Man sets fire to synagogue doors during worship service in Melbourne

In Australia, specifically Melbourne, a synagogue was attacked by an arsonist on Friday night while congregants were present. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, as the group was engaged in Shabbat dinner, the Jewish day of rest. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the approximately 20 worshippers safely evacuated. This act of arson is part of a troubling pattern of antisemitic attacks in Australia, which have escalated significantly since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, sparking heightened tensions within the Jewish community. Witnesses reported that a man doused the synagogue's front doors with a flammable liquid and ignited them before fleeing the scene. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze quickly, limiting damage to the front entrance. Victorian police are investigating the attack as a serious crime but have not yet indicated whether it should be classified as terrorism. The incidents reflect a growing concern regarding targeted attacks against the Jewish community, as evidenced by a previous incident in December where another synagogue was severely damaged. On the same night, around 20 masked protesters disrupted an Israeli restaurant, Miznon, chanting slogans like "Death to the IDF" before being arrested. The police apprehended a woman for hindering their efforts. In a separate but related incident, early Saturday morning, three cars were vandalized and set on fire in a nearby suburb. The police are currently examining whether these incidents are interconnected as part of a broader wave of antisemitic behavior witnessed across major Australian cities. Responses from government officials and community leaders have condemned the arson and harassment witnessed that evening. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan described the attacks as designed to traumatize Jewish families, stating that acts targeting places of worship are unequivocally acts of hate. Jewish community leaders, including Alex Ryvchin from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, have urged the public to denounce these acts of violence and offered support to affected congregants. The Australian Prime Minister has also expressed strong condemnation of these events, emphasizing that antisemitism has no place in Australia.