Outrage as Sydney Synagogues Targeted with Anti-Semitic Graffiti and Arson Attempts

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Sydney has been rocked by a series of anti-Semitic attacks, with two synagogues and other properties vandalized in acts condemned as both hateful and deeply alarming. Early Saturday morning, the Newtown Synagogue in Sydney's Inner West was targeted by two individuals who spray-painted offensive graffiti on the building and its fence. Police believe the perpetrators also attempted to set the premises on fire before fleeing the scene.  

 

 

The shocking incident comes just a day after swastikas and anti-Semitic slurs were scrawled on the Southern Sydney Synagogue in Allawah, prompting widespread outrage. Police later released CCTV images of two suspects in connection with the Newtown Synagogue attack, describing one as wearing a black hooded jumper with white writing, black tracksuit pants, and white shoes, while the other wore a black spray jacket with a white emblem, gloves, and white Asics shoes. Both were seen on distinctive vehicles—one on a black motorized scooter and the other on a white and black mountain bike.  

 

 

A spokesperson for NSW Police said an investigation into these incidents was underway, highlighting the seriousness of hate crimes. "The NSW Police Force takes hate crimes seriously and encourages anyone who is the victim of a hate crime or witnesses a hate crime to report the matter to police. It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone," they stated.  

 

 

The attacks extended beyond the synagogues. A house in Queens Park, along with five cars and a trailer, was also defaced with offensive graffiti. Similarly, a poster in Marrickville was vandalized with hateful remarks, which authorities are treating as a separate incident.  

 

 

Dr. Dvir Abramovich, head of the Anti-Defamation Commission, condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, calling them an affront to the values of the nation. "To defile a synagogue—a place of worship, hope, and sanctuary—with the ultimate emblem of genocide and evil is nothing short of an attack on the very heart of our nation," he said.  

 

“These swastikas, painted in malice, are not just symbols — they are bullets aimed at the soul of the Jewish community,” Dr. Abramovich continued. He noted the additional pain for Holocaust survivors in Australia who now face seeing the symbols of their tormentors desecrate their places of worship. "This isn’t just graffiti — it’s a gut-wrenching reminder that the same hatred that fueled the extermination camps is still alive and kicking. And make no mistake: this isn’t just a Jewish issue. This is an Australian issue. Because an attack on one community is an attack on all of us.”  

 

Premier Chris Minns echoed these sentiments, labeling the acts “monstrous and appalling.” He affirmed the government's commitment to combating hate. "Our message is clear—these acts designed to intimidate and divide will not work. These people are determined to divide our community, but they will fail."  

 

Southern Sydney Synagogue president George Foster described the graffiti as deeply distressing, warning that such acts could escalate beyond vandalism. “The theory is it may not stop with just graffiti, it could move to violence, which has happened in other countries,” Foster said, reflecting the concern of many in the Jewish community.  

 

These incidents highlight a disturbing rise in anti-Semitic acts, leaving many to question the safety of vulnerable communities. As investigations continue, the call for unity and vigilance grows louder, with a collective determination to ensure such hate has no place in Australia.  

 

Based on a report by News.Com.Au 2024-01-13