And so it has come to this. Warnings about the inevitability of escalating violence as anti-semitism rose over the past 14 months seem to have been ignored. More than a wake-up call, Friday’s attack on the Israel Adass synagogue in Melbourne is a reminder of what happens when those responsible for public safety drop the ball.

Victoria’s Jewish community has found itself grappling with an unsettling reality: the weekly protests in Melbourne’s city centre have created an environment that feels increasingly unsafe and exclusionary. These demonstrations, ostensibly organised to express political grievances, have taken a toll on our broader society and economy while disproportionately impacting Jewish Victorians.