Antisemitic hate graffiti in Wellington, Jewish Council speaks out
'It's bizarre and upsetting and frightening and galling and all of those sorts of things,' he said.
'More broadly it tells a story about where we are in New Zealand.'
Kepes said Jewish people in Aotearoa had experienced an increase in antisemitism over the past several years.
'Leaders in our community in New Zealand make statements without thinking, that embolden people... it does make it cool to say these sorts of things again.'
He said the graffiti was 'a direct result of those sorts of positionings'.
Jewish community members have recently experienced multiple incidents, including abuse at schools, attempted arson attacks and death threats, he said.
'Once again, those things happen because political leaders make flippant statements without thinking about the consequences.
'For example, when New Zealand political leaders support calls to 'globalise the intifada', they are repeating a call for an armed, violent uprising not only against Jews, but against Western society more generally.
'We call on all leaders to think before they parrot slogans from overseas that could target our vulnerable Jewish community here.'
He said classic antisemitic tropes, insults and abuse were being used 'under the guise of protest against Israel's war in Gaza'.
He said the graffiti could have been something seen 'daubed across German streets in the 1930s'.
'No matter what is going on internationally or politically, New Zealand Jews should be safe and secure in New Zealand. They should not wake to hateful messages in our streets.'
Holocaust Centre of New Zealand chairwoman Deborah Hart said the graffiti was 'alas, quite accurate.
'It would appear, once again, to be cool to hate Jews.
'We actually see that in a stark increase in Jew hatred, the lacklustre response of schools when Jewish children are subjected to abuse, the deplatforming of Jewish artists, hate mail, property damage and the lack of concern for Jewish people generally.
'The small Jewish community in New Zealand is vulnerable and has suffered ongoing hate, which shows no signs of abating.'
She said the Holocaust 'started with hate'.
'It's time for all to condemn antisemitism, in all its forms and to take care in their messaging.'
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