Rabbi Nochum Schapiro speaks on Israel Hamas war as security stepped up at synagogues

A Jewish community leader has described the scenes of war unfolding in the middle east to ‘9/11’ with many in the community in state of shock and paralysis.

Members of the north shore’s Jewish community are banding together as residents struggle to comprehend the devastation of war and humanitarian crisis gripping Israel and Gaza.

After years of simmering tensions, the conflict between Israel and Hamas, a terrorist organisation, erupted into open warfare when Hamas militants stormed into Israel on October 7 and murdered more than 1400 Israelis, the vast majority of them civilians.

The north shore, with one of the largest Jewish communities in Sydney, has many ties to Israel, through faith, families and culture.

Rabbi Nochum Schapiro of Chabad North Shore said the crisis unfolding in Israel was being felt deeply among local community members with many experiencing immense feelings of shock, sadness and devastation.

“The attacks we saw are against humanity — I have no other words to describe it and the response from the community has been absolute devastation and lack of belief,” he said.

Rabbi Nochum Schapiro of Chabad North Shore.

“We all know somebody in Israel, we’re all connected. As a community, we’re standing together to support those affected by this act of terror,” he said.

Mr Schapiro said many Jewish community members on the north shore were now holding regular gatherings to recite prayers for the dead in the conflict.

A picture taken from the Israeli city of Sderot shows rockets fired from the Gaza Strip intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system.

He said the surprise Hamas attack on Israel was in many ways similar to the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001.

“After 9/11 we walked around like zombies as the world around us transformed, and this is exactly the same for us,” he said.

“In a sense people are in a state of paralysis because of the sheer magnitude of it.”

Like many across the community, Mr Schapiro has many family members living in Israel including his nephew who is one of an estimated 360,000 Israelis called up for service in the wake of the Hamas assault.

North Shore Rabbi Nochum Schapiro said many in the community are banding together for regular prayers.

A photo of the Palestine supporters rally outside the Sydney Opera House on October 9.

Closer to home, Mr Schapiro said he was deeply troubled by rising reports of anti-semitism in Sydney including last week’s Pro-Palestinian rally at the Sydney Opera House where some attendees were seen burning an Israeli flag and chanting anti-Semitic phrases.

“To see in Sydney people screaming ‘gas the Jews’ and police not knowing how to react and not stopping vile incitement is beyond comprehension,” Mr Schapiro said.

“There should be disciplinary action for those involved and those who allowed it to go ahead.

“It is incredibly troubling (but) the Jewish community is strong, we are incredibly united people and our love for each other is more powerful than the hatred for us.”

In the wake of the Hamas attacks, it is understood security has been increased at several synagogues across the north shore region.

Local politicians have also pledged their support to the Jewish community.

Liberal state MP Matt Cross, whose Davidson electorate is home to more than 2500 people of Jewish faith, delivered a powerful speech in parliament saying the community was “stronger because of its vibrant Jewish community.”

As of Sunday, the death toll across both Israel and Gaza had climbed to more than 3600 people.