Australian Jewish leaders to raise millions to fight antisemitism

By Patrick Durkin
BOSS Deputy Editor
Read the article online at the AFR

A group of wealthy and influential Jewish leaders led by former treasurer Josh Frydenberg and his supporters is launching a fundraising vehicle expected to raise millions to fight antisemitism, including in schools and universities.

Mr Frydenberg, who is the chairman of Goldman Sachs in Australia, has warned that anti-Jewish hatred has spiralled “out of control”. He will chair the newly created Dor Foundation, a not-for-profit group to be led by the former NSW Crime Commission director Tahli Blicblau.

The board of guardians includes Reserve Bank board member Elana Rubin, former Optus chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, Jewish community leader Nina Bassat, CEO and co-founder of Betashares Alex Vynokur and Western Sydney University chancellor Jennifer Westacott.

Ms Westacott, a non-Jewish supporter, said the foundation would need substantial funding if it wanted to have a serious impact.

Venture capitalist Paul Bassat, the son of Nina Bassat, has previously created a $US20 million fund named Iron Nation to support Israeli start-ups during the conflict in Gaza and similar foundations in the United States have already raised hundreds of millions in support.

Ms Westacott said the foundations’ top priority would be research and analysis and how universities could work together to stamp out hate speech.

“I think we’ve let antisemitism get a foothold in our campuses. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. The question now is what we do about it, and how we stop it in its tracks,” she told AFR Weekend.

“I just feel this has become super urgent. Every day we pick up something that makes us deeply disturbed and affronted about what is happening to the fabric of society.”

Mr Vynokur, a Ukrainian-born Jewish entrepreneur who heads the $45 billion fund manager Betashares, said he had been horrified by the attacks on Jewish Australians.

“Universities are places for future leaders whether it’s in business, politics or arts, and the Australia we want our leaders to be building has to be where everyone is accepted and welcomed and no one has to fear for their safety,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday condemned as “sickening and shameful” footage of two NSW nurses who bragged about refusing to treat Israeli patients.

A Labor-led joint parliamentary committee also this week found “brazen antisemitism” had gone unchecked by universities and had led to Jewish students feeling unsafe on campus.

But a group of anti-Zionist Jews who were protesting near the steps of the Victorian parliament on Sunday, after Australia had passed strict laws to combat hate crimes, said they had been ostracised from Australia’s Jewish community and voiced concerns that antisemitism was being exaggerated for political purposes in Australia.

Tanya Cherny