20% of Australian Jewish women experienced verbal or physical abuse since Oct. 7, poll finds
One in five Australian Jewish women has experienced verbal or physical abuse since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel, while 80 percent say they or a family member have faced antisemitism, according to a survey released Tuesday.
The National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (NCJWA) report highlights what it describes as widespread antisemitism in a country where Jews make up just 0.5 percent of the 28 million population, with many now considering leaving.
The survey found 20 percent reported physical violence or verbal abuse, and 81 percent said they or an immediate family member had experienced antisemitism since Oct. 7.
It also found 54 percent have made major behavioral or lifestyle changes because of antisemitism, and 69 percent said they were accused of being “genocidal” due to identifying as Jewish, Israeli, or Zionist.
Two-thirds said they have been blamed for Israel or the IDF’s actions, and nearly 60 percent encountered claims that Israel has no right to exist. More than half said the Oct. 7 massacre, in which about 1,200 people were killed, was justified or did not happen, while 43 percent reported being told Jews are modern-day Nazis.
NCJWA president Lynda Ben-Menashe said the findings show antisemitism is “not marginal; it’s widespread,” adding that it is “incredibly sad” many Jewish Australian women are considering leaving what was once seen as a haven.
Community advocate Marnie Perlsetin said she has received daily threats since Oct. 7, forcing her to upgrade home security, and called it “shameful and frightening” given the community’s small size.
The survey of 668 women was conducted over eight months from last July to February, spanning both before and after the Bondi Beach Chanukah massacre that killed 15 people in Australia’s deadliest terrorist attack.
About 110,000 Jews live in Australia, mainly in Melbourne and Sydney.
