The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is set to begin its first public hearings, where harrowing examples of antisemitism will be shared. Counsel assisting the commission, Zelie Heger SC, used her opening address to highlight some of the most disturbing cases, including one involving children on a school bus.
“Overt abuse isn’t just between adults. Perpetrators have included both adults and children, and in one tragic incident, a young student told a Jewish student that Hitler should have gassed them all,” Heger said during the hearing.
Heger also pointed out that the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, marked a “significant turning point for antisemitism in Australia.” This event has led to increased awareness and concern about the rise of antisemitic sentiments within the country.
Richard Lancaster SC, another counsel assisting the commission, outlined future plans for the hearings. These include investigating the circumstances surrounding the Bondi Beach terror attack and focusing on antisemitism on social media, particularly how it may contribute to radicalisation. Universities and other public institutions are also expected to be part of future discussions.
The commission will use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which states: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.”
Sheina Gutnick, the daughter of Reuven Morrison, who was killed during the Bondi Beach attack, is the first witness before the commission. Her father was killed while trying to protect others during the attack on December 14. She was a signatory to an open letter from victims’ families demanding answers and accountability from the government, alongside a Commonwealth royal commission.
Other witnesses scheduled to appear on Monday include Rabbi Benjamin Elton from The Great Synagogue and Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Ryvchin’s former home in Dover Heights was firebombed during Sydney’s so-called summer of hate.
The first block of hearings, starting at 10am, will continue until Friday, May 15. Virginia Bell, a former High Court judge, will preside over the initial phase, with the focus on defining antisemitism and the lived experiences of Jewish Australians.
Bell recently released her interim report, which examined NSW Police and security agencies and possible failures that may have contributed to the Bondi Beach terrorist attack. In this attack, 15 people, mostly Jewish, were killed on the first night of Hanukkah last year.
As of April 30, the royal commission reported receiving over 7,500 submissions, with the majority coming from New South Wales, followed by Victoria. Of these, more than 4,000 respondents identified as Jewish, over 1,000 did not identify as Jewish, and the rest preferred not to disclose their identity, according to the latest update from the commission.
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