Aussie Jewish leader sounds alarm in Berlin on antisemitism in Australia

As the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the J7 Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism has released its inaugural J7 Annual Report on Antisemitism, documenting sharp increases in antisemitic incidents in the seven largest Jewish communities outside of Israel.

The findings were unveiled at a press conference in Berlin, where Alex Ryvchin, co-Chair of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), issued a stark warning about the implications for Australia.

Ryvchin said that Australia’s 317 percent increase in antisemitic incidents in 2024 represented the sharpest rise among the countries studied, and a serious failure of national institutions. The countries analysed include Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. While the United States recorded a 5 percent rise, Australia’s spike was described by Ryvchin as both staggering and deeply concerning.

“This report presents the most comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of antisemitism in the western world since October 7,” Ryvchin said. “All of our communities have been afflicted by this, but the situation in Australia presents a particularly staggering depiction of how healthy multicultural societies can be captured by networks of extremists who succeed in fundamentally altering relations between Jews and non-Jews and causing the Jewish community to question its future in a country where its roots are deep, and its contributions have been profound.”

Ryvchin criticised the lack of resolve from government and law enforcement, warning that inaction creates space for extremists. “When antisemitism is not met with sufficient force of policing, law and political leadership, it can escalate into devastating violence,” he said. “Weak responses attract the most vicious elements of society ranging from religious and ideological fanatics to organised crime.”

The J7 report outlines a range of concerning patterns, including physical attacks, repeated targeting of Jewish schools and synagogues, rising online hate, and growing anxiety within Jewish communities about visibly expressing their identity. Germany recorded more than 38 antisemitic incidents per 1,000 Jewish residents in 2023. The United Kingdom reported 13 per 1,000.

Ryvchin commended the international collaboration behind the J7 report, calling it “a testament to the work of the ADL in convening the J7 and the outstanding cooperation between its member communities.”

Other speakers at the Berlin event also noted the gravity of the report’s timing. Dr Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, said antisemitic threats were no longer confined to the margins. “It now comes from a front that cuts across the left and right, from Islamists to the very centre of society,” he said.

Across Canada, France and the other J7 countries, Jewish leaders described widespread fear, exclusion and frustration at insufficient governmental response. Incidents have included school firebombings, vandalism of Jewish businesses, and threats against places of worship and community gatherings.

In response, the J7 Task Force is urging government as to adopt the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism, a new framework for protecting Jewish communities and ensuring legal accountability for hate crimes and incitement.

Ryvchin’s message to Australia was unequivocal: without determined leadership at all levels, the antisemitic crisis will deepen. The safety and long-term viability of Jewish life in Australia, he warned, is now in question.