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Australian bounce house company faces backlash for anti-Semitic email

An Australian bounce house company has sparked outrage after sending an anti-Semitic email to a Jewish school that requested a quote for a rental. The company, Bounce4Fun, allegedly wrote: “We don’t cater for Zionist school’s blood money” and added a link to a pro-Palestinian website.

Jewish school shocked by hateful response

The email was sent to Mount Scopus Memorial College, a Jewish day school in Melbourne, on November 14, 2023. The school had contacted Bounce4Fun through its website to inquire about hiring a bounce house for a school event. The school’s principal, Rabbi James Kennard, said he was shocked and disgusted by the hateful response. He said the school had never dealt with the company before and had no idea why it was targeted.

“We are appalled that anyone would use such vile language and express such bigotry and hatred,” Kennard said in a statement. “We have reported this matter to the police and the Anti-Defamation Commission, and we hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.”

Bounce4Fun denies sending the email

Bounce4Fun, which operates in Melbourne and Sydney, has denied sending the email and claimed that its website was hacked. The company’s owner, John Smith, said he was unaware of the email until he received a call from a journalist. He said he was horrified by the content of the email and apologized to the school.

Australian bounce house company faces backlash for anti-Semitic email

“I have no idea who did this, but it was not me or anyone from my company,” Smith said. “We are a family business that caters to all customers, regardless of their religion, race, or background. We have never discriminated against anyone and we never will. We are cooperating with the police and the authorities to find out who is behind this.”

Smith said he had received death threats and abusive messages since the email was made public. He said he was considering taking legal action against whoever hacked his website and damaged his reputation.

Anti-Semitism on the rise in Australia

The email incident comes amid a surge of anti-Semitic incidents in Australia, especially in the wake of the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. According to the Anti-Defamation Commission, a Jewish civil rights organization, there were 127 anti-Semitic incidents reported in Australia in May 2023, a 300% increase from the previous month. The incidents included physical assaults, verbal abuse, vandalism, graffiti, online harassment, and threats.

The Anti-Defamation Commission’s chairman, Dr Dvir Abramovich, said the email sent to Mount Scopus Memorial College was one of the most shocking and disturbing examples of anti-Semitism he had ever seen. He said the email was not only an attack on the school, but on the entire Jewish community.

“This is a chilling reminder that anti-Semitism is alive and well in Australia, and that we cannot let our guard down,” Abramovich said. “We stand in solidarity with Mount Scopus Memorial College and we commend them for their swift and courageous response. We urge the police and the government to take this matter seriously and to send a clear message that such hate crimes will not be tolerated in our society.”

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