More than 150 Jewish Australians have signed an open letter urging their fellow Jews to “end the silence” over the “slaughter of innocents” in Gaza by Israel.
The letter, organised by Vivienne Porzsolt of ‘Jews against the Occupation’, calls on all Australian Jews to take a public stand against the “brutal occupation of the Palestinians by Israel”, which is “being done in our name”.
In a written statement accompanying the letter, Porzsolt said many Australian Jews were appalled by the actions of Israel.
“The outrage that all people of humanity feel at the conduct of the State of Israel against the Palestinians can too easily be directed to Jews in general,” Porzsolt wrote.
“As we have seen with the ugly cartoon by Le Lievre and the antisemitic attack on the Jewish children on a Bondi bus, old antisemitic tropes re-emerge, fuelled by the atrocities committed by Israel.
“No racism, including antisemitism, is ever excusable. However, the Jewish community leadership promotes the identification of Jews with Israel and all its actions.
“They label Jewish critics of Israel as ‘self-hating’ and ‘not real Jews’. They debase the charge of antisemitism by applying it to all criticism of Israel. It is not surprising then that some may hold Jews in general responsible for Israel's actions.”
The letter is headed ‘An Appeal From Australian Jews to the Australian Jewish Community’ and the group includes doctors and professors, former politicians, writers, Order of Australia winners, educators, artists and academics.
It reads: “As Australians of Jewish identity and background, we are appalled at the current mass killing in Gaza by Israel. We reject the official mythology that Israel is under existential threat and acting in self-defence,” the letter reads.
“Since July 12, the Israeli army has killed more than 1,900 people in Gaza. Hospitals, schools, beaches, playgrounds – even UN shelters have been attacked.
“The whole world has reacted with horror and outrage.
“In the face of the destruction of so many lives, we cannot remain silent while the official Jewish leadership gives such active support to Israel's attack on Gaza.
“Their decision to stand with the oppressor rather than the oppressed is a betrayal of our history and values, when authentic moral leadership is more important than ever.
“Siege, occupation, the slaughter of innocents and collective punishment of an entire people are deeply wrong and unlawful.
“Yet the Jewish leadership uncritically promulgates the propaganda of the Israeli government that this is self-defence.
“They are failing to represent and serve the Jewish community.
“Silence is consent and evil triumphs when good people do nothing.
“We call on our fellow Jews to break their silence, to take a public stand, not just for an immediate cease-fire, but for an end to the underlying conditions of siege and occupation which defy elementary morality, decency and humanity, as well as international and humanitarian law.”
Below is the list of Australian Jews who have signed the letter. Porzsolt said other Australian Jews were welcome to attach their signature. You can get more details at the Jews Against The Occupation website.
1. Kate Alway 2. Dr Eran Asoulin 3. Willy Bach, peace researcher and poet 4. Dr Peter Balint 5. Dr Tony Balint 6. Judy Bamburger, management consultant 7. Sivan Barak, student 8. Dr Ditta Bartels, retired CEO, Inphaze 9. Somerset Bean, graphic designer 10. Alice Beauchamp 11. Lyn Bender, psychologist, writer 12. Robyn Bersten, professional researcher 13. David Bilander, engineer/analyst 14. Dr Geoffrey Binder, lecturer/tutor 15. Paul Blay, landscape architect 16. Dr Barbara Bloch 17. Alfiah Blond, nutritional medicine practitioner 18. Simon Blond, university lecturer 19. Karen Bloomberg, speech pathologist 20. Leah Bloomfield, education advisor 21. Professor John Bradley, Monash University 22. Jacki Braw 23. Mariann Brull 24. Michael Brull 25. Angela Budai,union official 26. Jenny Bush, retired rehabilitation counsellor 27. Susie Carleton 28. Su Carter, administration officer 29. Dr Barry Carr, historian 30. Martin Chanock, emeritus professor of law, La Trobe University 31. Associate Professor Peter Christoff, University of Melbourne 32. Ruth Clemens, retired secondary school teacher 33. Harry Cohen, AM 34. Ian Cohen, former MLC, NSW Parliament 35. Leone Cohen 36. Rachael Collinson, former journalist 37. Max Corden AC 38. Piera Dennerstein 39. Anneke Deutsch, retired prosthetist 40. Dr John Docker, writer 41. Janet Doherty 42. Dr Sara Dowse, author 43. Alec Drummond, library worker 44. Linda Eisler, former Councillor, Canterbury LMA 45. Nicole Ehrlich, research psychologist 46. Dr Marietta Elliott-Kleerkoper, writer, language consultant 47. Marsh Emerman, lecturer in film and TV 48. Harry Feldman 49. Naima Fine 50. Dr Michelle Fink, medical specialist 51. Corinne Fisher, professional educator, sustainability 52. Lee Flax, retired lecturer, Macquarie University 53. Gabrielle Flax 54. Professor Steve Frenkel 55. Nadia Fried, musician, teacher 56. Bonnie Gelman 57. Dr Guy Gillor, public health researcher 58. Dr Hal Ginges 59. Sandra Glasbeek, retired civil servant 60. Penelope Glass, theatre worker 61. Jack Grey 62. Joseph Halevi, senior lecturer, University of Sydney 63. Gaskell M Harris, former lecturer, computer science 64. David Heilpern LLB LLM 65. Davey Heller, bushland regeneration worker 66. David Hermolin, lead union organiser 67. Tim Hollo, musician and activist 68. Janine Israel 69. John Jacobs, actor, lecturer 70. Professor Keith Jacobs, University of Tasmania 71. Margaret Jacobs 72. Max Kaiser 73. Dr David Kaye, psychiatrist 74. John Kaye, Greens NSW MP 75. Margaret Kaye, Feldenkrais practitioner 76. Dr Rick Kuhn, adjunct reader in Sociology, Australian National University 77. Sarah Lay, retired public school teacher 78. Melanie Lazarow, student 79. Sue Leigh, activist and former counselor 80. Michael Lever, archeologist and cultural heritage advisor 81. Dr David Levy 82. Dr Gary Levy, educator, researcher 83. Rachel Liebhaber 84. Professor G J Lindell AM 85. Ian Lisser, union activist 86. Antony Loewenstein, independent journalist, author, Guardian columnist 87. Jackie Lublin 88. Dr Terry Lustig, environmental and water engineer 89. Margo McKelvie 90. Laurie Izaks McSween 91. Jonathan Maltz, counsellor 92. Miriam Margolyes, actress 93. Dennis Martin 94. Leon Medalia 95. Stefan Moore, film maker 96. Associate Professor Alan Morris, University of Technology, Sydney 97. Martin Munz 98. Haskell Musry, Occupational Health and Safety Consultant 99. Liam Neame, academic 100. Dr Ian Neering, retired Associate Professor, University of NSW 101. Joan Nestle, retired Associate Professor, CUNY 102. Sharmila Nezovic 103. Alex Nissen, educator 104. Jacqui Nissim, union organiser 105. Rod Oaten, retired school teacher 106. Judith O'Conal-Prinz, professional portrait painter 107. Dennis Oppenheim, retired insurance broker 108. Sandra Padova, lesbian social justice advocate 109. Dr Tamas Pataki, author and retired lecturer, University of Melbourne 110. Cathy Peters, ABC Radio National producer 111. Tim Petterson, Campaigns and Communications Director 112. Dr Annie Pettit 113. Dr Annie Pfingst, research fellow 114. Abe Pogos, script writer 115. Vivienne Porzsolt, spokesperson, Jews against the Occupation 116. Richard Raber, film-maker 117. Adjunct Associate Professor Karl Reed 118. Michelle Reiner, customer service administrator 119. Andrew Riemer 120. Marilyn Rister 121. Susan Rosedale, teacher 122. Deborah Rosenberg 123. Les Rosenblatt 124. David Rothfiled 125. Pamela J Rothfield 126. Paul Rubner, retired librarian 127. Dr Jen Runds 128. Jay Rutovitz, energy consultant 129. Margot Salom, researcher 130. Kim Sattler, secretary, Unions ACT 131. Daniel Saks 132. Sol Salbe, journalist 133. Yvette Scholtmeyer, editor 134. John Seed, OAM 135. Debra Shulkes, editor 136. Regina Sigal, madam 137. Dr Ben Silverstein, lecturer, University of NSW 138. Dr Jordy Silverstein, historian, University of Melbourne 139. Esther Singer, vegetable farmer 140. Deborah Singerman, editor, writer, project management consultant 141. Associate Professor Peter Slezak, University of NSW 142. Dr David Slucki 143. Dr Sue Starfield 144. Norman Sterling 145. Dr Larry Stillman 146. David Stockman 147. Lanie Stockman 148. Dr Marcelo Svirsky, lecturer, University of Wollongong 149. Anna Tambour 150. Robin Taubenfeld, teacher and community organiser 151. Leah Thomas, student 152. Fred Tropp-Asher, retired IT project manager 153. Robyn Unger, public servant 154. Susan Varga, author 155. Shobha Varkey 156. Avril Vorsay, researcher, translator, performer 157. Peter Walton, self-employed 158. Jamie Walvisch, university lecturer 159. Dr David Weatherell, honorary fellow in history, Deakin University 160. George Winston AM 161. Dr N D Witton 162. Dr Ron Witton 163. Sandra Goldbloom Zurbo, editor and author 164. Dr David Zyngier, senior lecturer, Monash University