Five Jewish schoolgirls from Beth Rivkah Ladies College subjected to antisemitic abuse on Melbourne tram

One of the five Jewish students from Beth Rivkah Ladies College said the vile antisemitic abuse from the schoolboys had left the group shaken and shocked.

One of the Jewish schoolgirls targeted by schoolboys in a hateful antisemitic verbal attack by male teenagers has spoken of her fears after the incident.

“You don’t expect this on a tram,” she told the Herald Sun.

The year 11 girl was one of five female students from Beth Rivkah College approached by two boys aged 16 or 17 on a tram on Monday in Caulfield North.

The boys, who the girls had never seen before, made direct eye contact and screamed “Heil Hitler” at them after getting off the tram.

They allegedly walked out of their way to pass the girls to yell abuse at them.

The student said she and the others were left shaken and shocked, and that neither the tram driver, nor the other passengers, intervened or tried to comfort the girls.

The girl said the group is now more cautious and more aware of the growing risks of similar incidents happening and feel they had “taken the blinkers off”.

Despite their concerns, they are not worried about returning to school.

Five Jewish schoolgirls were abused on a tram in Melbourne. Picture: Sarah Matray

Police are continuing to investigate the incident and have asked any witnesses who saw the attack, which occurred on Monday at around 12.30 on the corner of Balaclava and Orrong Rds to contact crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppers.com.au.

In a statement, police said they were investigating a report of “racially motivated offensive behaviour.

“Officers were told two men approached five girls on a tram near Balaclava Street and shouted offensive comments about 12.30pm. There were no physical injuries,” they said.

Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission Dvir Abramovich said the attack was a “shameful, spine-chilling wake-up call” for all Australians.

“This revolting incident is an assault on every Jewish person in our country,” Dr Abramovich said.

“This was not just a slur; it was a vile, venomous attempt to shatter these young women’s sense of safety and to drag our society back to an era of darkness and terror.

“The heart-stopping wave of anti-Semitic hate has again struck the very core of Melbourne, leaving our community shaken and outraged,” he said.

“This hateful gesture is meant to degrade, humiliate, and terrorise them in a city they call home. In 2024, in Melbourne, Australia, this level of anti-Semitism is not only abhorrent — it’s absolutely unthinkable.”

The mother of one the girls affected told Dr Abramovich that her great grandmother escaped Germany in September 1939 and her great aunt died in Auschwitz.

“I am disgusted that 80 years later my daughter is being subjected to this kind of horror,” she said.

The principal of Beth Rivkah College Rabbi Elisha Greenbaum confirmed the incident.

The female students were coming back from a VCE psychology exam when the attack occurred.

The attack comes amid a rise in anti-Semitic incidents across Melbourne, even in previously protected Jewish neighbourhoods since the start of the conflict in Gaza 12 months ago.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au