A Growing Concern for the Jewish Community in Australia
Natalie Levy, a Jewish woman who once enjoyed a carefree childhood on Bondi Beach, now finds herself navigating a world where her children face heightened security and antisemitic threats. Her son attends a Jewish school surrounded by police officers, community security guards, and parents, while her 15-year-old daughter is one of only two Jewish students at a public school in Sydney. The environment she describes is filled with fear, as her daughter witnesses swastikas and hears racist slurs like “heil Hitler.”
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion recently held public hearings to address these growing concerns. Witnesses shared their experiences of discrimination and the impact of rising antisemitism, particularly following the tragic Bondi terror attack that claimed 15 lives on December 14.
Ms Levy’s family immigrated to Australia from England and Ukraine, seeking a better life. As a volunteer with the Jewish Community Security Group NSW (CSG NSW), she recalls that antisemitism was once considered an outdated issue. However, the situation has changed dramatically for her children, who now live under constant surveillance and fear.
The Aftermath of the Bondi Terror Attack
Ms Levy wears a bee broach, a symbol honoring Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi shooting. She explains that this pin represents the loss caused by two years of unchecked antisemitism. “We can’t afford to lose any more people,” she says.
Another witness, known as Dina, shared how her daughter became fearful during a visit to Bondi Beach. When asked why she was upset, the girl replied, “Now when I come to Bondi, I think about dying.” This sentiment reflects the deep psychological impact of antisemitism on young members of the community.
Tali Pinsky, a Jewish Israeli academic who moved to Australia in 2025, described the challenges her family faces. They often draw stares when speaking Hebrew or mentioning their origins. “People just stare at us and stop speaking to us or turn their back and go,” she said. Despite feeling proud of their heritage, they are constantly aware of the scrutiny they receive.
Pinsky also highlighted the difficulty of reporting antisemitic content on social media. Many times, her reports were dismissed, with platforms claiming the material did not violate their guidelines. Some witnesses chose to use pseudonyms to protect their privacy, and police maintained a strong presence during the hearings.
Fear and Isolation in Schools
A mother from Geelong, known as AAP, shared how her children were disturbed by antisemitic remarks from peers. Her son mentioned that some classmates had discussed dressing up as Adolf Hitler or the alleged Bondi Beach shooters for their Year 12 muck-up day. She wanted to address the issue with the school, but her children preferred to stay quiet out of fear of being isolated or teased.
Nir Golan, a Sydney father of three, recounted a traumatic incident in 2023 when he was abused on a Bondi Junction street. A man in military-style clothing shouted racial slurs, performed a Nazi salute, and made a finger gun gesture toward his head. Golan broke down and started shaking uncontrollably. Since then, he no longer allows his children to wear their kippahs in public.
Léa Levy spoke about the difficulty of avoiding antisemitism on social media and the one-sided coverage of the Israel-Gaza war in mainstream news. “I work in an office building. Every morning, I have to look at headlines that accuse Israel without ever talking about Israelis’ pain,” she said.
Increased Security Measures
Jeremy Stowe-Lindner, principal of Bialik College in Melbourne, described the increasing number of antisemitic incidents faced by students. “They will normalise quickly the abnormal,” he said. High fences, hidden wires, and armed guards have become standard at Jewish schools and events.
Stowe-Lindner noted that the school experienced about one antisemitic incident per month before October 7, 2023, when over 1,200 people were killed by Hamas. Since then, the incidents have escalated to an “avalanche.” To cope, the school increased the security levy paid by parents from $500 to $800 per child annually. “It is a tax on Jews to keep them safe,” he said.
Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, emphasized that while being Jewish has always been dangerous, Australia is no longer the haven it once was. “People hide their Jewishness, but they are still proud,” he said. He expressed hope that the royal commission would lead to meaningful recommendations to combat the pervasive culture of antisemitism.
Recommendations and Future Outlook
Royal Commissioner Virginia Bell SC delivered an interim report, making 14 recommendations to improve Australia’s counter-terrorism capabilities. She linked the sharp spike in antisemitic incidents to events in the Middle East. The commission has received over 7,400 submissions, with additional hearing blocks scheduled in the coming months. A final report is expected a year after the Bondi terror attack.
