A young sportsperson who is about to become the first Jew to be drafted into the Australian Football League (AFL) in 23 years has faced a barrage of antisemitic remarks online.
Harry Sheezel, a teenager from Australia who is Jewish, was selected third overall in the most recent round of draughts for the AFL, Australia’s most popular sports league. He is the first Jew to be selected since Ezra Poyas in 1999.
Before Mr. Sheezel could rejoice on being chosen for the national professional league, he was the subject of a flurry of antisemitic remarks online.
Following the publication of a feature of Mr. Sheezel on the Melbourne Age newspaper’s Facebook page, dozens of comments were posted there that referenced the Holocaust and stereotypical ideas about Jews.
Among the remarks were, “A Jew actually exercising? False news, as well as “Does he have enough gas in the tank?”
As soon as the paper’s social media team learned about the offensive comments, the post was taken down.
The medium forward, who is 18 years old, stated to The Australian: “My initial response was I kind of found it rather rude, obviously,
“To be honest, I don’t let that stuff influence me. I think they’re just stupid and uninformed, and they probably aren’t aware of the effects that stuff may have.
“I just think those folks probably need to learn, and they need to understand that that’s not appropriate or acceptable in today’s culture.”
The quantity of disgusting postings directed against Harry Sheezel on Facebook is concerning, because it indicates a widespread normalisation and acceptance of bigoted, hateful speech that is a feature of modern social media, according to Dvir Abramovich, the chairman of Australia’s antisemitic watchdog.
Some of the offensive, hateful comments I’ve seen about Mr. Sheezel aren’t just fanning the flames of bigotry; they’re also reusing blood libel and anti-Semitic clichés that would make neo-Nazis extremely proud.
Inquiry into the incident was announced by the AFL.
Mr. Sheezel, a recent graduate of Melbourne’s Modern Orthodox Mount Scopus Memorial College and a member of the Jewish community, declared his desire to serve as an example for the local Jewish community.
Mr. Sheezel said it was “very amazing” to become the first Jew to play in the AFL in more than 20 years. I don’t know why it hasn’t in the past, but I’m hoping I can set a good example for these kids.
Mr. Sheezel was selected by North Melbourne, who concluded the 2022 season with with two victories in 22 games, and who was in last place.
