Damon Mcknight
Australian Jews, or Jewish Australians, are Jews who are Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia. Jewish life in Australia began with the First Fleet in 1788, with over a thousand more people of Jewish descent sent to Australia as convicts in the next 60 years. In addition, Jewish free settlers arrived in Australia as early as the 1820s. By 1901, it was estimated that there were over 15,000 Jews in Australia. According to the 2021 census, 99,956 people indicated that they follow Judaism in Australia, but the actual number is likely higher due to undercounting.
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What You'll Learn
Jewish immigration to Australia
The history of Jewish immigration to Australia dates back to 1788, when eight Jewish convicts arrived in Botany Bay aboard the First Fleet, establishing the first European settlement on the continent. Over the next 60 years, an estimated 1,000 people of Jewish descent were sent to Australia as convicts, primarily from London and mostly from working-class backgrounds. The average age of these Jewish convicts was 25, with a gender ratio of 93% male and 7% female.
In the early 19th century, the Jewish community in Australia was predominantly Ashkenazi, with some Sephardi Jews also immigrating. The Sephardic congregation thrived for about 20 years, but eventually declined and disbanded in 1873. During this period, Jewish immigrants began to settle in rural areas, but by the end of the 19th century, most Australian Jews relocated to cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane due to a lack of communal connections and fears of assimilation. The gold rush of the 1850s attracted a significant wave of Jewish immigrants, and by 1901, the Jewish population in Australia was estimated to be over 15,000.
Following World War I, a new wave of Jewish immigration occurred, particularly from Germany after the Nazis rose to power in 1933. Initially hesitant, the Australian government allotted 15,000 visas for "victims of oppression" in 1938, allowing 7,000 Jews to enter the country before World War II halted the program. After World War II, Australia opened its doors to large numbers of European Jews, survivors of the Holocaust, from displaced persons camps. This period also saw an increase in antisemitism in Australia, with groups like the Returned Services League publishing cartoons to discourage Jewish immigration.
In the late 20th century, Australia granted refugee status to Iraqi Jews facing persecution in 1969. During the 1986-1991 immigration waves, Jews from the Former Soviet Union had a high intermarriage rate, in contrast to South African Jewish immigrants, who rarely intermarried.
Today, the Jewish community in Australia continues to thrive, with an estimated population of 99,956 to 150,000 individuals identifying as religious Jews or by Jewish ancestry in the 2021 census. The actual number may be higher, as census data is based on religious affiliation, and many secular Jews do not identify with any particular religion. The Jewish community is predominantly concentrated in Sydney, Melbourne, and other major cities, with a diverse range of religious congregations catering to their interests, beliefs, and traditions.
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Jewish life in Australia
The 2021 census recorded 99,956 people who identified Judaism as their religious affiliation and 29,113 people who identified as Jewish by ancestry in Australia. However, the actual number of Jewish people in the country is likely higher, as census data is based on religious affiliation, and many secular Jews do not identify solely with the religion. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz estimated a Jewish-Australian population of 120,000–150,000. The majority of Australia's Jewish community is concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne, with smaller communities in other capital cities and rural areas.
Jewish Australians have made significant contributions to various fields, including business, law, politics, arts, education, philanthropy, science, medicine, and the military. They have also established a strong network of cultural and social institutions, including synagogues, day schools, radio shows, newspapers, and museums. There are an estimated 80 synagogues across Australia, covering all streams of Jewish religious observance, including Orthodox (Modern and Haredi), Conservative, and Reform. The Perth Hebrew Congregation, also known as the Perth Synagogue, is the oldest congregation in the country, established over 110 years ago.
The Jewish community in Australia celebrates its cultural and religious traditions freely, including public celebrations of Hanukah in Sydney and Melbourne, and Melbourne's annual Chanukah in the Park event, which attracts thousands of attendees. The community also has a strong network of day schools, with the highest rate of Jewish children attending Jewish schools outside of Israel. Additionally, the growth of multiculturalism in Australia during the 1970s positively impacted Jewish cultural life, with the establishment of ethnic broadcasting stations and Yiddish cultural institutions.
Overall, Jewish life in Australia is well-organized and integrated into the broader society, with a rich history and diverse contributions to the country's culture and development.
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Antisemitism in Australia
History of Antisemitism in Australia
Historically, antisemitism in Australia has been perpetrated by various groups and has taken different forms. During the colonial period, while there was an absence of institutionalised antisemitism as seen in Europe, Jews still faced prejudice and discrimination. The first arrival of British convicts included Jews, and they constituted around 1% of the total colonial community. Over a thousand Jews were estimated to have been sent to Australia as convicts over a 60-year period, facing challenges and restrictions.
In the 1880s, with the rise of Australian nationalism and the campaign for the Federation of Australia, antisemitism gained momentum. Trade unions, politicians, and the media were hostile towards the small number of Russian Jewish immigrants during this period. The Labor Party politician Frank Anstey published a pamphlet, "The Kingdom of Shylock," which included antisemitic content.
World War II and its Aftermath
Following World War I and the rise of the Nazis in Germany, a significant wave of Jewish immigrants arrived in Australia. However, they faced challenges due to the Australian government's hesitant attitude towards Jewish immigration. Despite allotting 15,000 visas for "victims of oppression," only 7,000 Jews could enter before World War II interrupted the program.
During and after World War II, antisemitism in Australia intensified. Local Nazi sympathizers carried out antisemitic attacks, and propaganda was circulated in Sydney suburbs. Pressure groups, such as the Australian Natives' Association and the Returned and Services League of Australia, actively opposed Jewish immigration. The media also played a role, with publications like "The Social Crediter" and "New Times" being accused of promoting antisemitic propaganda. Arthur Calwell, the minister of immigration, adopted measures to limit Jewish immigration, aiming for Jews to constitute no more than 0.5% of Australia's population.
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Combating Antisemitism
Jewish organizations in Australia, such as the Jewish Council to Combat Fascism and Anti-Semitism (JCCFAS), have actively worked to counter antisemitism. In 1950, JCCFAS distributed pamphlets titled "Anti-Semitism: A Menace to Australia" to raise awareness and combat antisemitic propaganda. Additionally, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry publishes an annual list of reported antisemitic activities, providing transparency and accountability.
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Jewish population in Australia
Australian Jews or Jewish Australians are Jews who are Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia. The Jewish community of Australia is composed mostly of Ashkenazi Jews, although there are Jews in Australia from many other traditions and levels of religious observance and participation in the Jewish community. The three main streams of Judaism active in Australia are Orthodox (Modern and Haredi), Conservative and Reform.
The history of Jews in Australia goes back to 1788 when eight convicts transported to Botany Bay aboard the First Fleet were identified as Jewish. Over the next 60 years, more than a thousand people of Jewish descent are estimated to have been sent to Australia as convicts. Most of them came from London, were of working-class background, and were male. The average age of the Jewish convicts was 25, but some were as young as 8.
In the 19th century, Sephardi Jews immigrated to Australia, and the community thrived for some twenty years, with a Sephardic congregation and some Sephardi families occupying important communal positions. However, the Sephardi population declined, and the congregation was disbanded in 1873. The gold rush of the 1850s attracted another wave of Jewish immigrants, and the growing community in Sydney built the Great Synagogue, consecrated in 1878. When Queensland separated from New South Wales in 1859, Jewish people settled in Brisbane, forming the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation in 1865.
Following World War I and the rise of the Nazis in Germany in 1933, many German Jews came to Australia. In 1938, the Australian government allotted 15,000 visas for "victims of oppression", and about 7,000 Jews were able to take up the visas before World War II broke out. After World War II, Australia permitted the immigration of large numbers of people from continental Europe, including many Holocaust survivors. During this time, there was also an outbreak of antisemitism in Australia, with groups publishing cartoons to discourage Jewish immigration.
In the 1970s, multiculturalism as an ideology developed in Australia, and Jewish cultural life expanded, with the government sometimes providing assistance. Today, there are numerous cultural and social organizations, Jewish radio shows and newspapers, and Jewish museums in Melbourne and Sydney. There are also opportunities for Jewish education at both the school and university levels.
According to the 2021 census, 99,956 people identified Judaism as their religious affiliation, and 29,113 Australians identified as Jewish by ancestry. This represents about 0.4% of the total population. However, the actual number of Jewish Australians is likely higher, as census data is based on religious affiliation, and many secular Jews do not identify as religious. Additionally, some practising Holocaust survivors and Haredi Jews may prefer not to disclose their religion in the census. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz estimated a Jewish-Australian population of 120,000–150,000, while other estimates based on the death rate in the community put the number at 250,000, or 1% of the population.
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Jewish Australians in politics
Jews have been a part of the Australian parliament since federation. In 2016, a record number of 6 MPs identified as Jewish. This number rose to 7 when Kerryn Phelps won the 2018 Wentworth by-election, but it dropped back to 6 following the 2019 Australian federal election. Some notable Jewish Australian politicians include:
- Eric Roozendaal
- Joe Berinson
- Mark Dreyfus
- Josh Frydenberg
- Stirling Griff
- Ron Hoenig
- Isaac Isaacs
Jewish Australians have also been active in local politics, with many successful civic leaders in cities like Adelaide and Frankston. The Jewish community in Frankston nearly doubled between 2007 and 2012. In Adelaide, Jews have been present throughout the city's history, with many prominent figures in local government and the arts.
The history of Jewish Australians in politics is closely tied to the waves of Jewish immigration to the country. During the gold rush of the 1850s, a wave of Jewish immigrants arrived, soon outnumbering native-born Jews. Queensland's separation from New South Wales in 1859 attracted Jewish settlers to Brisbane, leading to the formation of the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation in 1865. Following World War I, another stream of Jewish immigrants came to Australia, including German Jews fleeing Nazi rule. After World War II, Australia's immigration policy shifted, allowing large numbers of European Jews, many of whom were Holocaust survivors, to enter the country.
Today, the Jewish community in Australia continues to thrive, with a presence in various sectors, including politics, academia, law, and publishing. While the 2021 census recorded 99,956 people who identified Judaism as their religious affiliation, the actual number of Jewish Australians is believed to be higher, as census data does not capture secular Jews or those who choose not to disclose their religion.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the 2021 census, 99,956 people indicated that they follow Judaism in Australia. However, the actual number is likely higher as many secular Jews may not have indicated their religion. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz estimates that there are between 120,000 and 150,000 Jewish Australians.
Jewish life in Australia began with the First Fleet in 1788, with over a thousand people of Jewish descent sent to Australia as convicts in the next 60 years. Jewish free settlers started arriving in Australia as early as the 1820s.
The majority of Jewish Australians live in Melbourne and Sydney. In fact, about 90% of the Australian Jewish community lives in these two cities. The Jewish community in Victoria is the largest in Australia, with 46,645 people living in the state who identify with Jewish ancestry.
