Australian Holocaust Survivor Warns of Troubling Parallels as Jewish Community Faces Rising Antisemitism
One week after a deadly antisemitic shooting in Sydney, Australia, a royal commission investigating antisemitism has heard alarming testimonies about the growing security concerns and discrimination faced by the Jewish community. Tyson Wodak, chairman of Melbourne's Bialik Jewish School, testified that Jewish students are being instructed to hide their religious identity by avoiding wearing school uniforms in public. Similar security measures have been adopted by Jewish youth camps, where children are told to conceal Jewish symbols and disable phone location services for safety reasons.
Jewish institutions report a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents, including graffiti, hate mail, threats, and vandalism with swastikas. Security costs have surged dramatically, with Bialik School raising its security budget by approximately 230% since the October 7 attack, and Mount Scopus School doubling its expenses. Rabbis and community leaders described a constant security presence at synagogues and a growing fear among worshippers.
George Foster, president of the Australian Holocaust Survivors and Descendants Organization, cautioned against ignoring "disturbing parallels" to pre-Holocaust Germany, noting that Jews today fear public identification, face exclusion from public spaces, and endure conspiracy theories and hate speech. Some Jewish families are considering emigrating to Israel or other countries due to safety concerns.
The royal commission, established in January 2026 following the Bondi Beach terror attack, is conducting public hearings focused this week on the Jewish community’s security needs. It is examining law enforcement responses, coordination with community security groups, government funding for protection, and emergency preparedness. The commission, chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Virginia Bell, aims to deliver a final report with binding recommendations by December 14, 2026, to combat rising antisemitism and strengthen social cohesion in Australia.
The hearings continue through July 24 in Melbourne before moving to Sydney, with testimony also addressing antisemitism on university campuses and the response of Australia’s top five universities.
