Timeline of hate: Shameful surge in Sydney’s anti-Semitism
Sydney’s Jewish community has endured a rapid increase of targeted attacks since Israel's October 7 massacre. Here’s a list of some of the most shameful incidents that have plagued the city.
NSW
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Sydney’s Jewish community has been subjected to a rapid increase in anti-Semitic attacks since the October 7 massacre in Israel, prompting an outcry from its leaders and the establishment of police Strike Force Pearl.
Synagogues and homes, cars and businesses thought to belong to Jewish people have been targeted in the city’s inner west, east and south.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s (ECAJ) special report on anti-Semitism tallied an “unprecedented” 795 incidents in NSW – including 12 physical assaults – since October 7 2023.
OCTOBER 2023
October 9: Protesters gathered at the Sydney Opera House and were heard chanting “F**k the Jews” and “Where’s the Jews”.
At a pro-Palestine rally at Lakemba Mosque, Sheik Ibrahim Dadoun told fellow attendees he was “elated” about the October 7 massacre, which he said was a “day of pride...a day of victory”.
On the same day, a group of teens was threatened at Bellevue Hill by a man stating he would “f**king kill you all” for carrying an Israeli flag.
October 10: A man wearing a kippah (Jewish head covering) was abused in Rose Bay by a group of people in a car who shouted “Death to the Jews”.
October 13:Three men were charged after performing a Nazi salute outside the Sydney Jewish Museum. They were found guilty by a Sydney court in October 2024.
October 23: A man shouted “F**k the Jews! Jews get off the beach” at Camp Cove Beach, then threatened to rape and murder a Jewish man’s family when confronted about his initial comments.
October 27: A Jewish group organising a vigil in Double Bay were abused by a man who shouted “You should’ve all been killed” as they organised an activity in support of Israeli hostages taken during the October 7 massacre.
October 28: A 44-year-old Jewish man was attacked at Arncliffe, resulting in a four-day hospital stay, after a confrontation with three men. The man sustained facial bruising, concussion and spinal fractures after he was repeatedly kicked and punched and called a “Jew dog”.
NOVEMBER 2023
November 5: ‘Death to JEWS’ graffitied at Katoomba bus stop.
November 10: ‘Kill the Jews’ graffitied on Rabbi’s fence in Newcastle.
November 22: ‘Bring back Hitler. Finish the job’ graffitied at Double Bay.
November 30: Religious item removed and taken from Jewish home in Randwick.
JANUARY 2024
January 7: ‘Jews kill kids’ graffitied at Maroubra shop.
January 20: ‘No Jews’ graffitied on rocks at Watsons Bay.
MARCH 2024
March 12: Graffiti seen at Malabar – ‘No Jews allowed’.
APRIL 2024
April 29: ‘Jews did 9/11’ with Star of David graffitied at West Gosford bridge.
MAY 2024
May 29: Glebe home graffitied with ‘Jew scum’.
AUGUST 2024
Jewish students abused at Lindfield were told “Jews deserve to die”, should be “gassed”, “separated from normal people like us” and told to get off a bus.
Graffiti of swastika and ‘Death to Jews’ written in German was seen at Lindfield.
OCTOBER 2024
October 13: A threatening note was found at a Surry Hills bakery owned by celebrity chef Ed Halmagyi, warning ‘Be careful’.
Hamas symbols were painted on the business’ windows.
Posting on Instagram, Halmagyi wrote: “Being Jewish in Sydney, 2024 edition”.
October 20: Protesters gathered in Hyde Park to mourn dead terrorist leader Yahya Sinwar, referring to him as a “legend” and “martyr” who “died a warrior’s death”.
NOVEMBER 2024
November 21: A number of cars in Woollahra were vandalised with ‘F*k Israel’ and ‘PKK coming’ on the morning.
Chiswick, a Woollahra restaurant owned by celebrity chef Matt Moran, was vandalised with similar graffiti.
Two men were arrested in relation to the damage.
DECEMBER 2024
December 11: Two cars were and a home were vandalised in Woollahra on December 11.
Jewish community members and politicians condemned the attack, while a resident described Australia’s response to anti-Semitism as “embarrassing” and called for action.
JANUARY 2025
January 5: Two worshippers at the Chabad North Shore synagogue in St Ives were threatened after a man allegedly made hand gestures in the shape of a gun. A 20-year-old man from North Turramurra was arrested and released on conditional bail following the incident, to appear in court at a later date.
January 7: Residents at a Henry St, Queens Park home discover a car has been graffitied with 'F**k the Jews'.
January 10: Newtown Synagogue graffitied with swastikas. It is believed there may have been an attempt to set the synagogue on fire.
January 11: Southern Sydney Synagogue in Allawah graffitied with swastikas and 'Free Palastine' [sic] around 4am. This is just hours after the attack on the Newtown synagogue.
January 14: Graffiti found at Sydenham Station: 'Gas the Jews'.
January 17: Homes and cars at Military Rd, Dover Heights, were splashed with paint and graffitied, and two cars damaged by fire. One of the homes targeted was the former residence of co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin.
"There is evil at work in this country and we have to recognise that there are people who are consumed with hatred," he said.
January 21: A childcare centre in Maroubra was firebombed and graffiti found nearby - 'F**k the Jews'. The centre is located close to the Maroubra Synagogue. Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attend the view the scene.
Maroubra Synagogue was targeted in 2016, with then-Rabbi Yossi Friedman telling the Daily Telegraph that it was a place that had been established by Holocaust survivors.
January 29: Police swoop on a property at Dural following the discovery of an explosive-laden caravan that had been parked on Derriwong Rd.
A local alerted police to the contents of the caravan which included mining explosives, a note with the addresses of a Sydney synagogue and other Jewish buildings, as well as a note that read “f**k the Jews” on January 19.
January 30: Mount Sinai College, Maroubra. The school and a neighbouring property at Runic Lane graffitied with hate speech.
January 30: Anti-Semitic graffiti discovered at an Eastlakes residence.
January 30: Anti-Semitic graffiti discovered at an Eastgardens shopping centre.
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Originally published as Timeline of hate: Shameful surge in Sydney’s anti-Semitism
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