Sydney rabbi vows ‘zero tolerance’ after son abused in antisemitic incident

Rabbi Yossi Friedman has vowed to ensure an alleged antisemitic attack on his eight-year-old son in Dover Heights does not “go unchecked”, after the boy was verbally abused and subjected to an obscene gesture while walking home from school.

The incident has drawn a determined response from the family and the wider community. “These are difficult times, and we’re not going to allow antisemitism to go unchecked,” Rabbi Friedman told J-Wire. “We’ve seen where that leads in our past, and sadly we’re seeing it again now when leaders don’t act strongly from the top. We have zero tolerance for anyone who demonstrates abusive behaviour.”

The incident occurred around 3pm last Friday afternoon on Military Road, Dover Heights, near Archie’s Café. The Kesser Torah College student was wearing his school uniform and kippah (head covering) as he walked towards Dudley Page Reserve.

A woman in her 30s, described as wearing a maroon-coloured hijab and walking a white, medium-sized dog, allegedly swore at the boy and raised her middle finger at him.

The child waited until the woman had turned the corner before fleeing. “He froze in the moment and then ran home,” Rabbi Friedman said, adding that his son was “obviously quite shocked and traumatised”.

Speaking in a post on Instagram, Rabbi Yossi and Chana Friedman praised their son’s decision to leave the situation safely. “We’re proud that he handled it calmly and got himself home,” they said.

The family immediately contacted police and the Community Security Group (CSG), who are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby homes and businesses in an effort to identify the woman.

Police officers reportedly believe the offender may be a local resident, given she was walking a dog. “We want to find her to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Rabbi Friedman said.

On Instagram, Chana Friedman highlighted the irony of the situation. “While she is free to express her religion by wearing a hijab, she chose to harass a child expressing his own faith,” she wrote. The family’s Instagram post about the incident has drawn strong public backing, receiving more than 18,000 likes and 4,000 comments. The outpouring of solidarity and outrage over the alleged harassment came from both Jewish and non-Jewish members of the community.

Rabbi Friedman confirmed police encouraged the family to publicise the incident, as hate crimes are often solved when neighbours recognise offenders. “We’ve already had people come forward with information,” he said.

The Friedman family has actively involved their son in the response process to help him recover. “We’re not going to let it slide. We wanted him to see that we’re taking it seriously,” Rabbi Friedman said, noting that participating in meetings with police and CSG has helped his healing.

While the boy is now doing better, he remains nervous about returning to the area. “He’s still anxious he might see her again when he plays in the park,” Rabbi Friedman said. “It’s heartbreaking that an eight-year-old should feel that way in his own neighbourhood.”

Rabbi Friedman said the attack reflects the growing hostility facing Jewish Australians since the Hamas attacks of October 7, referencing the pro-Palestinian protest at the Sydney Opera House on October 9, 2023.

The family has appealed for anyone who may have seen the woman, described as being in her 30s, wearing a maroon hijab and walking a white, medium-sized dog around Military Road, Dover Heights, to contact police or CSG.