Royal commission hears of school game targeting Jewish students in NSW

During a hearing of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, John Hamey, CEO of the NSW Board of Jewish Education, described a disturbing incident at a New South Wales public school where pupils devised a game titled “trip the Jew.” Participants earned points each time a Jewish student was knocked down, with the highest scorer declared “king of the Jews.” Hamey also reported seeing a teacher display a laptop bearing a “free Palestine” sticker that featured a crossed-out Israeli flag and Star of David, accompanied by statements of pride in being anti-Israeli.

He warned that these behaviours foster a hostile atmosphere for Jewish learners and violate the expectation that teachers remain neutral and non-partisan. Drawing on his experience as former principal of Moriah College, Hamey urged the establishment of more robust reporting procedures within existing frameworks and a formalised system to gauge the scope of antisemitism in public schools. The commission highlighted the need for clearer policies to address hate speech and protect minority students.