Adass to rebuild stronger a year after synagogue firebombed

Leaders of international Jewish communities walked through the debris of a Melbourne synagogue a year after it was firebombed as two accused men faced court.

Jewish leaders from across the world have stood inside the shattered remains of a synagogue, one year after it was firebombed in a surge of anti-Semitic incidents.

Plans are underway to rebuild Adass Israel Synagogue, which holds deep spiritual and sentimental significance for its community in Melbourne’s southeast.

The doors of the synagogue in Ripponlea are expected to remain closed until at least 2029, with Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion saying the rebuild will ultimately make the community “better and stronger”.

The fire quickly tore through the synagogue, engulfing it in flames and gutting two of its three buildings. At least two people have been charged in relation to the firebombing, which unfolded while worshippers were inside on December 6.

Giovanni Laulu, 21, and Younes Ali Younes, 20, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court briefly on Thursday where their cases were adjourned to April. The court was previously told the fire was believed to be politically motivated and was being investigated as a terrorist attack.

Mr Aghion stood with leaders on Thursday, revealing plans were in the works following a federal government funding package of $31 million.

“This is a least a good news story to come from tragedy. The synagogue will be rebuilt, it will be better, and this community will be stronger than it ever has been before,” he said.

The firebombing sent shockwaves around the world, with Michael Wegier of the Board of Deputies of British Jews saying Jewish communities everywhere are facing a “tsunami of anti-Semitism”.

He described his own experience of living through the Hebrew Congregation Synagogue attack in Manchester on October 20, in which two worshippers were killed by a man who told police he was acting for the Islamic State group.

“The resilience of Jewish communities around the world is grounded and rooted in our tradition and Jewish life in London, Manchester and all around the world will go on despite these terrible attacks,” Mr Wegier added.

Leaders took time to walk through the ruins of the synagogue on Thursday, where they viewed the debris still covering the floor, shattered windows and exposed brick showing just how devastating the fire was.

The gathering comes a day after the Executive Council of Australian Jewry released its report into anti-Semitic attacks in Australia, finding 1654 reports of anti-Jewish incidents were recorded by the community in the year to October 1.

Victoria recorded the highest number of incidents, which were logged by volunteer community security groups and official Jewish state bodies including the executive council.

“The (Adass) attack is the most obvious and serious case of a rising tide of Jew hatred in this country over the last two years,” Mr Aghion added.

Several prominent Jewish sites in Australia have been targeted in anti-Semitic incidents following the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023.

The onslaught triggered Israel’s two-year war on Gaza that has killed at least 70,000 people, according to Gaza health officials, and is subject to a shaky ceasefire.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously declared he believed the arson attack in Ripponlea was an act of terrorism, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced it as an “abhorrent act of anti-Semitism”.

By: Allanah Sciberras/AAP