The Jewish school rejected the request to rent a jumping castle
Premier Chris Means has condemned the actions of a Sydney company that refused to rent a bouncy castle to a well-known Jewish high school and bragged about it on social media.
Sky News host Shari Markson criticized the ABC for giving a high-profile Q&A platform to anti-Semites on Monday night. “The president of the Australian Palestine Defense Network, Nasser Al-Mashni – an open anti-Semite – has been put on an equal footing with a prominent Jewish lawyer, our former ambassador to Israel and a government minister,” Markson said. Ms. Markson said Mr. Mishni was given public radio airspace to “justify Hamas’ actions” — to argue that the terrorist attacks came after years of suffering and to repeat slander against Jews. “Why would the Public Broadcasting Corporation give airtime to an anti-Semite who spread hateful views against the Jewish people?” said Mrs. Markson. “Airtime for someone unable to unequivocally condemn Hamas, the terrorist attacks of October 7, and the brutal massacre of adults and children alike? “It is completely unacceptable.” Ms Markson listed five examples of Mr Mishni’s blatant anti-Semitism before his appearance at a question and answer session last night.
Instagram posts by Western Sydney Jump, shared by the Australian Jewish Association, appear to show the company’s reaction to an email requesting a quote for services from St Ives’ Masada College, an independent Jewish school.
In it, the company’s owner and founder, Tania Issa, responds: “It is impossible for me to book a Zionist reservation.”
“I don’t want your blood money. Palestine is free,” she said in messages shared on the Western Sydney Jump Instagram page.
She added: “I have owned my business for 10 years. I have the right to refuse any reservation at any time.”
Masada College in St Ives’ application to book a jumping castle has been rejected.
Prime Minister Chris Minns described the situation as “outrageous”.
“It is not in keeping with any part of our multicultural society. I completely condemn that. This matter should be investigated by federal and state authorities,” he said.
It is understood Mr Minz visited the Jewish-run restaurant Shava this week to show support for the business after it was vandalized.
Bradfield MP Paul Fletcher, whose electorate covers St Ives School, also criticized the action.
“I’m very disappointed in the way this company responded,” he said.
“Masada College is a wonderful school that contributes greatly to my local community.
Western Sydney Jump owner Tania Issa.
Western Sydney Jump social media post. Image: X
“Racism has no place in our country and this behavior must be condemned.”
The coalition’s home affairs spokesman James Patterson said the employer should “hang its head in shame” for discriminating against children.
“This is absolutely shocking discrimination against innocent children and is completely unacceptable in Australia,” Patterson told The Telegraph.
“It is very sad that someone in Australia would want to blame school students for events occurring 12,000 kilometers away solely on the basis of their religion.
“The owner should hang his head in shame and do the decent thing and apologise.”
Australian Jewish Association (AJA) President Dave Adler said it was a case of discrimination against Jewish people.
“On the face of it, it appears to be an act of business discrimination against a Jewish school, and I think the person who did this should take legal advice because discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, is a violation of federal and state law,” he said.
“When we saw (chants of) ‘gas the Jews’ on the steps of the Opera House, this was the inevitable next step,” AJA chief executive Robert Gregory said.
“We find it outrageous that in 2023 Jewish children are being denied service by a bouncy company, it’s starting to feel like the 1930s here.
“We call on the government to take a stronger public stance against anti-Semitism.”
The company has been contacted for comment. Her Instagram page appeared to have been taken down Tuesday afternoon.
Western Sydney Jump claims on its website that it is a “party and event hire company offering a range of equipment to help entertain guests of all ages and abilities”.
A federal government spokesman said there was no room for anti-Semitism in Australia. “There is no place in Australia for anti-Semitism or any other form of intolerance or prejudice. Hate speech in all its forms has no place in Australia.”
Alex Revchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the incident “suggests the rise of anti-Semitism in our country under the guise of political activism.”
“Refuting to rent a jumping castle to children who happen to be Jewish is the height of low-level prejudice and bigotry. The business should be ashamed.
“The reference to blood money of course invokes the blood libel, a classic anti-Jewish myth.
“The openness of racism shows how hatred against Jews has become normalized.”
(tags for translation)Innocent Children
