The attacks on women in Cologne have highlighted concerns on the part of some citizens of Western nations about having Muslim migrants in their midst. For Australians these attacks bring back memories of the Bilal Skaf gang rapes, the comments made by a Muslim cleric comparing women to "uncovered meat" and inappropriate behaviour by young Lebanese men toward bikini-clad women at Cronulla. 
The level of Australians' concern about terrorism has increased tenfold from 2014 to   July 2015 according to the 2015 Scanlon Social Cohesion Report. In 2014, less than one per cent specified "defence, national security and terrorism" as their top priority, yet in early 2015 almost 10 per cent of respondents chose this as their most important concern. Despite the bigotry contained in some responses to this fear, one should not merely dismiss these concerns as entirely racist, prejudiced and without merit.
While of course religion or culture is not the sole determinant of behaviour, their influence cannot be ignored in addressing the problem of migrants violating legal and moral codes. Therefore, rather than dismissing all suggestions that these factors contribute to negative social behaviours as racist, we need to ask to what extent nations and communities are making clear to migrants the legitimate expectations that come with migration.
According to the Scanlon Social Cohesion Report, 20 per cent of Australians think that Australians need to learn about the cultures of migrants with no obligation on migrants to adapt to Australian culture. On the other end of the spectrum, 20 per cent think that migrants need to adapt to Australian culture with no reciprocation from Australians. But it is the middle 39 per cent who have it right; there is a need for mutual, two-sided adjustment if successful integration is to be achieved.
While to some new migrants, Western nations may appear amoral and overtly sexualised, we do in fact have a strong moral code. There is clearly a need to teach migrants about Australia so they can understand and respect Australian people and be proud to call Australia home.
While asking migrants to learn about Australia is certainly not racist, asking them to do so without any reciprocal action from Australians is unfair and unlikely to result in successful integration or a cohesive society. Considering that around a fifth of Australians think we should be able to reject migrants on the basis of their race and ethnicity and 22 per cent reported a negative attitude towards Muslims, it is little wonder that some Muslim migrants are having difficulty integrating.
Relationships are key to improving bonds between Muslim and non-Muslim Australians, preventing alienation and ultimately preserving social cohesion and security. This needs to be mutual. Our organisation, Together For Humanity, works primarily in schools to encourage children to understand and embrace diversity and difference.
Rabbi Zalman Kastel is National Director of the Together for Humanity Foundation.