Ultra-Orthodox worshippers fined for breaching Covid restrictions at Ripponlea synagogue
Victoria’s top cop has warned members of an ultra-Orthodox group who attended an illegal gathering they are honing in on those involved.
Victoria
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POLICE are investigating whether anyone was responsible for inciting an illegal religious gathering held to mark Jewish new year.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the investigation into the illegal Ripponlea synagogue gathering on Tuesday was ongoing.
“We seized CCTV footage and documents to continue our investigation to determine whether anyone should be held accountable for inciting that conduct as well as the attendants,” Mr Patton said on ABC Radio.
“The investigation is very much ongoing. It is certainly not something we are not letting go.
“We have continually held people to account where they have held gatherings, religious or otherwise, and we will continue to do so.”
In Victoria incitement is an indictable offence which carries a $20,000 penalty.
Mr Patton said he urged anyone who attended to hand themselves in.
He said police were working with the DHHS in trying to get those who attended to get tested for the virus.
Police say a second group of people attempted to cause chaos and help ultra-Orthodox worshippers escape from authorities at an illegal synagogue gathering in Ripponlea.
A man is also recovering in hospital after being assaulted during Tuesday night’s dramatic stand-off.
It comes as the state opposition claimed the group was operating under the guise of a mental health support network in order to bypass strict coronavirus restrictions.
Deputy Victorian opposition leader David Southwick said worshippers had been congregating at the Glen Eira Ave temple for a “number of months”, despite complaints being lodged with authorities.
“My understanding is they were operating under an AA-type meeting and mental health group that allows you to have 10 people congregate at a time,” Mr Southwick said.
“So the (Department of Health) did not have enforceability powers because that group were operating in a certain guise.”
Mr Southwick said the group was “suggesting they were providing additional (mental health) support for members through prayer”.
He said he raised concerns directly with worshippers through a series of letters.
The gathering on Tuesday, Mr Southwick said, “was not a new situation with this particular group, this group has been involved for some time in a number of activities”.
The group’s actions, he added, reflected poorly on the whole community.
“What is happening is unacceptable, I don’t condone it, I think there needs to be consequences,” he said.
“Everyone is targeted (in the Jewish community) as a result of the actions of a few … we cannot allow this thing to happen.”
Six adults who took part in the illegal gathering have since been fined.
JEWISH LEADERS FEAR ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS
Jewish community leaders are concerned about rising anti-Semitism following the illegal gathering.
Senior Rabbi Gersh Lazarow from one of Melbourne’s biggest synagogues, The Temple Beth Israel in St Kilda, said the Jewish community had been subjected to online abuse with “clear anti-Semitic undertones” in the wake of the health breach.
“anti-Semitism and hate have been lumped on the entire Jewish community,” he said.
“We are living in the world where anti-Semitism is manifesting in a way we haven’t seen in generations.”
Rabbi Lazarow said the worshippers hold a “narrow and fundamentalist view” in the community and should face “the full weight of the law” for flouting public health orders.
He argued religious institutions can also adapt to coronavirus restrictions, noting The Temple Beth Israel has been live-streaming prayer services every day since March last year.
The Rabbi’s sermon on Tuesday night to mark Rosh Hashana was viewed 2,000 times on YouTube.
HOW TENSE STAND-OFF UNFOLDED
Police fenced off the front entrance on Tuesday night as dozens of worshippers refused to leave the Glen Eira Ave temple.
Police believe 20 to 30 people attended the illegal gathering, which they were alerted to at 6am that morning.
Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett said police negotiated a “peaceful exit” but some worshippers distracted officers to help others make a getaway.
“My advice to them is really clear … you should come forward,” he said.
“Every person who was present at that gathering will receive a penalty notice … I am also appalled at the people who distracted police. “
Mr Barrett defended the force’s tactics after officers spent hours camped outside the synagogue as the illegal gathering took place.
“The information we got was there was a large number of children involved … it is a real balancing act … (a forced entry) would have been terrifying for them.”
Meanwhile, a 45-year old freelance cameraman, who was covering the incident, says he will pursue criminal charges after being assaulted about 7pm.
The experienced cameraman, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, said tensions boiled over when members of the Jewish community outside the synagogue asked him to stop filming.
“There were a lot of members of the Jewish community that were quite hostile and aggressive toward us,” the cameraman said.
“All the media there were calm and listening to police direction. There was a crowd in the laneway that were making much more of a fuss.
“But the crowd kept antagonising us. They were saying ‘stop filming us’. I was then attacked, struck to the top of my head.
“I didn’t really anticipate it. The gentleman who struck me was quite tall and came over the top of me. He was quite an intimidating character.”
The injured cameraman said the blow had led to a concussion.
“I was a little bit dizzy,” he said.
“I was a bit wobbly after. I was struggling to speak and wasn’t feeling great. I was in a bit of a haze.”
The cameraman spent the night at The Alfred and was hoping to be cleared on Wednesday after undergoing scans.
“I’m used to violent people outside of court but I’m noticing a lot more aggression recently,” he said.
“It’s unnecessary, upsetting and troubling. It makes me feel very angry.
“It seems to be in vogue to attack media operators — it is pretty ridiculous.
“We are not punching bags.”
He said he would “absolutely” pursue charges.
“St Kilda police are investigating an assault that occurred in Elsternwick on Tuesday evening,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.
Authorities said the investigation was ongoing and the male offender was still unknown to them.
Mr Barrett stressed that Melbourne’s wider Jewish community “are appalled at what (the illegal gathering) says about the Jewish community … who are in the vast majority adhering with the chief health officer directions.”
When asked if he was concerned about anti-Semitic reprisals, Mr Barrett said he was “always worried about the behaviour of the broader community.”
Mr Barrett said breaches were occurring in all community groups, noting that “prominent Instagram influencer” Nadia Bartel was recently fined for flouting coronavirus restrictions.
Footage provided to the Herald Sun showed dozens of people, including men, women and children, entering the synagogue earlier on Tuesday.
About a dozen police had converged on the synagogue as part of an investigation into an alleged breach of coronavirus public health orders during the Jewish religious holidays.
It was believed the worshippers would not leave the synagogue until dusk, although there was no movement nearly an hour after sunset.
Two worshippers were seen climbing on the roof of a nearby building just after 6pm on Tuesday, while another group confronted police accusing them of anti-Semitism.
Chanting supporters gathered around the Glen Eira Ave synagogue as worshippers were finally cleared by police through two exits about 9pm.
Victoria Police issued a statement on Tuesday night confirming they had spoken to a number of people who attended the synagogue.
“All adults who attended will be issued with a $5452 fine. A number of children who were present will not be fined,” a police spokesman said.
“Investigators believe a number of other people were present and are yet to be spoken to by police. Investigators are working to identify them.”
RESIDENTS FURIOUS OVER BREACHES
Nearby residents said there had been a police presence in the area since 6am on Tuesday.
Officers on scene said more police personnel had been allocated to the suburb during Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year).
A nearby business owner, who did not wish to be named, said he had witnessed “multiple breaches” at the synagogue.
“There are signs on the doors saying it’s closed but they are still using it every day,” he said. “Rather than being here once a year, the police need to be more vigilant. We just want everyone to do the right thing. We don’t want to penalise people but we need to educate each other.”
A minor police presence remained in the area on Wednesday morning, with officers stationed in the alleyways outside of the synagogue and on nearby street corners.
Meanwhile, community members lashed out at the worshippers for allegedly flouting the lockdown restrictions.
“It is very frustrating, the longer this goes on the longer we are in lockdown,” said Johnathan Dvash, who owns Spout Cafe nearby.
“As a small-business owner with a young family, you just want to move on.
“They need to have a bit of respect for the rest of the community, the majority of the Jewish community aren’t like this, but there is a small part who think they are immune (to contracting coronavirus).”
Speaking on the synagogue breach, Premier Daniel Andrews said he was grateful for the Jewish community
“This is very bad behaviour,” he said.
“I don’t buy this line that people are not technologically savvy … Everyone knows about this. This is not new. It’s something we’ve all endured for a very long time.
“No one gets a leave pass. No one’s allowed to go and have gatherings like that. It’s just not fair.
“It does nothing but spread the virus, and let’s hope that from that gathering last night we don’t see cases. Let’s hope we don’t see people getting very, very unwell as a result of those choices that have been made.
“I know this has been a tough 20 months for people of faith, and for people of no faith. We’re a secular community and the rules apply to everybody. Pretending that you don’t understand there’s a global pandemic going on, I don’t buy that.”
Macnamara federal Labor MP Josh Burns, who represents parts of St Kilda and Ripponlea said it was “beyond frustrating” to hear about another alleged breach.
Jewish Council of Victoria president Daniel Aghion, urged his community to abide by Covid restrictions.
Originally published as Ultra-Orthodox worshippers fined for breaching Covid restrictions at Ripponlea synagogue
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