Melbourne Jewish school students face antisemitic verbal abuse during museum excursion

Jewish and political leaders have condemned the alleged targeting of young Jewish students with antisemitic verbal slurs during an excursion to Melbourne Museum.

In a statement, Mount Scopus Memorial College — one of the city's largest Jewish schools — said a group of grade 5 students were targeted by a small group of secondary students from another school during the excursion on Thursday.

\"During an excursion designed to promote learning, respect, and shared cultural understanding, primary school students from Mount Scopus recounted antisemitic and political phrases chanted at them in a shared learning space, on the basis of their visible Jewish identity,\" the statement said.

The school said it was \"deeply concerned and disappointed\" by the incident.

In a social media post, one parent wrote that his 10-year-old son felt terrified after the secondary school students, aged around 16 or 17, chanted \"Free Palestine\" at the younger group and then made antisemitic remarks.

Mount Scopus Memorial College principal Dan Sztrajt told ABC Radio Melbourne the incident was unprovoked and it had been a difficult day for the students involved, who were aged 10 and 11.

\"From what I understand from speaking to students today … one student got a tap on the shoulder, turned around and the vitriol started as one group of students passed another,\" he said.

Museums Victoria said racism, discrimination and hatred had no place in its museums.

Principal apologises on behalf of school involved

Mount Scopus Memorial College has not named the other school allegedly involved, but Mr Sztrajt said the principal of that school had been supportive.

\"On behalf of her school, she apologised for what had happened,\" he said.

\"Unfortunately, antisemitic incidents are not uncommon for us. We've had quite a few over the last year and we often work with the other school and provide them with some educational approaches they can take.\"

In a statement, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll said hate had no place in Victoria.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion KC said there was an urgent need for antisemitism education in Australia.

Mount Scopus Memorial College said its top priority was the safety and wellbeing of its students.

According to the source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation.