Sydney, Australia – A Text book, already being used in NSW schools, claims Jewish people spread the blood of lambs on doorposts on Pesach, blames modern conflicts on “reactions of other groups to the Jewish people”, and says polygamy is “commonly practiced” in Israel.
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The text book Cambrige Studies of Religion: Stage 6 has been distributed to HSC students studying religious studies. The text book has been published seemingly oblivious to the gross inaccuracies in the Jewish chapter, which could form the basis for a legal claim of racial vilification.
The book also inexplicably informs high school students that Jewish people “choose sophisticated professions such as law, medicine and scholarship” because of a focus on “family togetherness”, particularly on Shabbat.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies executive director Vic Alhadeff has met with one of the book’s authors to express serious concern about the content of the text book. But as of Monday afternoon, Cambridge University Press had not acted to remove the book from the market or recall it from schools.
Alhadeff indicated that some of the content of the book could be the basis for a legal claim of racial vilification and could potentially incite racial hatred in NSW.
“Some of the statements could perpetuate myths and inaccurate stereotypes about Judaism and the Jewish people and fuel anti-Semitism,” he said.
“This textbook should be withdrawn from circulation immediately. We have put that request to the publisher and are awaiting their response.”
This is an outrage, the Yidden should protest to the Australian government over this obscenity.
“The book also inexplicably informs high school students that Jewish people “choose sophisticated professions such as law, medicine and scholarship” because of a focus on “family togetherness”, particularly on Shabbat.” That doesn’t seem negative…
I doubt a charge of religious vilification will stick. “Religious vilification” is an offense only against Moslems. Remember the man charged with it who tried to read from Koran to defend himself? He was not allowed to, and found guilty.
this is horrible. i feel so powerless in te face of horrible stories like this
What blood libel? Do these wankers at the Board of Deputies not know what a blood libel is? Sure, we don’t actually put lamb blood on the door, so the book is incorrect, but how is it in any way a libel? What would be wrong if we did? And what will be the big deal if students believe that we do?
Polygamy IS commonly practised in Israel, mostly by Moslems. That is a fact. And Jews do tend to go into the professions, for reasons including the desire to have the flexibility that they provide; it’s a bit confused, but it isn’t untrue. Has Alhadeff got nothing else on his plate, that he has time to worry about this?