Antisemitism Report 2009 - World Jewish Congress

understanding of Jews and Judaism. It is also disturbing that debate still rages in a number
of mainstream churches as to the legitimacy of Judaism in the Christian era.
2.8 Jewish Stereotypes
Out-dated and puerile as the stereotype of Jews as unethical and stingy may appear to be, it
has had remarkable resilience in the repertoire of a number of humorists, including some
within the mainstream media. Anti-Jewish humour in social contexts in contemporary
Australia also often revolves around such stereotypes, occasionally even receiving broadcast
on radio.
The racist and antisemitic sub-culture which exists in the gutters of Australian society not
only benefits from such negative portrayals of Jewish Australians but incorporates such
imagery into propaganda designed to depict Jews as fundamentally undeserving of a role in
Australian life.
2.9 "Street Antisemitism"
At various times over the past sixty years, when there has been anecdotal evidence that
racism against any segment of Australian society is increasing there has been a concurrent
increase in reports of crude and unthinking antisemitic comments made in the workplace,
educational institutions and in public places towards individuals who were or were believed
to be Jewish. This type of abuse is indistinguishable from that aimed at other minority
groups such as Indigenous Australians, Asians and Muslims.
There is nothing to suggest that this type of offensive and insulting behaviour represented
any particular targeting of, or specific threat to, the Jewish community. It does support the
thesis that, in the mind of the Australian bigot, being Jewish is sufficient to be thought of as
―the other‖.
2.10 The Effect of Vilification
One immediate effect of vilification and the perpetuation of stereotypes is to intimidate
those who are the victims of group defamation. Another effect is the distortion of public
debate. A cumulative effect is to provide both inspiration and rationale for physical attacks
on the members of the group which has been depicted as existentially opposed to the
interests of the majority.
In Australia, vilification of Jews is present to varying degrees throughout the media and at
many different levels of society. On matters of public interest which have an aspect which
gives them particular significance for Australian Jewry, discussion can be skewed due to
antisemitic prejudice. The Australian Jewish community also experiences hundreds of
incidents each year of harassment, intimidation, vandalism or other acts which conform to
the pattern of racist violence. While it is difficult to prove the causal connection between
individual instances of antisemitic vilification and physical actions motivated by anti-Jewish
hatred or prejudice, it is not at all difficult to draw the nexus between hateful language and
acts motivated by hate.
16