Jews at odds over Yes or No on Indigenous voice

The Indigenous voice to parliament debate has split Australia‘s Jewish community, as representative associations argue over which way to vote at the upcoming referendum.

Australian Jewish Association president David Adler says ’the AJA executive sees the voice proposal as overtly racist and will be voting No’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The Indigenous voice to parliament debate has split Australia’s Jewish community, with prominent representative associations at odds over the referendum.

The Anti-Defamation Commission told The Australian on Thursday it was “unequivocally committed” to supporting the voice, just months after recognised community leadership body the Executive Council of Australian Jewry signed a bipartisan action with several other religious organisations supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

The Australian Jewish Association, however, condemned the actions of other Jewish bodies for supporting a Yes vote, saying it had “major concerns” on potentially “racist” amend­­ments to the Constitution.

“The Jewish community is divided on the Indigenous voice with community members holding a range of views. We originally intended not to comment on this issue (but) several other Jewish groups have publicly expressed support for the voice, falsely claiming to speak for the Australian Jewish community broadly,” AJA president David Adler said. “Jews will understand from bitter experience that the political creation of ethnic or racial divisions in a society is not a good thing. The creation of unique political rights or advantages for one ethnic or racial group will inevitably cause resentment and friction.

“The AJA executive sees the voice proposal as overtly racist and will be voting No.”

While Dr Adler was adamant Jews weren’t monolithic in their beliefs, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council chairman Mark Leibler said “you’re always going to find some individuals who want to make a big noise”.

“(The AJA) is a particularly conservative group, and the Jewish community has its extremes, like any other community,” Mr Leibler said. ”Anyone can sit on Twitter all day and pretend to make a huge impression with largely unpopular views.”

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry claims to be the officially elected representative organisation and voice of the Australian Jewish community, and the Anti-Defamation Commission is Australia’s “leading civil rights organisation that since 1979 has been combating anti-Semitism” but the AJA claims to dominate when it comes to community engagement, attendance and social media presence.

Chair of the ADC Dvir Abramovich said the voice was “long overdue” and would celebrate the “booming contribution” of Indigenous people to Australian society.

“At heart, this marvellous act will be about treating our First Nation people with respect, according them the right to self-­determination, and safeguarding their rights, rich culture and ambitions,” Dr Abramovich said.

“It is more than right we honour them, and this recognition … will also gift us with the opportunity to learn from the ancient wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

He said members of the Jewish community “understand the pain and trauma of discrimin­ation and bigotry”.