Burgertory founder Hash Tayeh writes open letter to the Jewish community after controversy

A businessman who runs a burger store in Caulfield and other Melbourne suburbs has hit back at “troubling rumours” after he was part of a group chanting at a pro-Palestine rally.

A Melbourne-based businessman who owns a popular burger chain has posted an open letter to the city’s Jewish community after vision emerged of him attending pro-Palestine rallies after the deadly Hamas terrorist attack.

Hash Tayeh, founder and CEO of Burgertory, posted to his LinkedIn after a video of him attending one of the controversial rallies surfaced online, where he was part of a group chanting “from the river to the sea”.

“I write to address the troubling rumors (sic) that have been circulating about myself, suggesting that I hold anti-Semitic sentiments due to my attendance at pro-Palestinian rallies,” he wrote.

“I want to make it abundantly clear that these rumors (sic) are unfounded and far from the truth.

Burgertory founder and CEO Hash Tayeh has responded to “unfounded” rumours. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“At no stage have I ever called for harm to any individual, and I want to emphasise that I have deep and meaningful friendships with members of the Jewish community.”

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dr Dvir Abramovich said the “from the river to the sea” chant was antisemitic and a “threatening and menacing rallying cry” that called for the destruction of Israel.

“Hash Tayeh needs to have a long and hard look at himself and his morality instead of lecturing the Jewish community about what is antisemitic and claiming that he is all about love and unity,” Dr Abramovich said.

“There was nothing peaceful about the demonstration he attended, and that is not how one strengthens the bonds of friendship with the Jewish community that he claims to have.”

Dr Abramovich said Melbourne’s Jewish community would be dubious about the genuineness of Mr Tayeh’s public response to his involvement in the pro-Palestine rally.

“And so, Mr Tayeh, when Jewish people living in Melbourne see ‘Open letters’ from business owners that they once considered to be allies and tell you that they don’t buy the excuses and justifications — believe them,” Dr Abramovich said

However, Mr Tayeh’s post stated the controversial chant did not advocate eliminating the state of Israel.

“Unfortunately there are two very stark differences in interpretation of the chant … but from first-hand account I can assure there is no one I know that means it in the sense that we want Jewish people dead or Israel eradicated,” he wrote.

“Let love be our guide, unity our strength, and in our collective pursuit of peach, we shall write a story of hope that inspires generations to come.”

Mr Tayeh said dozens of his family members had been killed in the conflict.

“I’ve had 38 family members killed and 2 orphans I’ve been sponsoring for the last five years aged seven and nine both killed,” he wrote.

Mr Tayeh’s fast-food chain operates a store in Glen Huntly Rd, Caulfield, along with several other locations across metropolitan Melbourne.