TRANSCRIPT
When flames tore through the Addas Israel Synagogue last week, responses from across the community were swift.
Religious groups have denounced the suspected arson attack that left Jewish communities in Melbourne and across the country in shock.
Rabbi Daniel Rabin is the senior rabbi at the Caulfield Shule and a member of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria.
"When I heard the news on Friday that a place of worship, a fellow Synagogue, had been firebombed, it was devastating, honestly, to think this is happening in 2024, in a place that I love and I appreciate so much. And it's really a sentiment which I think has been felt by the majority of the Jewish community, if not all the Jewish community, and of course, our friends and neighbours, who also do think that this is a travesty that this could happen on our shores, in this most beautiful place."
Sydney Rabbi Yossi Friedman says the Australian Jewish community in New South Wales was also affected by the attack.
He says it is a result of the growing levels of antisemitism.
"There is fear in the Jewish community. There are those who are scared to walk out with their hats on their heads, with their stars of David around their chests. And it has taken too long to stamp out this hatred. And now, sadly, we're seeing what the effects of this hatred are."
Islamic leaders have stood together in solidarity with their Jewish counterparts, describing the incident as antithetical to their teachings.
Dr Sheikh Ibrahim El-Shafie is the Deputy Chairman of the Islamic High Council of Australia.
"Such an irrational behaviour would only cause more divisions and also tribulations and sedition in our community. And no-one will be benefiting from such acts. And rather that would cause more troubles and conflicts with other communities."
The blaze has led a United States human rights group to issue a travel warning for Australia.
Meanwhile, Queensland police have laid charges against a man in relation to threats against a Jewish centre in Melbourne.
Tensions are escalating elsewhere as well.
A bus belonging to an Islamic school in Adelaide was set alight in suspicious circumstances over the weekend.
Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, says the arson is part of a broader trend.
"We've heard about an increase in antisemitism across this year but we've also heard (about) an increase in other forms of racism this year as well, and racism remains a pervasive and systemic problem in our society."
The situation has led to calls for a broad-ranging anti-racism taskforce.
Liberal Senator Dave Sharma was criticised after describing reports of Islamophobia as 'fictitious'.
Bilal Rauf, senior advisor to the Australian National Imam's Council, says the Liberal Senator's comments only spread further division in the community.
"What the Liberal Senator said is very disappointing and concerning for anyone in a position of representation and influence to make such a statement. And in his situation, I doubt he's ever met anyone from the community, let alone try and understand the experience of Islamophobia. And for him to dismiss it as fictitious, and to, in turn, also politicise antisemitism, is very troubling and it does the very opposite of what we should be doing. We should be coming together as a society, yet statements like that risk our very social fabric and risk causing division and politicising issues, rather than bringing us all together to oppose reprehensible conduct and acts of hatred."
Rabbi Yossi Friedman says Australians are better off when they embrace diversity, and they must come together to protect their way of life.
"We're stronger when we accept and celebrate all the different minorities that make up the great Australian country and the great Australian way of life. And so we have to work together to stamp out antisemitism and stamp out hatred in any form against any people or any minority that exist within this great country."
