Jenan Taylor
11 December 2024
Australians of all faiths and no faith are being urged to reject hatred and violence if Australia is to be a safe, flourishing and healthy democracy.
Religious leaders from across Australia expressed solidarity with the Jewish community and denounced antisemitism after the recent firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne’s south-east.
The Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea sustained significant damage when it was attacked in the early hours of Friday 6 December.
Faith bodies, including the Victorian Council of Churches and the Islamic Council of Victoria, condemned the attack and warned it was an act that had no place in Australian society.
They want people to reject the antisemitism of the act and embrace unity instead.
Melbourne Anglican and Religions for Peace committee member Bishop Philip Huggins said it was crucial to recognise that antisemitism was about hatred because this undermined the safety of communities and could reshape Australia.
He said it was important Australians valued, cherished and supported the fact that Australia was a healthy, safe and flourishing democracy where people have been able to worship freely and safely.
Bishop Huggins encouraged people to strengthen their bonds of unity against divisive and destructive influences.
Read more: No false unity on show: God’s Israel and the Israel of God
He encouraged them to also support the Jewish community, because the firebombing would evoke in many of its members the feeling of not being safe here.
Bishop Huggins especially asked people to stand in support of the congregation who lost its synagogue, as they comprised the generations who experienced the Holocaust.
“That’s why they came to Melbourne – to get as far away as possible from that site and source of the Holocaust after World War II. They’ve felt safe here, and now there’s this surge in antisemitism and it reawakens that very real sense of being isolated and threatened,” he said.
“The issue is hate, and people resorting to violence because of this. And it has implications for everybody, not just them.”
Bishop Huggins said the firebombing had sparked fear in many other faith communities, including Muslims from Pakistan who came to Australia so they could safely be who they were.
President of the Victorian Council of Churches the Reverend Dr Joseph Leach said antisemitism, hating somebody just because of who they were, was repugnant to the Christian ethos. It was especially so if that hatred was expressed with violence.
He said an attack on any place of worship was an attack on the heart of the very people who worshipped there.
“You can’t separate those two out. You can’t say, I’m just attacking a synagogue or a church or a temple. No, you’re attacking the people who worship there,” Dr Leach said.
“That sort of violence against the communities that we disagree with, that has no place in a society driven by the rule of law.”
Read more: Multi faith leaders set to demonstrate religious unity
Leo Baeck Centre for Progressive Judaism Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black told Religions for Peace that faiths were human ways to try to better humanity as individuals and as communities.
“Whenever faiths are used as a justification to oppress or persecute others, to scare people or to take life, they lose their claim to authenticity,” Rabbi Keren-Black said.
“We hope that Adass Yisrael will soon be restored, and its community reassured, that all our faiths will preach kindness and understanding and mutual support, and stand up against hatred, violence and destruction in any form and in every place.”
Imam of Adelaide’s largest mosque Imam Kamran Tahir emphasised the importance of protecting all places of worship and of strengthening interfaith harmony.
“We are heartbroken to hear of the attack on a place of faith,” Imam Tahir said in a statement. “There is absolutely no justification for such acts. People should never be targeted based on their religion, and no house of worship should be violated.”
Bishop Huggins said people could show their support of the Adass Israel Synagogue, and the wider Jewish community, through small gestures. These could include small notes of support or flowers.
“Anything that’s possible is appreciated. The learnings from them over the last few days is just how much it means to them to not feel isolated, and to have community support.”
For more faith news, follow The Melbourne Anglican on Facebook, Instagram, or subscribe to our weekly emails.
