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Jewish Council of Australia
Formation2024
Purpose
  • Representation for non-Zionist Australian Jews
  • Support of Palestinian freedom and justice
  • Opposition to antisemitism and racism
HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
Executive officer
Sarah Schwartz
Max Kaiser
Elizabeth Strakosch
Websitewww.jewishcouncil.com.au

The Jewish Council of Australia is a left-wing Australian Jewish advocacy organisation, founded in February 2024. It was founded to represent non-Zionist Australian Jews, support Palestinian causes, and oppose antisemitism and racism. The Jewish Council, which does not claim to represent all Jews in Australia, is led by by human rights lawyer Sarah Schwartz and historian Max Kaiser. Its views have been opposed by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

Background and people

Jewish Council of Australia was founded as an Australian Jewish advocacy organisation[1] in February 2024 by self-described progressive Jews.[2][3] It was founded to represent non-Zionist Australian Jews,[4] support Palestinian causes,[5] and oppose antisemitism and racism.[6][7][8]

The organisation is co-led by human rights lawyer Sarah Schwartz and historian Max Kaiser.[3][9] Notable members of the advisory committee include Louise Adler, Rhonda Galbally, Antony Loewenstein, Dennis Altman, Josh Bornstein, Roy Green, and Clare Wright.[9]

Positions and activities

The organisation was founded on the premise that the existing Jewish bodies insufficiently represented the diversity of Jewish viewpoints regarding criticism of the State of Israel and its positions vis-a-vis the Palestinians. Additionally, the Council's position is that it will combat far-right antisemitism and neo-Nazism.[8]

The Jewish Council opposes Australia's legislating the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism.[10][11]

It has criticised what it classifies as conflation of criticism of Israel with antisemitism. In February 2024 it criticised speakers at a rally in support of Israel for "weaponising the Holocaust" and treating criticism of Israel as antisemitic, and in May 2024 stated that claims of antisemitism were "being used to crack down on legitimate political expression and peaceful protests on campuses" in relation to pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.[11][12]

In May 2024, the organisation stated their support for Labor Senator Fatima Payman when she described the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip as a "genocide".[13] The Jewish Council also criticised the Albanese government for appointing Jillian Segal as special envoy on antisemitism, stating that she would be unable to differentiate between criticism of Israel and antisemitism.[2]

In September 2024, the organisation gave evidence to a Senate inquiry on antisemitism, stating their opposition to the Coalition's proposed legislation relating to antisemitism.[14] In the written submission, the organisation opposed the bill as "to establish a Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism considering its potential to create a hierarchy of categories of racism, exacerbate division, and undermine collaborative, multicultural, multi-faith efforts to tackle racism.""[15]

Reception in the Jewish community

In July 2024, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) described the Jewish Council of Australia as "far-left" and "a micro-group which represents only a thin sliver of opinion on the far-left margins of the Australian Jewish community". This statement was made following the Jewish Council of Australia's labelling the ECAJ as a "right-wing Zionist group". The Jewish Council of Australia stated in response that the organisation does not claim to be representative of all Jews in Australia.[16]

2025 QUT incident

In January 2025, the Jewish Council's executive officer, Sarah Schwartz, presented at an anti-racism symposium comedy event at Queensland University of Technology (QUT).[17] While media were barred from the event, footage of Schwartz's presentation were made public.[18][19] An issue arose out of a presentation slide featuring "Dutton's Jew", which, according to Schwartz, was intended to ridicule the "imaginary conception of Jewish people" held by Opposition leader Peter Dutton and the Coalition.[20] The presentation materials were received unfavourably by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which accused Schwartz of producing a display of antisemitism.[21][22] The university also faced criticism over the incident from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, the representative body of Jews in New South Wales,[19] and Education Minister Jason Clare called on the university to enforce its code of conduct.[17] The incident also led to criticism by the Anti-Defamation Commission, which questioned the Jewish Council's purported lending of expertise to media on issues relating to antisemitism.[23] In response, Schwartz claimed that the backlash to her presentation was the result of a smear campaign by the "the Murdoch press and pro-Israel lobby groups".[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ Visontay, M. New Jewish Council seeks to draw a line between Jews and Israel. The Jewish Independent. 12 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Anthony Albanese announces antisemitism envoy, says Jewish people 'do not feel safe'". SBS News. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b Dumas, Daisy (31 March 2024). "A fresh Jewish voice: the new Australian group opposing antisemitism – and Israel's conduct". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  4. ^ Stone, Deborah. "Who speaks for Australian Jews?". The Jewish Independent. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  5. ^ "About Us". Jewish Council Australia. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Joint statement on recent hate crimes in Australia". Jewish Council Australia. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  7. ^ "Jewish Council Australia - Home". Jewish Council of Australia. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b Schwartz, Sarah (8 February 2024). "Interview with Sarah Schwartz, Jewish Council of Australia" (video). 10NewsFirst (Interview). Interviewed by Jacobs, Narelda. Retrieved 14 September 2024 – via Instagram.
  9. ^ a b "Jewish Council Australia - About Us". Jewish Council of Australia. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Nearly 80 per cent of Australian Jews are Zionist. What does that mean?". ABC News. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  11. ^ a b Carr, Cameron (2 May 2024). "This country is set to broaden its definition of antisemitism. Some critics say it goes too far". SBS News. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  12. ^ Wong, Kat (19 February 2024). "'Anti-Semitic' rally weaponised memory: Jewish council". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  13. ^ "'From the river to the sea': Labor senator breaks ranks to accuse Israel of genocide". SBS News. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Jewish Council of Australia to speak at Senate inquiry today opposing Coalition's divisive antisemitism Bill". Jewish Council of Australia. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Public Hearings - Inquiry into a Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024 (No. 2)". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  16. ^ Visontay, Michael. "ECAJ attacks unrepresentative Jewish advocacy – but selectively - The Jewish Independent". The Jewish Independent. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  17. ^ a b Yim, Noah. "Jason Clare to QUT: enforce your code of conduct". The Australian. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  18. ^ Bizarre "anti-racism" conference at QUT slammed. Australian Jewish News. Accessed 1 February 2025.
  19. ^ a b Couacaud, Tayla. ‘Locking up babies’: Senator Lidia Thorpe slams Qld’s new laws. The Daily Telegraph. Accessed 1 February 2025.
  20. ^ a b Schwartz, Sarah (28 January 2025). "When Peter Dutton and the Coalition use the Jewish community as political footballs it makes all of us less safe". the Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  21. ^ Antisemitic display at Queensland University of Technology. Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Accessed 1 February 2025.
  22. ^ QUT anti-racism conference anger. Australian Jewish News. Accessed 1 February 2025.
  23. ^ Panagopoulos, Joanna. Questions about ABC platforming ‘radical fringe Jewish voice'. The Australian. Accessed 1 February 2025.
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