Sydney Jewish Museum at Parliamentary Inquiry

A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry into antisemitism has been told some Jewish people are withdrawing from society due to fears they’ll be targeted. Jewish leaders say there’s been a massive rise in the number of antisemitic incidents in the state. They were attacks that struck fear into Sydney’s Jewish community and, while some have since been linked with organised crime, that hasn’t diminished their effect.

Sydney Jewish Museum’s CEO Kevin Sumption was widely reported in the media following appearances by himself and Head of Education Sandy Hollis. Sumption told the inquiry “Our staff have endured many, many threats.”

The inquiry heard that increasing education about antisemitism could help prevent negative perceptions of the Jewish community, especially in an environment where social media is amplifying discriminatory attitudes.

For the first time, the Jewish community of Australia and New South Wales has felt unsafe and at risk. According to the Jewish Board of Deputies, incidents of antisemitism were up more than 300% from 2023 to 2024.

The Museum’s submission to the inquiry noted it was ideally positioned and qualified to tackle these problems through education that inspired knowledge and tolerance:

“In a world of increasing polarity there is an urgent need for education programs that foster awareness of the social responsibilities that are intrinsic to Australian citizenship and that actively encourage critical thinking around the destructive and far-reaching consequences of undermining social cohesion. At the Sydney Jewish Museum, we believe that by engaging with current as well as historical issues, students will come to appreciate the diverse beliefs and values inherent in the mosaic of cultures and traditions that make up Australian society today.”

Image: SJM CEO Kevin Sumption at the Inquiry. Photo courtesy of NSW Parliamentary Video Record.