Jewish community in Australia is a relatively small, one, comprising about 0.4% of the entire population. There are over 20,000 people in Australia who identify themselves as Jews (Scott, 2022). The majority of those are Ashkenazi Jews, who can trace their heritage to eastern and central Europe (Scott, 2022). Despite being so far away from the rest of the world, the Australian Jewish segment is involved in the struggles of the international community and remains one of the most ardent supporters of the Israeli state (Zuckermann, 2020). This paper will review the group in general and how their faith may be different from mainstream Judaism.
What Does a Jewish Community Look Like in Australia?
The history of Jewish community in Australia starts from 1845, when the first 800 Jewish convicts set foot there, having survived the journey. Ever since, it has developed on its own pace, with the last biggest event in its history being the arrival of immigrants from Eastern Europe and the former USSR, which has affected the way in which the community functions, by a large margin (Scott, 2022). As it stands, there are three major religious branches practiced in the Australian Jewish community. These are Orthodox, Traditionalist, and Reformist branches. Together, they constitute about 50% of the population, while the rest identify themselves as non-religious Jews.
The community is well-represented within the educational system. There are dedicated Jewish schools, such as Mount Scopus College and Moriah College, among others. It is stated that between 60-70% of all children in Jewish families attend a dedicated Jewish school at some point in their lives (Zuckermann, 2020). Prominent universities in Sidney and Melbourne also have Jewish studies as part of their curriculum, specifically to cater to the educational needs of this population. The continent also features the Rabbinical College of Australia and New Zealand, making the community self-sufficient when it comes to guiding the faithful along the path of religious righteousness.
How is Australian Judaism Different from Mainstream Judaism?
One of the biggest differences between Australian and mainstream Judaism lies in the direction its religious community has taken. The most influential branch in Australia is the Orthodoxy, rather than the Traditionalist, which constitutes less than 20% of the faithful. In addition, Australia features a large percentage of nonreligious Jews, standing at 50% compared to 73%-75% in Israel and the US (Zuckermann, 2020). The reasons for such disparities come from the relative distance of Australia from the Israeli state, making direct influence and control difficult. In addition, the Australian community features many families with roots coming from Eastern Europe and the former USSR, where orthodoxy has always been strong (Zuckermann, 2020). Despite the relative religious noncompliance, the community remains an ardent supporter of the existence of an independent Israeli state. This support comes from the experiences the community has suffered throughout its history, tracing all the way back to being founded by Jewish prisoners sent to the continent on prisoner ships.
Conclusions
To summarize, the Australian Jewry and their practices of Judaism have been shaped by their isolation, the influx of different cultures, and the predisposition towards Orthodoxy. Nevertheless, they maintain strong ties with others and, despite being small in number, show ardent support for Jewish causes, such as fighting against terrorism and achieving better conditions for all. They remain an integral, if distant part of the international religious Jewish community.
References
Scott, E. (2022). A short history of Australia. DigiCat.
Zuckermann, G. A. (2020). Revivalistics: From the genesis of Israeli to language reclamation in Australia and beyond. Oxford University Press.