Antisemitism prompts retreat to Jewish schools

Australian Jewish schools have reported an increase in enrolments this year, with antisemitism concerns prompting parents to reconsider state education.

Principals and senior leaders at several Jewish schools say they have new enrolments this year from students who were leaving non-Jewish schools specifically because of rising antisemitism and often because of specific incidents at their former schools.

Some new students had experienced negative attitudes in a non-Jewish educational environment, while others wanted to better connect with the Jewish community at this time.

King David principal Marc Light said incoming students had disclosed a range of antisemitic incidents at their previous schools, from racial slurs in the playground to hostility to Israel from teachers in the classroom.

“We have had a few parents mention antisemitism in other schools as part of their rationale for seeking enrolment,” Light told The Jewish Independent. 

“[This has] included negative comments by classmates such as the use of "Jew" as a slur, and another being called a "baby killer". There was one prospective enrolment who refused to attend their school due to what the parents believed was an inadequate response to antisemitic harassment. I have also heard of consternation regarding the well-publicised case of an anti-Israel activist teacher at Prahran High School."

Susie Rosen, who leads Masada’s marketing, communications and community engagement, said Jewish students had transferred from public schools to seek a safer environment last year and again at the start of this year.