Uber passenger refuses ride with Jewish Uber driver
The Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) has condemned a shocking antisemitic incident in Melbourne
during which a passenger told an uber driver to stop the car after finding out he was Jewish.
The victim, who is in his 60s, contacted the ADC after his ordeal which took place on Tuesday, August 25 at 12:18 pm when the driver received an Uber trip from Airport West to Moonee Ponds.
The driver, who in his Uber app photo can be seen wearing a yamulka, related the traumatic incident to ADC chairman Dvir Abramovich:
“About 45 seconds into the trip, the man asked me if my name was Naftoli and if I was Jewish. When I answered that I was, he then said that he didn’t want a Jew driving him and asked to get out.
I pulled over to the curb, and as he was getting out, he started calling me names such as Jewish scumbag. I was quite shaken by this and was concerned that he would assault me.”
The incident was reported to Uber headquarters immediately after the passenger left, and the driver today will file a complaint with Victoria Police.
Uber told J-Wire: “Our specialist support team based in Sydney looked into this incident when it was reported and the rider’s access to the Uber app has been permanently removed.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“This horrifying escalation in antisemitism must stop. The ugly clouds of bigotry have darkened the skies of our city again, and the growing stain of antisemitism cannot be allowed to become the new reality and the new normal in Melbourne.
Harassment, verbal assaults and stomach-churning intimidation against Jews are becoming a feature of our daily life, and I am deeply concerned that such violent words may result in serious injury or death. An explosive outburst such as this one not only traumatises the victim but deeply scars the entire community and leave them scared and vulnerable.
It may be an uncomfortable truth for many, but the surge in horrific attacks against Jews is on a scale that is frightening in its intensity. This terrifying incident provides further evidence that racists are less inhibited about expressing their poisonous bigotry, and is a grim reminder that antisemitism remains a persistent problem.. Australians of all faiths should feel secure, without the fear of being targeted for vilification and abuse because of their appearance or religion.
We must redouble our efforts to address the growing threat of antisemitism in Australia. This is a time
to come together around our shared values of decency and respect and condemn
such outrage.”
A spokesperson for Uber told J-Wire: “There is no place for antisemitism on the Uber platform, or anywhere in our society.
Discriminatory or abusive behaviour is a clear breach of Uber’s Community Guidelines. We would encourage any driver, or rider, who experiences this kind of appalling behaviour to report it to us so we look into the matter and take appropriate action.”
Uber has a dedicated law enforcement team who are on call to work with police 24/7 to respond to urgent matters and assist in investigations.
I am a jewish uber driver in Sydney and I often have had a rider who is obviously Muslim and I find a way during conversation to let him know that I am Jewish and I have never experienced a problem.However on one occasion on a Friday late morning I was driving him to Mosque for Friday prayers and after some very good conversation about Judaism and Islam he actually invited me to join him into the Mosque,which I with apologies declined.
I said Salam Aleichem and he said shalom Aleichem .
With antisemitism at an all time high beggars belief why
Left wing Rabbi Genende at Caulfield Hebrew Congregation is promoting a BLACK LIVES MATTER event at his Shule knowing full well this insidious group have an anti Semitic platform and aligned with hard core Palestinian and Muslim groups .. Surely our Jewish organisations do their homework before embarrassing our community and angering my many Caulfield Synagogue friends!
This event also has a Left wing American Rabbi known to be a ‘Maverick ‘ for his views .. I guess not all Caulfield Synagogue Congregant Lives matter unless they are progressive Left!