AUCKLAND, New Zealand (WJC) — The New Zealand Jewish community has experienced “unprecedented levels” of antisemitic abuse since October 7, according to the New Zealand Jewish Council. Members of the country’s small Jewish community report feeling more vulnerable than they ever have in New Zealand.
Incidents include physical threats and intimidation, murder threats, vandalism of private and public property, online abuse, bullying of school students, targeting of businesses, signs at protests with violent antisemitic messages and grossly inflammatory language from religious and political leaders, according to the Council.
Half of the respondents to a survey conducted by the Center for Holocaust Education reported that their children had been subjected to antisemitism at school since October 7. The survey found that only 40% of parents reported incidents to schools, with one parent responding that the school in question had handled incidents badly previously. Other respondents reported that they find it preferable to go directly to the parents of the bullying child and another said their school was ill-equipped to deal with antisemitism.
Some of the antisemitic incidents described by parents who participated in the survey included a physical assault on a Jewish student in which he was locked in a room and attacked with a broomstick, students giving Nazi salutes to Jewish students, and various name-calling including “dirty Jew,” as well as allegations that Jews control the world.
Another incident involved a student taking a Jewish student’s school shirt and drawing a swastika and a Star of David side by side on it. Yet another student play-acted gassing a Jewish student. And in a further incident a Jewish child, when talking about not celebrating Christmas, was told by a fellow student that Jews chop off babies’ heads.
The New Zealand Jewish Council estimates the Jewish to be about 10,000 people, out of a total population of 5 million.
In a serious incident in early November, a fence on the property of the Israeli consulate in Auckland was doused in gasoline and set alight. The property is also adjacent to a synagogue building.
A 2021 survey by the New Zealand Jewish Council found that 60% of New Zealanders said they agreed with antisemitic statements.
“It is alarming to see an increase in antisemitic behavior and my thoughts with the Jewish community who are living in fear at the moment,” Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour told the Jewish Council.
Juliet Moses, spokesperson for the New Zealand Jewish Council, said in a statement that: “Many people have strong views about what is happening on the other side of the world. However, as Kiwis we must all strive to maintain a tolerant society and we call on leaders and authorities to make it clear that the antisemitism that is rapidly rising in all facets of life is unacceptable.”
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Preceding story provided by the World Jewish Congress