Rabbi Shlomo Nathanson: ‘Whilst this is an offence to the Jewish community, it is our hope that people say ‘not on my watch, not in my Australia’

A Rabbi has hit out at vandals who targeted The Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, saying the graffiti is “un-Australian” and “unacceptable”.

A Rabbi has called a graffiti attack “un-Australian” after a heritage-listed synagogue was marked with pro-Palestinian messaging on Sunday.

Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, located on Toorak Rd in Melbourne’s south east, was plastered with red graffiti on Sunday afternoon.

The graffiti messages read: “Free Palestine” and “Iran is da bomb”.

The graffiti at Melbourne Hebrew Congregation.

The synagogue’s Rabbi Shlomo Nathanson spoke out, calling the graffiti “un-Australian”.

“We feel this to be an attack on the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and it is unacceptable”, he said.

“Whilst this is an offence to the Jewish community, it is our hope that people say ‘not on my watch, not in my Australia’ ”.

Rabbi Shlomo Nathanson said that his congregation have been the recipients of “vile forms of anti-Semitism” as of late.

“Since October 7th, we’ve been on the receiving end of death threats and bomb threats”, he said.

He spoke about the feeling of having to “look over your shoulder” and that the harassment is becoming their new normal.

He said that he hopes that the police can find the perpetrators and bring them to justice because “if these crimes go uncheck they will carry on”.

The graffiti was on Sunday in the process of being removed.

Victoria Police said it was investigating the criminal damage at the South Yarra synagogue.

A police spokesperson said: “It is believed a wall of the Toorak Road premises was graffitied by an unknown person on Sunday.

“There is absolutely no place at all in our society for anti-Semitic or hate-based symbols and behaviour.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.