Israeli Family Faces Visa Denial and Harassment During Bar Mitzvah Trip to Australia and New Zealand

The Cohen family's bar mitzvah trip to Australia and New Zealand turned into a distressing ordeal marked by visa delays, security interrogations, and hostile encounters. Michael Cohen, the father, recounted to Kikar HaShabbat that despite traveling with an American passport, his Australian visa application was initially rejected without explanation, while his wife and son received theirs promptly. After about three weeks and intervention from the local Jewish community, his visa was finally approved, but he had to buy a new plane ticket due to airline system issues. Upon arrival in Sydney, Cohen underwent extensive security checks and questioning, feeling treated like a dangerous criminal before being allowed entry.

During their visit to New Zealand, the family faced further difficulties when a conflict arose at a mini-golf venue after Cohen's son accidentally broke a score next to an Israeli flag on the leaderboard. The employee verbally abused and physically pushed Cohen and his wife, prompting Cohen to consider filing a complaint. Beyond these incidents, the family experienced a pervasive sense of fear and hostility, including hearing "Free Palestine" chants and feeling compelled to conceal their Israeli identity for the first time in their lives. Cohen expressed deep sadness over having to hide his Jewish and Israeli identity, which he had always worn proudly, describing the trip as a painful experience that forced him to suppress his heritage out of safety concerns.