To act against communal interests is to be an ‘anti-Jew’ Jew

This article is part of a debate. Read There is no such thing as an ‘anti-Jew’ Jew by Nomi Kaltmann.

I know how it feels to have your Jewish belonging questioned over politics.

I've been called "self-hating" for refusing to align with Netanyahu's government, told that criticising Israeli policy makes me a traitor to my people, and called a kapo for thinking Peter Dutton was not, in fact, the saviour of Australian Jews.

So, I understand why Nomi Kaltmann reacted so strongly when Lillian Kline called Sarah Schwartz  an “anti-Jew” Jew on ABC Radio.

Schwartz is Executive Officer of the Jewish Council of Australia, an organisation that describes itself as “an independent expert Jewish voice supporting human rights and opposing antisemitism and racism” but whose public statements focus overwhelmingly on criticising Israel and opposing actions against antisemitism supported by the mainstream community. 

She has opposed the visit of Israel’s president to Australia, called for new hate speech laws to be paused, and argued against the implementation of the recommendations of the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism.