Jewish community group details 'unprecedented' security needs

The peak body for Victoria's Jewish community has stated that police engagement has failed to create a sense of safety amid increasing antisemitism. The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is examining the security needs of Australia's Jewish communities in the aftermath of the October 2023 Hamas attack in Israel. Naomi Levin, representing the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, testified that security requirements at Jewish sites have escalated significantly as antisemitic incidents rose during Israel's military campaign in Gaza. "It's unprecedented for a community organisation to be sitting behind the level of security that we do," Levin said, adding that it has become "entirely necessary" over her years with the organization. Levin noted that while the council began regular police engagement after October 2023, there was a "disconnect" between some discussions with police and what could be communicated to the broader community. She highlighted a clash between two protest groups in Melbourne's CBD in 2024, where Jewish individuals peacefully demonstrating faced extreme vitriol. "There was a perception that police didn't step in and didn't do what needed to be done," she stated, a sentiment that persisted at subsequent protests. While acknowledging that community members felt let down by some police responses, Levin explained that the council sometimes received operational information it could not share publicly. "When people don't see the police, they don't perceive them as being actively engaged in protecting the community," she said. Levin described the difficulty in bridging the gap between the police's efforts, which the council understands, and the community's feeling of not being seen or protected. The commission has previously heard that the community-run Community Safety Group has significantly increased its provision of security services for Jewish events and at-risk locations. Evidence this week has also included accounts of Jewish Australians hiding identity markers, children growing up with substantial security measures, and individuals fearing attendance at religious events. A volunteer from a Sydney-based Jewish youth camp reported that the program has been overhauled to limit participants' public exposure due to parental concerns about safety.

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It's unprecedented for a community organisation to be sitting behind the level of security that we do.