Opinion piece by ECAJ President Daniel Aghion and JCCV CEO Naomi Levin originally published in the Herald Sun on 6 December 2024.
Today we stood in front of a firebombed synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne.
This attack struck at the very heart of the Jewish community, at the Adass Israel community who are the most visibly Jewish part of our community.
Their house of worship and study lies in ruins, their prayer scrolls and shawls damaged and burnt.
We are shocked, yes, but we are not surprised.
The Jewish community has been sounding the alarm about antisemitism since October 7 last year. And yet, it has been allowed to fester.
We have tracked the rising tide of Jewish hatred since Hamas’ terrorist attack.
In the past year, there have been over 2000 anti-Jewish hate incidents in Australia. Today’s attack is simply the latest and most serious in a pattern that has steadily escalated.
It started with chants of “F … the Jews” or “Gas the Jews” on the steps of Sydney Opera House more than a year ago.
There have since been riots outside synagogues in Melbourne, attacks on the offices of Jewish politicians, and firebombing of cars in Sydney.
And now this.
This is a pattern which Jews have experienced for thousands of years, in every society across the globe.
And in the past year, it has come to Australia in the most dramatic fashion.
More laws are not the answer – better laws would not have prevented this attack.
Nor is more security – our houses of prayer and communal institutions are already hidden behind high walls and security doors. We understand that the Riponlea attackers smashed their way in.
What we need now, is for the Australian community to stand alongside us and with us.
We ask you to recognise that anti-Semitism is evidence of a sick society; to understand that racial hatred is an Australian problem which affects us all, not just Jews; to say together with us “not here in this country, not us, not in our name”.
Leaders in all walks of life – politicians, faith leaders, community, must lead by example. They need to model the behaviour that we expect of all Australians.
As the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) commences on Friday night, the Jewish community will wrap its arms around the Adass community and protect it.
We ask Australians to wrap their arms around the Jewish community and protect us. Reach out to Jewish people you know, visit our synagogues to see our communal joy and celebration, try our food, learn a little about our dances and our traditions.
We are Australians, and we are Jews.
And right now we need your love and your support.
When you let antisemitism fester, this is what happens
When you let antisemitism fester, this is what happens
Opinion piece by ECAJ President Daniel Aghion and JCCV CEO Naomi Levin originally published in the Herald Sun on 6 December 2024.
Today we stood in front of a firebombed synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne.
This attack struck at the very heart of the Jewish community, at the Adass Israel community who are the most visibly Jewish part of our community.
Their house of worship and study lies in ruins, their prayer scrolls and shawls damaged and burnt.
We are shocked, yes, but we are not surprised.
The Jewish community has been sounding the alarm about antisemitism since October 7 last year. And yet, it has been allowed to fester.
We have tracked the rising tide of Jewish hatred since Hamas’ terrorist attack.
In the past year, there have been over 2000 anti-Jewish hate incidents in Australia. Today’s attack is simply the latest and most serious in a pattern that has steadily escalated.
It started with chants of “F … the Jews” or “Gas the Jews” on the steps of Sydney Opera House more than a year ago.
There have since been riots outside synagogues in Melbourne, attacks on the offices of Jewish politicians, and firebombing of cars in Sydney.
And now this.
This is a pattern which Jews have experienced for thousands of years, in every society across the globe.
And in the past year, it has come to Australia in the most dramatic fashion.
More laws are not the answer – better laws would not have prevented this attack.
Nor is more security – our houses of prayer and communal institutions are already hidden behind high walls and security doors. We understand that the Riponlea attackers smashed their way in.
What we need now, is for the Australian community to stand alongside us and with us.
We ask you to recognise that anti-Semitism is evidence of a sick society; to understand that racial hatred is an Australian problem which affects us all, not just Jews; to say together with us “not here in this country, not us, not in our name”.
Leaders in all walks of life – politicians, faith leaders, community, must lead by example. They need to model the behaviour that we expect of all Australians.
As the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) commences on Friday night, the Jewish community will wrap its arms around the Adass community and protect it.
We ask Australians to wrap their arms around the Jewish community and protect us. Reach out to Jewish people you know, visit our synagogues to see our communal joy and celebration, try our food, learn a little about our dances and our traditions.
We are Australians, and we are Jews.
And right now we need your love and your support.
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