Published: 20 November 2025
Last updated: 3 December 2025
The ashes of a burned synagogue form a powerful argument for the heart. Since the arson attack on the Adass Israel in late 2024, Australia’s antisemitism policy has been framed by this inescapable image, seared into our brains and without equivalent in our country’s history.
We have since learned that neither the Adass attack nor the attack on Continental Kitchens in Sydney in October 2024 were a result of homegrown antisemitism. ASIO has confirmed that the Iranian government paid Australia criminals to attack these, and possibly other, Jewish targets.
Home-grown antisemitism is, however, responsible for a rash of antisemitic attacks including a shocking 65 cases of physical assault and 29 of vandalism in 2023-24. Jews are fearful and intimidated by actions such as the convoy across Melbourne to a Caulfield synagogue, death threats and doxing of Jewish artists, and the notorious ‘Kill the Jews’ chant at the Sydney Opera House just days after the October 7 massacre.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) recorded 2,062 anti-Jewish incidents in Australia between October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, quadruple the previous year.
In this context, it is essential to understand what Australians think so their understanding and values can be utilised to fight the antisemitic threat to Australia’s proud tradition of social cohesion, tolerance and multiculturalism.
Comments3
Deborah Stone3 December at 09:01 am
Apologies for the error. It’s been corrected.
Jack29 November at 08:29 am
You state that policy should be based on data, fair enough. However, you also state “Since the arson attack on the Adass Israel in late 2023”. With the greatest of respect the arson attack on Adass Israel Synagogue occurred in the early hours of 6 December 2024. This date is seared in the memory of many of our community, but not TJI. Where is the editing in allowing such an obvious mistake? Facts matter. Opinion is cheap.
Dan20 November at 05:45 am
“It is also easier to draw a sharp distinction between Australian Jews and Israel – to argue that we are not Israelis, we are not responsible for Israel’s actions, and that to attack Jews or Jewish institutions because of anger with Israel is misdirected.”
This website literally posted an article just last week that explicitly encouraged all Australian Jews (even those with no direct connection at all to Israel) to identify as “Israeli”.