Nursery Apologizes for Alleged Antisemitic Remark in Job Rejection Text

Public outrage has erupted in Melbourne, Australia, after a 24-year-old Israeli jobseeker received what civil rights activists have condemned as an antisemitic rejection message from a local plant nursery, prompting protests and a subsequent apology from the business.

The young Jewish woman, who requested anonymity, had recently moved to Australia and applied for a position at The Garden of Eden Nursery in Melbourne’s Albert Park neighborhood. According to the Herald Sun, she received a text message from co-owner Brett Dahan stating that the position had been filled by “someone with a semblance of humanity and who cares for plants, animals, and the environment.”

The message continued with hostile language: “Good luck on your journey and I hope you leave Melbourne soon! Free Palestine and end genocide NOW. You’re complicit in IT.” The incident has sent shockwaves through Melbourne’s Jewish community and raised concerns about discrimination in employment practices.

“I came to Australia believing it was a fair and welcoming country but reading those words – so full of hostility – was heartbreaking,” the woman told local media. “I was judged, not as a person, but as an Israeli.”

When contacted by the Herald Sun, Dahan reportedly said he “did not know” why he had sent the message and declined to answer follow-up questions. The incident appears to be a clear violation of Australia’s Equal Opportunity Act, which explicitly prohibits employment discrimination based on nationality.

The controversy quickly escalated, with protesters gathering outside the nursery to express their outrage. The Anti-Defamation Commission, a leading civil rights organization in Australia, condemned the message as deliberately dehumanizing.

The Garden of Eden Nursery, which is operated by twin brothers Brett and Scott Dahan, issued a public apology on Sunday, describing the message as having been sent “by a staff member” rather than directly acknowledging Brett Dahan’s reported involvement. The nursery expressed regret and claimed the message did not reflect their business values.

“We are deeply upset and disappointed by the content of the message, which in no way reflects the values, standards, or spirit of our business or team,” the company stated, adding that the matter was being addressed internally.

However, Anti-Defamation Commission Chairman Dr. Dvir Abramovich criticized this response as insufficient, calling for true accountability. “Mr. Dahan’s repugnant text wasn’t a slip. It was a deliberate, written act meant to humiliate and degrade,” Abramovich said in a statement. “Apologizing ‘to the community,’ blaming ‘a staff member,’ and saying it will be handled ‘internally’ is not accountability.”

Abramovich emphasized that the woman deserves a direct and personal apology from Dahan himself, suggesting the nursery’s attempt to distance itself from the incident was disingenuous.

The incident comes amid rising tensions in Australia regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, with Jewish communities reporting an increase in antisemitic incidents since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023. Australian Jewish organizations have documented numerous cases of harassment, discrimination, and targeted abuse against Jewish Australians in recent months.

The Melbourne case highlights growing concerns about how global conflicts can spill over into local communities and workplaces, affecting individuals who may have no direct involvement in overseas events. Employment experts note that businesses must maintain professional standards and comply with anti-discrimination laws regardless of personal political views.

As the story continues to develop, the incident has sparked broader discussions about discrimination in hiring practices, the boundaries of political expression in professional contexts, and the responsibilities of business owners to create safe and inclusive environments for all Australians, regardless of their national origin.