Man allegedly made threatening gesture near Chabad North Shore and Kehillat Masada synagogues in St Ives

A defiant Rabbi has vowed not to be intimidated by a rising wave of anti-Semitism after an alleged threat was made against a Jewish man leaving his synagogue. It comes as Jewish leaders have called for “severe consequences” for anti-Semitism.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the arrest of a man over threatening gestures made outside a Sydney synagogue.

“That’s good that someone’s been charged, as they should be. Anyone making a threat such as that, action should be taken. And that’s a good thing by, I assume, the NSW,” he said.

“People who engage in activity designed to divide the community and driven by hate of anti-semitism should have the full force of the law thrown at them.”

A defiant Rabbi at the helm of the upper north shore synagogue close to where a Jewish man was the subject of a threatening gesture has also vowed not to be intimidated by the action and the rising wave of anti-Semitism which has rocked Sydney.

Police were told a passenger inside a car allegedly made a gun gesture with his fingers towards a man walking along Link Rd, St Ives, about 12.30pm on Saturday.

They will allege in court the car continued driving along the road and the passenger allegedly made the same gesture towards another man near a place of worship.

It is understood a gesture was made towards a man who had left the Chabad North Shore synagogue on College Crescent. Link Rd is also home to Kehillat Masada Synagogue.

The second man reported the alleged incidents to police the same day.

The gesture was to made towards a man who had left the Chabad North Shore synagogue. Picture: Facebook

Police commenced an investigation and a 20-year-old man was arrested a home in North Turramurra about 11pm on Monday.

He was taken to Hornsby police station and charged with stalk or intimidate intend fear physical harm.

Chabad North Shore Rabbi Nochum Schapiro told The Daily Telegraph the alleged incident was “emblematic of a broader acceptance of anti-Semitism in our society”.

Rabbi Nochum Schapiro said the Jewish community was not going to cower. Picture: Tim Hunter

“My message is that we are not going to cower, we’re not going to show fear, we’re going to be proud and show how we are proud by who we are,” Rabbi Schapiro said.

“We will present ourselves with dignity, with pride … it’s a message that will resonate with the broader community and I think people want to hear … and support.”

Rabbi Schapiro further added individuals allegedly act this way “because of the climate in the world” which has allowed for anti-Israel sentiment which “turns easily” into anti-Semitism.

He called on Australians to show their support to the Jewish community and how appalled they are with these alleged acts of anti-Semitism.

The 20-year-old man was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Hornsby Local Court later this month.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said this was “yet another appalling (alleged) incident that shows the levels of hatred felt towards our community and a willingness to publicly express it”.

“Australia is experiencing an anti-Semitic moment which is now rolling into 2025,” Mr Ryvchin said.

“Until there are severe consequences in terms of both the law and social exclusion for anti-Jewish racists, this will get worse and worse.”

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies President David Ossip said: “We should all be saddened by the fact the year is barely a week old and we are already seeing police having to respond to new (alleged) anti-Semitic incidents”.

“It is profoundly disturbing that an individual would, for no reason at all, allegedly threaten an ordinary Australian as he peacefully left his place of worship.”

“Such alleged behaviour isn’t just illegal but it undermines the Australian way of life we all treasure.”

Magney St in Woollahra, where a car was set alight and Israel graffiti was sprayed on garage walls in December. Picture: 7NEWS

The alleged incident follows a spate of “Jew-hatred” which has rocked the eastern suburbs community, including anti-Semitic graffiti found spray-painted across a car in Queens Park on Monday morning with the words “f**k the Jews”.

It was the third alleged incident in less than three months with multiple cars and buildings smeared with anti-Israel slogans, including “kill Israel” and “death 2 Israel” in Woollahra in December. A car was torched as well.

Anti-Israel graffiti in Woollahra last year. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

It prompted NSW Premier Chris Minns and Police Commissioner Karen Webb to further resource Operation Shelter, which came in place after the October 7 attacks in Israel, with dedicated teams “increasing further patrols” around Sydney’s east.

In the same suburb a month earlier, 10 cars were vandalised with anti-Israel graffiti with another car set alight.

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