A religious studies textbook for Australian high school students published by Cambridge University Press has been removed from bookshelves for containing alleged anti-Semitic slurs.

The book, Cambridge Studies of Religion Stage 6, was withdrawn on Tuesday after a complaint from the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies. Citing a number of “appalling statements”, they requested that a chapter on Judaism be rewritten and the book re-issued to all schools using it.

It was brought to their attention after concerns were raised by staff at a Jewish school where the book was in use.

Author Christopher Hartney, a lecturer at Sydney University, had written that “much modern conflict in the world is related to the reactions of other groups to the Jewish people.” The Board of Deputies stated that this had the potential to incite religious hatred, as it “blames Jews for the existence of much of the conflict in the world”.

In addition, the book states that polygamy is a common practice in Israel and that Passover involves the “slaughtering of lambs, smearing the lintel on the front door with blood and eating unleavened breads for seven days”.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday, the board’s chief executive Vic Alhadeff said one of the statements belonged “in the realm of racial vilification”.

He stated that the book’s claims “perpetuate myths and inaccurate stereotypes about Judaism” which could “fuel anti-Semitism”, adding that “thousands of students are being seriously misinformed”.

In response, Cambridge University Press announced it was withdrawing the book, available since 2008, immediately from sale.

Mark O’Neil, the Executive Director of the Press’s Australia and New Zealand branch, released a statement stating that he “recognised the concerns that have been expressed about interpretations in the book.” He said he would seek the advice of an “independent expert in Judaism” before deciding whether to re-issue the book, adding that the concerns are being treated “with the utmost seriousness” in order to ensure that “the highest standards of academic integrity” are reached.

The stated ethos of Cambridge University Press is to “produce publications that are accurate and of educational value.”

Cambridge University Press told Varsity that they “will do whatever is necessary in order to ensure facts are covered accurately in its publications”.

The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies has said that it “applauds” the move.

No stock of the book is currently held in the UK, nor has any copy been sold from the Press’s UK warehouse. No copies are currently on order.