Darren Bark from the Jewish Board of Deputies said Dominic Perrottet had been a “strong supporter and friend” of the state’s Jewish community.Credit:Louise Kennerley
He said he had contacted prominent Jewish leaders,including former NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff,before he addressed the media.
“It’s important that the premier has acknowledged that his actions were wrong and that he has apologised for it. I have no doubt that his comments are sincere,” said Alhadeff. “Almost everyone has done something in their youth that they regret.”
Alhadeff said that Perrottet’s strong support of the Jewish community throughout his political career spoke “more loudly than any youthful indiscretion which occurred many years ago”.
In a post on social media,federal Liberal MP Julian Leeser,who is Jewish,said there was “no symbol more repulsive than the swastika”. The NSW government banned the public display of Nazi symbols in August.
Leeser said Perrottet had been a friend of his for many years,and the man he knew was “a world away from the arrogant,ignorant,heartless and mean-spirited actions of a university student”.
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Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said his initial reaction to the revelations was one of shock.
“I’m sure he regrets it immensely and sees it as a terrible lapse of judgment. I’m mindful we shouldn’t judge people by their worst moment,especially one that occurred 20 years ago,” Ryvchin said.
“Maybe incidents like this being brought to public attention are teachable moments;they show just how important education about the Holocaust is.”
The Australian Jewish Association’s David Adler said Perrottet had been a strong friend of the Jewish community and Israel.
“Young people sometimes do stupid,occasionally offensive things. The Jewish tradition teaches us the concept of Teshuva,genuine repentance,which earns forgiveness. We accept the premier’s apology and regard this incident from his youth as of no relevance to the present.”
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