‘Fear has killed our dream’: Avner’s Bakery prepares to close after two years of threats
Avner’s Bakery, the popular Jewish bagel shop in Sydney’s Surry Hills, is preparing to close its doors, citing sustained antisemitic harassment and escalating safety concerns following the recent violence in Bondi.
Owner Ed Halmagyi confirmed the decision in a message to supporters, describing it as heartbreaking but unavoidable after nearly two years of abuse and threats linked to the business’s identity as a publicly Jewish establishment.
Ed Halmagyi in Abner’s (Facebook)
The closure comes days after the Bondi Beach massacre, which Halmagyi said marked a turning point. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, he said he felt “so damn stupid” for believing the situation would not spiral into something far worse.
“We have been five to six days a week subject to graffiti, vandalism, hate letters and busted windows. It goes on and on,” he said. “For two years I’ve put up with this.”
Halmagyi said both the business and he personally were referenced during police investigations, prompting contact with NSW Police, the State Crime Command and the Australian Federal Police.
“A popular and high-profile Jewish bakery-cafe presents an easy target for those who want to do violence,” he said. “There is no feasible way to make it safer in any practical way without driving away customers.” He added that fear alone was enough to keep people away, even without a specific threat.
Speaking to ABC Sydney radio, Halmagyi said he should have recognised earlier how serious the threat to Jewish Australians had become.
“It was just building, and I was so wrong,” he said. “I feel utterly stupid.”
Avner’s Bakery opened on Bourke Street, Surry Hills in February 2024 and quickly became a local fixture, known for its New York-style bagels, Jewish baking traditions and welcoming cafe atmosphere. Halmagyi drew on his Hungarian-Jewish heritage and his grandmother’s recipes when establishing the bakery, keeping it open from 2am until 6.30pm daily and emphasising community from the outset.
The bakery attracted Jewish and non-Jewish customers alike and regularly sold out of core items. It also became a visible symbol of Jewish life in inner-city Sydney, proudly flying the Israeli flag and hosting informal community gatherings. That visibility, Halmagyi said, ultimately became a liability.
The business has faced repeated antisemitic targeting since October 2024, when it was defaced with graffiti including inverted red triangles, a Hamas symbol, and received a handwritten note reading “Be careful”. The harassment escalated to verbal abuse, hate mail, broken windows and, on some occasions, animal faeces being thrown at the premises.
Red triangles painted on Avner’s (Facebook)
“The first thing I had to do was remove stickers from the outside of the business saying ‘Jews kill babies’ and ‘go back to where you came from’,” Halmagyi said. “Later in the day the police came by to give us an update on some existing threats to myself and to the business.”
He described one incident in which a man drove past the bakery yelling abuse at staff in front of dozens of customers.
“Everyone goes ‘oh, that’s awful’, and I’m like, ‘no, that’s just Sunday’,” he said.
In response to the targeting, Halmagyi wrote the names of Israeli soldiers killed since October 7 on the front of the bakery, a gesture that drew both support and further hostility.
On 18 December, Halmagyi advised supporters the business was preparing to close and said he hoped someone might purchase the assets, even if the bakery does not continue operating.
“Understandable fear, and the real potential of harm, have killed our dream,” he said.
The closure has intensified concern within Sydney’s Jewish community about the ability of openly Jewish institutions and businesses to operate safely in prominent public locations. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has documented more than 3,700 antisemitic incidents in the two years following October 7, 2023, almost five times the previous annual average and the largest spike recorded across major Jewish communities outside Israel.
Halmagyi said accountability for rising antisemitism extends beyond those who carry out attacks.
“The responsibility does not just lie with those who pick up weapons and commit violence,” he told the Telegraph. “It unfortunately lands with everyone who refuses to act to prevent it.”
Many of these people are correct in saying that God wants His people in their land of Israel. There are prophecies to be fulfilled and Israel is where all of our Jewish friends need to be. There is a war coming upon Israel in which God Himself will do battle with the haters and His glory will shine for the world to see. He has protected so many through miracles in the war with Hamas. Those in Canada and the US also need to Aliya. Read Ezekiel 37. It tells how He restores the Israelites to their ancestral land. You are a part of that. I am a Christian and have great reason to love Israel. Number one, I’d rather be blessed by God than cursed. 2- our Bible came from your people and 3- our Savior Came from your people (Isaiah 53). I know the Rabbis don’t read that, but if you want to know your Messiah, read it, please. God bless you and all our Jewish friends.
Being a Christian I believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He will help you if you believe in Him and repent. He wants a relationship with you and your family. It may be difficult but you need to put your trust and faith in Him. Father God I pray for the safety and guidance for Ed and his family. My Lord guide him to where he needs to be, where you will provide and protect. I pray this in your most precious name!
I am a Christian, Jesus Christ and Bible-believing Christian, and our community here in the Philippines love and prayer for Israel, the chosen people of God. Go, and take courage for the Lord, the God of Israel is with you and will be with you. God is calling you home to Israel, to the promised land. Praying for you and your family and your decision to move to Israel, the land of promise. Please know that a lot of the Filipinos are praying for Israel!
Dear Ed,
The God of Israël Will guide en help you.
Believe me my brother, the best is still to come. Jesus our Savior.
Its hard for you i understanding that. This world is up to its ending.
I Will pray for you.
Am Israël Chai
Greetings from Katwijk aan zee, the Netherlands
Avner,
The Lord is calling you home. Australia is beautiful, but there is no greater beauty than the Lord’s land – Israel. I am not Jewish, but I firmly believe in the bible, all of God’s word…he wants you in His land. You will be welcomed, at peace and protected there. This world is not our home!
,
My heart is broken for all Jews suffering this heinous hatred and I’m without words to explain the anxiety the Jewish nation has had to endure. While I grew up in America in the forties, the often heard phrase “Never Again” was heard, we had TV shows and movie stars that gave us glimpses of Jewish life. That is so many years ago and I know that as I stand with Israel now that Christians will very soon be added to this hatred and I’ve committed my life to Our God. Without the Jews there would be no Christians.
Please stay strong and remain open. The majority of Australians support you. I’m not jewish but I support Israel and despise all Islamic hate and violence.
Dear Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong and Chris Minns
We ask you all resign due to your lack of action both in this and so so so many incidents of hate crimes, vandalism and anti semite remarks and slurs.
You appease one part of society while totally disregarding another. I uphold the Jewish people for being law abiding and active functional members of our society.
We ALL have a right to feel protected in our communities
It’s a shame this new wonderful business cannot provide a delicious bagel to the community. I bet Isreal would really appreciate your homemade and family recipe. Moving to Isreal, however, is not always an option due to costs involved. Why take the abuse and hate when you can be welcomed and loved by your heritage and Jewish communities. I bet they love bagels too! May The God of Isreal protect you and lead you on your future path.
I am saddened & sickened by the violence escalating against Gods chosen people & his followers. I am a believer in the revelation of the gospel of hope & salvation in Jesus Christ, the one born of a virgin & suffered and died on a tree, the spotless sinless lamb of God. I long for His return & to gaze upon his face . Yet, I believe, until his chosen ones call upon His name, as He has spoken in His Word the bible, He will not come & evil will continue to multiply. Call out to Jesus ‘Hosanna in the Highest, blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord’…
Call out to Him who is, was, and is again to come. I will continue to pray for Gods blessing upon His Jewish people & also His judgment against their enemies & their vicious attacks. God is calling His people back to the promised land so go & sing for your deliverer comes soon. Israel is preparing for her people to return as prophesied in the Old Testament. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ , the one who had to die as the ultimate sacrifice for all men, Jew first then Gentile. My fellow believers in America pray for you & your salvation every day. Come quickly Lord Jesus, our Almighty God, wonderful counselor, King of the Jews, Prince of Peace, Yeshua Hsmashiach, The Great I Am
As a committed Christ follower, you have my empathy and support in the form of prayer for you and your family. I believe that we, in the Christian community, are next in line for this type of targeted hatred. Our Savior says to bless and forgive in Jesus Christ’s Name. I will do that, as God gives me His strength… Praying that you make the move to Israel. I’ve been there. You won’t regret it.
I say, go to Israel where God wants you.
The Lord God most high is speaking Aliyah to your heart.
I am so sorry that this has happened. I live in a city of London, Ontario Canada and even here, antisemitism rears its ugly head. No place is safe in this world. I pray for you and your family and also to be able to sell your business and equipment to recoup your investment. God will provide. Many blessings.
I’m saddened Avner’s bakery has been the brunt of such antisemitism.
May HaShem give the owner His Shalom and guidance what to do.
I stand with Israel and pray for you. I pray that if you do have to close, that God puts it on someone’s heart to buy your property. God is calling Israelis back to Israel. Draw close to Him and listen to His direction.