Earlier this morning a horrific fire was deliberately started at Melbourne's famous Adass Shul. Two injuries were reported with one suffering from smoke inhalation. A manhunt is now underway for the arsonists whom witnesses saw pouring gasoline and lighting the fire to destroy the holy place of worship. Baruch Hashem, it appears the Sifrei Torah were not harmed in the arson attack as they were kept in a fire proof save and later extracted from the Syngogue.
Sky News Australia broadcast images from inside the synagogue, showing worshippers praying with Torah scrolls removed from the burned building. Local police have not yet confirmed whether the attack was driven by antisemitism, but Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the incident unequivocally. “To attack a place of worship is an attack on Australian values. To attack a synagogue is an act of antisemitism,” he said. He emphasized that the attack posed a risk to lives and was designed to instill fear in the community, contradicting the values that Australia holds dear. Albanese also revealed that the national anti-terrorism unit is involved in the investigation.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan also described the attack as anti-Semitic, noting that many of the worshippers at the synagogue were Hungarian Holocaust survivors. She pledged 100,000 Australian dollars (approximately $63,000 USD) to help repair the synagogue and announced an increased police presence in the area.
Witnesses reported that at around 4:10 a.m. local time, two masked individuals smashed a window, entered the synagogue, poured gasoline, and set the fire before fleeing. Two worshippers who were preparing for early morning study before prayers alerted emergency services.
Benjamin Klein, a board member of the synagogue, expressed shock at the attack. “We didn’t think it would happen here in Melbourne. We are a quiet community, we keep to ourselves, and we don’t bother anyone,” he said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack as well, stating that the recent escalation of anti-Semitic violence, particularly after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, has led to a disturbing rise in attacks on Jewish communities worldwide. In a post, Herzog expressed his concerns to Prime Minister Albanese, stressing the need for strong action against antisemitism. He thanked Albanese for his continued efforts and expressed confidence that local law enforcement would do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice.
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