Rebuild Adass campaign director Chayim Klein: ‘The feeling and emotion behind it is very similar to a funeral, it’s a very emotional time’

Hundreds of members of the Jewish community have gathered for a sacred and “emotional” ceremony at the Adass Israel Synagogue as they buried irreplaceable artefacts.

Mourners have gathered at the Adass Israel Synagogue in a ceremony to bury the holy books and scriptures that were destroyed during the arson attack on December 6.

Emotions were running high on Tuesday night as more than 500 mourners attended a service on the synagogue steps led by Chief Rabbi Shlomo Kohn.

Mourners gather on Tuesday night. Picture: Tony Gough

The community farewelled the damaged holy books and scriptures. Picture: Tony Gough

The holy books were placed in a skip. Picture: Tony Gough

The ceremony came after the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue on December 6. Picture: Tony Gough

Young members of the Jewish community watch on. Picture: Tony Gough

Chief Rabbi Shlomo Kohn blessed the items that were burned in the fire. Picture: Tony Gough

The service was held on the synagogue steps. Picture: Tony Gough

Bags of damaged items placed in the skip. Picture: Tony Gough

Hundreds of people attended the ceremony. Picture: Tony Gough

Campaign Director for Rebuild Adass Chayim Klein, said the ceremony is “very sacred and holy” as they buried the “irreplaceable” artefacts.

“The feeling and emotion behind it is very similar to a funeral, it’s a very emotional time it’s not something that happens very often and something I have never experienced in my lifetime,” he said.

Likening the emotion and procedure of the ceremony to a “funeral for a human,” the next step is for the community is to “get up, look forward and rebuild.”

“Moving forward we are running a campaign to raise funds to replace these books and to rebuild a Synagogue and multipurpose community centre,” Mr Klein said.

The Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea was firebombed in what the Prime Minister has deemed a terrorist attack.