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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Firebombed synagogue community to address royal commission

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Community members of the Adass Israel Synagogue, destroyed by a firebombing in December 2024, will testify before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
  • The commission is examining security arrangements for the Jewish community, with recent hearings focusing on the rising costs and pressures faced by Jewish security organizations.
  • The synagogue is not expected to reopen for years due to extensive damage, and priceless Torah scrolls were also affected by the blaze.

Community members from the Adass Israel Synagogue, which was destroyed in a firebombing in December 2024, are set to provide evidence to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation alleges the fire was orchestrated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and three people have been charged over the incident.

The synagogue's rebuilding is expected to take years due to the significant damage. Priceless Torah scrolls, housed in a fireproof safe installed after a 1995 arson attack, sustained damage from radiant heat and water used to extinguish the December 2024 blaze.

This week's commission hearings in Melbourne have focused on security for the Jewish community, including the role of law enforcement and emergency preparedness. The Community Security Group reported a tripling of its operational costs due to a rise in antisemitic incidents since October 2023, expressing concerns about its long-term sustainability as it relies heavily on philanthropic and community support.

The pressure has been immense on all our staff and our volunteers.

— Community Security Group representativeDescribing the strain on the Jewish security organization amid rising antisemitic incidents.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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