ADC News
Volume 2, No. 3
September 2009
Click against hate
Jewish schools have welcomed with open arms an ADC initiative to teach their students how to handle antisemitism online. ADC website and information officer Pam Goldman has been surveying the need for an online education program among Jewish schools in Melbourne. Teachers told her that students are constantly online and need practical skills in what to do if they come across antisemitism including Holocaust denial, delegitimization of Israel and personal abuse. Online hate expert Dr Andre Oboler is developing a program for the ADC which will be taken into schools at mid-secondary level next year. The program will work with the Jewish studies, information and communications technology and humanities curricula to bring students and teachers up to speed on antisemitism online and what to do about it.
 Future leaders find interfaith commonalities
Muslim and Jewish participants in the ADC's Multifaith Future Leaders program were struck by their many similarities when they shared a round table discussion last month. Rabbi Ralph Genende of Caulfield Hebrew Congregation and Mrs Sherene Hassan from the Islamic Council of Victoria (pictured) led a small but enthusiastic group of young leaders as they discussed the many commonalities between their faiths. They noted language similarities between Arabic and Hebrew, common attitudes to family life, common issues of dress and modesty and similarities in festivals, faith and traditions. One of the strong common beliefs is in the importance of charity and group is working towards a common charity project. They are also working to identify future participants for the 2010 Multifaith Future Leaders group.
Spate of swastikas in northern suburbs
 Swastika graffiti has made an appearance on signal boxes and an abandoned house in several locations in the northern suburbs. The most dramatic vandalism occurred in Heidelburg where an unoccupied house was covered in swastikas, white power signs and racist slogans attacking Indian students. Council has failed to act to remove the material, arguing that as it is private property it is a police matter. In Moreland, a swastika inside a Star of David was found on a signal box outside the East Brunswick Club. The symbol had the word "Israhell" and the name "Latuff", a reference to a Brazilian cartoonist who has drawn anti-Israel cartoons. It was removed promptly by the Moreland City Council after a complaint form the ADC. A similar swastika was found in Darebin but has yet to be removed.
Playing the Nazi Card
A British report surveying the use of Nazi references against Jews and Israel rang many bells when it was circulated by the ADC in Australia. The report by Paul Iganski and Abe Sweiry for the European Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism called for guidelines as to when swastikas and Nazi reference constitute incitement to racial hatred and for codes of practice within universities and the media. The ADC, which circulated the report as part of its Special Report series, said the concerns and responses were equally valid in the Australian context, where the "Nazi card" was increasingly a part of discourse, particularly around Israel. Read the full report on Understanding the Nazi Card here
Antisemitism hits school students
Jewish school students travelling by bus have been subjected to Heil Hitler signs and Hitler imitations by students at a local Catholic school. The students recently reported the antisemitic incidents. The ADC has been involved in providing education and support to the Jewish school students and contacting the principal of the Catholic school to prevent future occurrences. ADC Research director Deborah Stone told the Jewish students it was important they reported such incidents and did not merely"put up with them".
Harmony March great success 
The Jewish community turned out in force to support the Premier Harmony March in response to racist attacks on Indian students. The ADC joined with the Jewish Community Council of Victoria and the Zionist Council of Victoria to promote the event to the community under the banner "The Jewish community says no to racism". A huge crowd representing Melbourne's vast range of ethnic and religious groups made their way from the Exhibition Gardens to Federation Square to show their opposition to racism and support for harmony.
Antisemitism in literature evening coming soon
Excerpts from plays and films which portray Jews in difficult ways will be the subject of the next ADC lecture series event. Dr George Werther will direct a series of readings from a range of texts including The Merchant of Venice and the modern work on Israel Via Dolorosa. Film excerpts will include Chariots of Fire and Daniel Deronda. ADC Research director Deborah Stone will lead a discussion with psychoanalyst Carmela Levy-Stokes and literature teacher Michelle Prawer on how we understand and respond to the Jew in the Text. Sunday, 18 October 2009, 7.30 PM, B’nai B’rith House, 99 Hotham St, East St Kilda. Book here.
Staying secure
 Older people often feel less secure as they face the challenges of living alone, leaving a house temporarily empty when they go on holiday or just managing the challenges of change. The ADC recently held an information session for older people on Staying Secure. Leading Senior Constable Gary Oram gave the group tips on keeping their homes secure while Community Security Group Head of Support David Michelson spoke about broader security issues within the community. The group shared morning tea and were able to discuss their own experiences.
Thanks to appeal volunteers
The ADC ran a successful telephone appeal early August thanks in large part to a generous group of volunteers - many of them school students or B'nai B'rith members. The office staff were also extremely busy through this time, putting in evenings on the phones as well as manging the paperwork during the day.
| 
Antisemitism 
