As reported yesterday here on Matzav.com, in a disturbing incident in Melbourne, Australia, two masked individuals set fire to the Adat Yisrael shul Thursday morning. The shul, divided into two sections, suffered varying degrees of damage, but miraculously, the Sifrei Torah were largely spared.
In the Ashkenazi section of the shul, Sifrei Torah remained mostly undamaged, thanks to the efforts of the congregants who quickly intervened and took care of the scrolls. In the Sephardic section, the Sifrei Torah were stored in a fireproof safe, which protected them from harm.
Firefighters confirmed that two hours before Shabbos, they allowed the shul’s caretakers to remove the Sifrei Torah for cleaning.
Thankfully, the Sifrei Torah were found in good condition, and no significant damage was sustained, thanks to the fireproof safe.
Yomi Friedman, who had been inside the shul at around 4 a.m. for early learning before davening, recounted to local media the terrifying moment of the attack. He described hearing “a large explosion, like a hammer” followed by the shattering of a window, causing “glass to fly.” Friedman’s hand was burned when he attempted to return to the shul after the fire had been extinguished and tried to open a door. “It’s shocking that here in Australia, there’s such anti-Semitism,” he remarked.
Peter Dutton, leader of the opposition in Australia, condemned the attack as a “despicable assault on a place of worship” and said, “Today, we must double our support for the Jewish community, so they feel the support strongly.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with other political leaders and supporters of the Jewish community, also condemned the incident.
Daniel Aghion, President of the Australian Jewish Council, spoke to the media outside the shul, calling the attack “a tragic day for the Jewish-Australian community.” He added that “No one in the Jewish community is surprised. We knew this was coming.”
Naomi Levin, CEO of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, emphasized that the community has the right to live “as proud Australians and as proud Jews.”
Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, described the attack as “a shocking escalation of the documented anti-Semitism in Australia in recent months.” He stated, “No one should be surprised; this violent attack is a direct result of words turning into actions. Anti-Semitism, which is not being addressed, threatens all Australians,” he continued, “Enough is enough, this is a stain on our nation. It’s time for all government leaders to turn their words into actions and eliminate this anti-Jewish hatred.”
The Holocaust Museum Presidents in Melbourne also issued a statement, calling the fire “a deeply troubling event for our local Jewish community and the broader Australian community.”
Brayden Sinnamon, a senior firefighter, reported that dozens of firefighters arrived at the scene and successfully controlled the blaze within half an hour. “The teams worked tirelessly to extinguish the fire, with 17 fire engines and 60 firefighters at the scene,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne. “The damage to the building is significant, but the teams worked amazingly to contain the fire so that no further damage was done to neighboring buildings.”
The Terrorism Unit and the Arson Investigation Department are investigating the fire at the shul.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen visited the fire scene and called the attack on a Jewish place of worship “nothing short of an act of anti-Semitism.” Allen, who was accompanied by Jewish leaders during the visit, pledged to provide $100,000 for the rebuilding efforts of the shul, according to The Guardian.
However, the press conference was abruptly interrupted when a member of the Jewish community asked, “How can the Jewish community trust that the Prime Minister can protect us?”
Jacinta Allen, visibly uncomfortable, cut off the press conference after being confronted with further tough questions from community members who accused her of losing control of the state and failing to ensure the safety of the Jewish community.
The Prime Minister condemned the “act of anti-Semitism” and announced that police would increase patrols, but community members shot back, “You mention increasing police patrols—doesn’t that show you’ve lost control of this state, that the Jewish community is now under real threat, and that your government has ultimately failed?” they said.
“Let’s be clear, in November 2023, there was an attack on a synagogue, and nothing was done,” one congregant confronted her. “So, let’s stop with the politics and get a clear answer. Have you lost control? Yes or no?”
After cutting the press conference short, Allen quickly left for her car, with community members shouting at her, “Shame on you, Jacinta!”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Sa’ar reacted to the incident, saying, “I am shocked by the despicable arson of the Adat Yisrael shul in Melbourne. We must fight anti-Semitism relentlessly. I call on Australian authorities to act swiftly and ensure the despicable perpetrators are brought to justice. Israel stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in Australia.”
{Matzav.com}
