Commission hears community programs promoting unity as antisemitism inquiry nears conclusion

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion began its final week of open hearings, featuring witnesses from academia, human-rights bodies and community groups. A director of a preschool centre described Friday challah-baking sessions that expose children to Jewish traditions while emphasizing universal values of sharing. Cognitive scientist Farid Zaid and historian Daniel Heller explained the Brave Conversations programme, which equips university students to stay engaged during uncomfortable debates and to navigate persistent societal tensions.

Rabbi Zalman Kastel AM outlined the interfaith work of Together for Humanity in schools, noting its political neutrality and inclusive approach. Participants also reported a decline in Muslim-Jewish school exchanges since the Hamas attack on Israel, and Somali Society of NSW president Mohamed Hassan described his efforts to build cross-cultural ties while cautioning against framing cohesion as forced assimilation. Giridharan Sivaraman of the Australian Human Rights Commission warned that many First Nations peoples view the concept of social cohesion with suspicion, urging deeper racial literacy. The commission will reconvene on Monday.