Overview
- Sarah Schwartz told the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion that she was targeted with coordinated phone calls, texts, emails and social media messages after co‑founding the Jewish Council of Australia.
- She said the abuse included being called a 'traitor' and 'Hitler's Jew' and receiving memes showing her as a rat or with Holocaust imagery, which forced her to take work and personal leave.
- Ms Schwartz said Victoria Police applied for a personal protection order on her behalf without telling her and a newspaper later ran a front‑page story that republished some of the insults and images.
- She told the commission she asked police to withdraw the order because the media coverage made her feel less safe and that the episode had a chilling effect on Jewish people who criticise Israel.
- The inquiry will hear from senior police and the eSafety Commissioner as it examines how law enforcement responses and media practices affect victims' safety and the space for Jewish dissent; the Jewish Council of Australia represents about 2,500 progressive Jewish members.