Taking antisemitism to the authorities
Rabbi Shmueli Feldman has had a successful meeting with ACT Police and Planning Minister Mick Gentleman MLA and the ACT Chief Police Liaison Officer Allison Hutchinson following the recent spate of anti-social and antisemitic activities perpetrated against the Jewish community in Canberra.
Rabbi Shmueli Feldman, Mick Gentleman and Allison Hutchinson
The discussions included strengthening the Jewish communities’ relationship with the police and the need to have a commitment for tougher measures to combat perpetrators of vandalism and hate crimes.
Ideas for preventative programs aimed at youth to engage them with productive outlets were also discussed at length and will be followed up with the relevant Ministries.
After the meeting the chairman of Chabad ACT Rabbi Feldman commented: “What we are seeing in today’s society with youth vandalism becoming endemic in Canberra can be largely attributed to a generation of children being raised without faith in G-d. The idea of “an eye that always sees and an ear that always hears” is so important to convey to children from a young age so it can help shape their choices when they think no-one’s watching.”
But belief in and of itself will not suffice. Of equal importance is to ensure that significantly more resources are poured into creating spaces and programs for our youth to be positively stimulated.”
