Melbourne is no longer a haven for Jews

Credit: Megan Herbert

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ANTISEMITISM

As I watched in horror an online video of protesters storming the Miznon restaurant, the sound of breaking glass triggered the memory of my mother. A child survivor of the Holocaust, she once described watching from the window of her family home in Vienna, Nazi thugs invading and trashing Jewish businesses in the street below, the sound of shattering glass remaining forever in her memory. (The date, November 9, 1938 is known as Kristallnacht, the night of Broken Glass).
Arriving as a refugee in Melbourne in 1947, she believed this city would be a haven to start a new life. I am glad that my mother is no longer with us to witness the alleged violent actions of those who have shattered forever the belief that Melbourne is a safe place for Jews.
Myra Kaufman, East Hawthorn

Not helping the Palestinian cause
The recent abhorrent attacks on a synagogue and a Jewish restaurant defy comprehension, made worse as they were occupied. What are these “protesters” trying to achieve? They are only terrifying Jewish Australians and doing detriment to the Palestinian cause. Surely, it would be more effective to protest outside Israeli embassies to highlight the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where dozens are being killed trying to get food?
If there is concern the Australian media is “timid” to report as extensively on the Gaza as some foreign media has, due to the so-called “Jewish lobby”, then protest outside the offices of the relevant peak bodies, peacefully, highlighting that the Israeli government’s excesses must end.
What these thugs did, allegedly attacking a synagogue and a Jewish business, has nothing to do with the Palestinian cause. It is an attack on Australian Jews, who are not involved with this overseas conflict.
Carlo Ursida, Kensington

Our multicultural community is a privilege
It is hard to image what the pro-Palestine protesters sought to achieve by causing chaos at Miznon, a Melbourne CBD restaurant, on Friday night.
Perhaps they should consider the lives of the Jewish community in Melbourne, who do not necessarily support Netanyahu and the IDF, who are now living in fear of more violent attacks.
Dani Valent’s story ″⁣Attacking a Melbourne restaurant does nothing for peace in the Middle East″⁣, 6/7) explains who the owners of the restaurant are. The protesters’ actions show they do not have an understanding of the multicultural community they live in and the privilege it is to be part of. Their actions beggar belief.
Sarah Ogilvie, South Yarra

Violence is counterproductive
Letters from two correspondents, “Racialised hate” and “The deeper currents” (6/7) both hold truths. The violent acts in Melbourne do nothing to advance the current situation of the suffering and dehumanisation of Palestinians either in Gaza or the West Bank. Such violence is counterproductive. Equally, antisemitisim has been weaponised as a tool against those who peacefully condemn the violent actions of the Israeli Defence Forces. What is disappointing is how quickly and forcefully the federal government has been in condemning the violence that occurred in Melbourne, but has been more restrained in condemning Israel and its non-compliance of international law.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading

Peaceful, not violent opposition
Of course, Tony Wright is correct (“Thugs who perform violence over distant atrocities have no place here”, 5/7). Equally, that must not be used as an excuse to shut down all non-violent opposition to those same atrocities. All forms of violence, whether the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 or Israel’s response since are equally inexcusable.
Ruth Harper, Taradale

Keep city inclusive
I thank your journalist Dani Valent for expressing in her story (6/7) what so many of us in the Jewish community in Melbourne have been living through since October 7 – a radical change in how we feel and experience our hometown – and what we hope Melbourne can be.
And, I thank her colleague Tony Wright for articulating with moral clarity – what is beyond the bounds of political protest here (5/7). There’s no moral justification for allegedly setting places of worship alight or ransacking restaurants, even if you are horrified by war in Gaza, Ukraine, or anywhere else.
Melburnians, let’s keep our city safe, inclusive and morally heading in the right direction.
Marcel Zimmet, Elsternwick

THE FORUM

Childcare staff churn
I have worked in the early years’ sector for almost 40 years as an educator, coordinator, lecturer and consultant.
I take comfort knowing that most educators around the country are committed and dedicated early childhood teachers and educators who provide extraordinary education and care for children every day.
Department spot checks have always been the norm and a ‘no phone policy’ is usual best practice. No amount of CCTV cameras will stop paedophiles and no educator wants to work under surveillance.
Having at least two educators supervising children at all times is unrealistic. Family day care and some remote services would not be able to operate. Other professions such as aged care, disability and nursing do not require supervision.
The issue is the multi-national corporations who own up to 400 centres. Their main goal is profit for owners or shareholders.
This results in minimum staffing and poor working conditions for educators, high staff turnover and more relievers are required just to operate.
When breaches occur, the fine is paid and they are allowed to open more centres. This has been the problem since the Howard government de-regulated the market in the ’90s. Remember the ABC centres?
We can only hope that these terrible recent events that have shocked our sector result in immediate action from all levels of government to stop this private sector growth, pay educators more so they stay in the profession and increase funding for services to improve ‘educator to child’ ratios. Profits should never be put before children’s safety.
Louise Dorrat, Carlton

Unease lingers
As a parent of now teenage children who spent their early years in private childcare centres, I’ve been reflecting on that time with a new sense of unease. I find myself revisiting old memories – wondering if certain incidents were more than just harmless moments, questioning whether some educators were trustworthy. I can only imagine how today’s parents must feel.
Justine Loe, Elsternwick

Bans solve nothing
Re banning males from childcare work. After watching ABC TV’s Four Corners where two women laugh as one filmed the other smacking a crying baby, why not ban all females? Come to think of it, if we ban all babies in the first place – no childcare needed, no more aged care and perhaps no more wars! Brilliant solutions to so many problems.
Joan Lynn, Williamstown

Kneejerk logic
If we follow the logic proposed by those advocating for a ban on male childcare workers, then surely we must ban male priests given the history of child sexual abuse within the church. Male coaches and teachers could be next.
The sad fact is even fathers abuse their children, so why are we so quick to call for a ban on men in the caring professions but silent when the professions involved are ones of power and authority?
Lisa McArley, Witta, Qld

Play it with ambiguity
Jennifer Parker’s analysis of a potential war over Taiwan is a sensible contribution to this complex topic (“As China prepares to invade Taiwan, a reality check: sitting on the sidelines won’t help us”, 6/7).
But the issue is more complex than a simple military equation. For a start, almost no countries of any consequence recognise Taiwan – that was traded away decades ago when we recognised the People’s Republic, and opened embassies in Beijing. While the US provides some military equipment and support to Taiwan, it has no formal military agreement. Its last formal military agreement with Taiwan was cancelled in 1980 by President Carter.
There are alternatives for China to direct military action – like a blockade. Taiwan’s economy probably wouldn’t last more than a couple of months under a sustained blockade. And the West’s response – while not ruling out a military one, the normal response is trade sanctions, followed by a counter-blockade if the sanctions don’t work.
Australia would be at the forefront of trade sanctions given that 35 per cent of our exports go directly to China. For the US and EU, that number is around 10 per cent – economically easier for them to do sanctions, harder for Australia.
Finally, in recent times, both Biden and Trump administrations have warned China that the US will get involved in any conflict over Taiwan.
One wonders how strong that US resolve will be once the sophisticated chip factories have been rebuilt in the US or other friendly country.
Once again, Australia needs to be careful making absolute commitments. Perhaps we need to maintain some sort of strategic ambiguity.
One would hope that our government is testing all of these scenarios, to make sure we don’t just respond with the simplistic binary approach of we are in, or we are out of the conflict.
Ian McKenzie, Canterbury

Disappointment mounts
Surveys show that the vast majority of Victorians value national parks. The Allan Government does not. (″⁣Hopes dashed for new national park″⁣, 4/7). It has made the political calculation with the support of red-necked unions that a Great Forest National Park, as well as the creation of parks across Victoria, are not to be countenanced.
Simultaneously, Parks Victoria is being run down.
It is so disappointing that science, multiple environmental assessments, and the most recognised way to manage precious ecological assets are ignored on multiple fronts.
Russell Carrington, Williamstown

Ugly has no borders
On the same day that Trump’s ″⁣Big Beautiful Bill″⁣ was passed, dozens of people have drowned in Texas. This so called ″⁣Beautiful Bill″⁣ cuts funding for climate change initiatives. If there was ever a glimpse into our future, this is it. Our planet doesn’t have borders.
All people, all countries and all governments need to act. This bill may appear shiny on the outside but in many ways is very ugly.
Mick Hussey, Beaconsfield

Beyond Portland
Most South Australian readers of The Age are resigned to the eastern states view that Australia ends at Portland, but it’s hard to accept the lack of coverage of the environmental catastrophe occurring here on our coastline.
From dolphins, penguins and sharks to leafy sea dragons and shellfish, our beaches are carpeted in dead and dying marine life as a result of the devastating algal bloom spreading along the coasts.
Apart from species loss, livelihoods are endangered, and health threats increase. Barely a peep from the media or government. Perhaps, when Coffin Bay oysters are no longer available in Melbourne restaurants or Bell’s Beach is unsafe for surfers, will the big states take notice.
Kathy Keech, Beaumont, SA

Bot gets personal
Malcolm Knox’s “Customer Service A Conflict Zone” (5/7) refers to the current way complaints are handled, by a bot issuing warnings about civility before you settle in for a long and frustrating wait listening to promotions for possibly the very thing you are complaining about.
If a human response eventually comes, you have had to jump through so many hoops by then that you are pre-disposed not to be exactly happy with non-answers that sound just like a shopping list being read out to you. There are two issues here: If the provider had a range that was less faulty, there would be less complaints; and secondly, if the supplier’s contact-me service was more efficient, it would not attract such hostility.
How perfectly ironic that the very thing that is (supposedly) put in place to handle dissatisfaction, is, in fact, the cause of it. As if that wasn’t enough, one recent request from a well-known insurer for my review of their inability to provide the necessary information for me to renew my policy, was withdrawn from my screen, together with its parent email as soon as I gave them a low score.
I was not even able to fill in the section that asked why I had given that score. I took that personally.
Pete Dunne, Highett

Bring call centres home
Qantas says to me and to millions of other Qantas frequent flyers, that its ″⁣focus is on doing all we can to support you″⁣ in relation to the hacking of six million customers’ personal information. The best and most secure thing Qantas could do for its customers is to end its outsourcing of all its ″⁣Qantas airline contact centres″⁣, and return all Qantas call centres to in-house, and based in Australia, along with all Qantas data centres.
Merv Keehn, Melbourne

Carlton’s coaching
Football reporter Jake Niall blames Carlton’s lack of depth matching up against Collingwood’s AFL team. Yet, the VFL Carlton team was competitive, beating the Magpies on Saturday night in an entertaining contest. Maybe the pundits’ view of the Blues’ lack of success should focus on coaching and physical preparation.
Andrew Smith, Leongatha

AND ANOTHER THING

Melbourne attacks
How do aggressive acts of antisemitism in Melbourne help the cause of peace in the Middle East, or anywhere for that matter?
Jane Sullivan, Kew East

Oh, the irony. Netanyahu decries recent attacks on Jewish establishments in Melbourne, while he goes about destroying an entire region and its people, with impunity.
Maureen Goldie, Blackwood, SA

Donald Trump
Your correspondent (Letters, 6/4) says that Donald Trump is a racist. Trump’s claim that he didn’t know the implications of the term Shylock, however, is entirely credible. The man is not only racist, he’s illiterate.
Juliet Flesch, Kew

Recent Churchillian successes, culminating in his “big, beautiful bill”, decisively entrench President Trump as undisputed king of the global castle. Maybe it’s time he read the Book of Proverbs (16/18): “Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Kevin Burke, Sandringham

Trump’s new bill is big and beautiful if you happen to be a billionaire.
Doug Springall, Yarragon

Furthermore
″⁣Mars colonisation is a necessary step for the survival of humanity,″⁣ says Elon. What self-interested nonsense! Surely, it’s time to stop the fighting (globally), stop destroying the environment, and learn to live together.
Ian Cooper, Bendigo

I thought we were meant to be headed towards a cashless society, so why are most businesses now charging fees for using a debit card?
Neale Woods, Wattle Glen

Re: the John Silvester article headline (5/6). The proof isn’t in the pudding; the proof of the pudding is in the eating!
Norma Togneri, Ivanhoe

Finally
Update on the missing nutritious, pungent paw paw: Suddenly sighted at Woolies in Port Melbourne. Never underestimate the influence of Letters to The Age.
Marcel Colman, Albert Park

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