Government gives Jewish community $5.7m for extra security following rise in anti-Semitic hate crime.
In the last month, threats have been made to “strangle a Rabbi” and a young Jewish man was assaulted on the way home from synagogue.
Wentworth Courier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Wentworth Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Jewish community in Sydney’s eastern suburbs is boosting security following “disturbing” outbreaks of antisemitism.
The Federal Government has given the community $5.7m which will be spent on CCTV, fences and bollards, armed security guards and more.
Co chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Peter Wertheim, said the cash was needed for protection as there are almost daily local incidents “that don’t make the news”.
In the last month alone threats have been made to “strangle a Rabbi” and a young Jewish man was assaulted on the way home from synagogue, he said.
Describing the latter of the incidents, he said: “On Friday evening, October 11, a young Jewish man in the eastern suburbs wearing a kippah (religious head covering) was on his way home from youth services at his synagogue.
“His assailant yelled ‘You f***ing Jew’ at him’.
“That same week, a person passing a Jewish school in the eastern suburbs stated to security personnel that she was going to ‘strangle the Rabbi’.”
The Federal Government has handed out $5.7 million to Jewish schools and synagogues in the eastern suburbs for protection.
“The security measures are necessary for (Jewish communities) to be safer, not just to feel safer,” Mr Wertheim said.
IN OTHER NEWS
Tributes pour in for community leader
Mum ‘dug nails into cop’s arm’ during alleged hotel brawl
Watch: Pals win $100k car with stunning hole in one
“The shameful reality is that members of the Jewish community and its institutions face an ongoing elevated threat level compared to the general community.
“This is not just our community’s assessment. It is backed up by the assessment of Australia’s law enforcement agencies.”
Twelve Jewish institutions in the eastern suburbs will receive the cash which will go towards extra security measures, including installing CCTV cameras, fencing and bollards, lighting, swipe access controlled entrance and exits and the training and hiring of armed security guards.
There has been a recent rise in antisemitism around the world with one study suggesting a 13 per cent increase in incidents last year alone.
Wentworth MP Dave Sharma welcomed the funding announcement, acknowledging the recent spate of anti-Semitic incidents.
“The last several months have seen disturbing outbreaks of antisemitism, both here in Wentworth and bullying incidents in two Melbourne schools,” he said.
Bondi Mizrachi Synagogue already has fencing, coded gates, and armed guards during services but Rabbi Shua Solomon said the $450,000 funding he has been given is needed to further protect the community.
“Anti-Semitic episodes throughout the community are occurring on a much too regular basis. There is a need for these funds, to continue to ensure the community feels safe,” he said.
Rabbi Solomon said the 500-strong Bondi Mizrachi congregation “faces security challenges”.
The six Moriah College locations will receive $1,350,000 in safety funding.
College principal and Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler said “Moriah employs a variety of security measures”.
“This (funding) will enable the College to offer more education programs for our Moriah community, improve our CCTV and fund other security-related costs,” he said.
This is round four of the Safer Communities Fund for organisations involved with children vulnerable to harassment or violence stemming from racial or religious intolerance.
List of government grants to Jewish institutions:
• Yeshiva College Bondi — $450,000
• Emanuel Woollahra Preschool — $450,000
• Emanuel School — $450,000
• Moriah College (six locations) — $1,350,000
• Mount Zion War Memorial Kindergarten — $286,230
• Sydney Chevra Kadisha Synagogue — $440,758
• Bondi Mizrachi Synagogue — $450,000
• Adath Yisroel Congregation — $251,890
• Jewish House — $362,725
• BINA Jewish Wisdom — $411,097
• The Central Synagogue — $419,572
• Dover Heights Shule — $403,571