More trauma, exclusion, fear… and more pride

Jewish Victorians have experienced exclusion from public life, reported post-traumatic mental health symptoms and felt a high level of personal strain since the October 7 Hamas attack, a new report has revealed.

Turning Point: The Victorian Jewish Community After October 7, released by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) on Monday, depicts a fundamentally different Victorian Jewish community compared to 18 months ago.   

Drawing on 17 in-depth interviews with Jewish community leaders from a diverse range of organisations, from service provision to youth initiatives and religious institutions, the report identified a number of shifts across six key areas – social cohesion, mental health, community leadership, safety, community engagement and media consumption. 

These interviews are supported by findings from published research undertaken by Jewish Care Victoria, CSG Victoria, AUJS, ACJC and the Online Hate Prevention Institute.

“This report captures a pivotal moment in our Victorian Jewish community,” JCCV president Philip Zajac said. “I urge leaders of Jewish community organisations to review the findings of this report and consider how they best respond to the challenges and opportunities documented.”  

One of the most pressing concerns raised in the report is the erosion of social cohesion. Jewish Victorians said they were either excluded from public life or voluntarily retreated in order to avoid harassment and racial targeting.