Jewish Australians urged to open homes for storytelling push to antisemitism Royal Commission
Jewish families and others who have experienced or witnessed antisemitism are being urged to open their homes this Sunday night for a coordinated community effort to drive submissions to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
The initiative, titled the National Night of Storytelling, will see small groups gather in living rooms around the country to write and submit personal accounts of antisemitism ahead of the Commission’s late May deadline.
Jewish families encouraged to join the National Night of Storytelling this Sunday
Organised by ShareYourStory, the campaign invites hosts to bring together around 10 friends or community members on Sunday 3 May at 7pm AEST. Participants will join a national Zoom briefing before spending time documenting their experiences since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel.
Organisers say the aim is to translate lived experience into formal submissions, responding directly to calls from Commissioner Virginia Bell for first-hand accounts.
“Stories have always brought our community together. Now they can help shape a national response to antisemitism,” a ShareYourStory message states.
The format is deliberately simple. No legal knowledge or preparation is required, and even a short account of an incident at school, university, work, on public transport or online is considered valuable. Submissions can be made anonymously and updated over time.
Hosts are only expected to provide a space and invite trusted participants. A national Zoom session at 7:15pm will include an opening address and guest speaker, followed by about 45 minutes of guided writing. Support will be available through volunteers, including emotional assistance via Jewish House and legal input from the Jewish Centre for Law and Justice and Arnold Bloch Leibler. The session is expected to conclude around 8:45pm.
ShareYourStory is a joint initiative backed by a broad coalition of Jewish organisations, including the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, the Zionist Federation of Australia, the National Council of Jewish Women Australia, the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, the Jewish Centre for Law and Justice, the Northfield Foundation, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students and the Jewish Communal Appeal, along with philanthropic support from The Dor Foundation.
“This is Australia’s first Royal Commission on antisemitism. What we share will shape Australia’s future,” the group states.
Menorah memorial for Bondi Beach massacre victims
The Royal Commission was established on 9 January 2026 following the antisemitic terror attack at a Chanukah event at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, in which 15 people were killed. Its interim report, released on 30 April 2026, made 14 recommendations to strengthen counter-terrorism responses, with five recommendations classified for security reasons.
Submissions remain open until at least the end of May, with more than 3,500 already received.
Public hearings examining the nature and prevalence of antisemitism, including lived experiences of Jewish Australians, will begin in Sydney on Monday 4 May 2026 and run until 15 May.
The push comes against a backdrop of sustained high incident levels. The ECAJ recorded 2,062 antisemitic incidents in the year following October 7, 2023, followed by a further 1,654 in the subsequent 12 months. The figures represent a sharp rise on pre-October 7 levels, including increases in serious incidents such as arson and vandalism.
Organisers say individual testimony is critical to the Commission’s work.
“The Commission can only act on what it hears,” they explain.
Those unable to attend a gathering can still lodge submissions directly via the Commission’s website.
With hearings about to begin and the interim report now public, organisers say the National Night of Storytelling is an effort to ensure personal experiences play a central role in shaping the Commission’s final recommendations.
Alternatively, you can join one of the submission writing workshops organised by NCJWA. These are designed to help people prepare contributions to the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. The sessions offer practical guidance on structure, evidence and confidentiality, while giving participants a supportive space to share experiences and ensure their voices are heard.
Details here: https://events.humanitix.com/royal-commission-on-antisemitism-and-social-cohesion-workshops
For more information:
ShareYourStory: www.shareyourstory.org.au/storytelling
Email: [email protected]
Royal Commission submissions: https://asc.royalcommission.gov.au/share-your-story/submissions
Jewish House support: 1300 544 357
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