found this very unsettling and distressing and hope that others aren’t exposed to this too.”

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said he was “very alarmed” by the “sickening messages”, which are just the latest in a string of targeted attacks.

“These sickening messages, fusing age-old antisemitism with anti-Israel rhetoric, have not only traumatised the victim but will shake the affected community to the core and leave members scared and vulnerable,” Dr Abramovich said.

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

“I am outraged and understand why many believe it is open season on the Jewish community and feel under siege.

“It seems that not a day goes by without obscene vandalism or threats disrupting the lives of Australian Jews.

“This chilling and violent outburst of unbridled hate, the latest in a spate of horrifying episodes that have spread like wildfire throughout our nation, is further evidence that racists are less inhibited about expressing their insidious bigotry openly, and this out-of-control problem is one we can’t ignore.

“It may be an uncomfortable truth for some, but antisemitism has taken root in Australia and keeps rearing its ugly head from all directions.”

Dr Abramovich urged political leaders across Australia to publicly condemn the incidents.