'Australia's Anti-Semitism Crisis' by Claire Lehmann

Claire Lehmann discusses the aftermath of a firebombing at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne and the perceived leadership failures in Australia relating to antisemitism. Lehmann argues that there is a leadership vacuum as key figures like Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fail to adequately address antisemitic incidents. This institutional indifference is highlighted by several instances where Jewish Australians were intimidated, and their safety compromised, which elicits historical parallels to events like Kristallnacht. Lehmann criticizes both government and corporate sectors for their silence and calls for a more decisive response to distinguish between legitimate criticism of Israeli policies and outright antisemitism. The narrative suggests that societal frameworks often fail to recognize the victimization of successful communities like the Jewish population when subjected to hate-driven violence.