Cops fine Jewish worshippers at Melbourne synagogue for allegedly breaching lockdown

Dozens of Jewish worshippers at a Melbourne synagogue have been fined as wild scenes saw some people scale buildings and confront police.

Dozens of Jewish worshippers illegally gathered have been issued with $5452 fines after attending an all-day Jewish New Year celebration.

It was earlier reported that an estimated 100 people were attending celebrations at the orthodox Adass Israel Synagogue in Glen Eira Avenue, Ripponlea, when they were slapped with fines.

However, the Adass Israel Synagogue said “the gathering in question was an independent group of worshippers unaffiliated with Adass Israel, and was not held at one of our premises.”

“The Adass Israel congregation was not responsible for the Rosh Hashana public health order breach,” a spokesperson said. “Adass Israel has taken all necessary steps to ensure our synagogue and buildings are compliant with public health orders.”

Police had been in the area since the early hours of Tuesday morning. Eyewitnesses said some of those gathered chanted, pushed cameras and yelled insults at media and police as well as climbed onto a nearby building.

A man is seen on the roof of a building amid an illegal gathering at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea. Picture: Mark Stewart

A second, smaller illegal prayer group assembled for Jewish New Year was also dispersed by police from an apartment above the Ripponlea IGA supermarket, also on Glen Eira Avenue.

Members of the local Orthodox community allegedly broke stay-at-home orders to observe the holy day Rosh Hashana, which marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year.

Officers have been in the Ripponlea area since early on Tuesday morning where they are stationed outside a synagogue on Glen Eira Ave. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police are also investigating witness reports of groups of men and children gathering at a Ripponlea synagogue after curfew on Monday night.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday morning urged the community to do the right thing after video footage of an alleged illegal gathering was leaked.

Police speak to locals near an alleged illegal gathering at a synagogue in Ripponlea. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“I understand this has been a difficult year for lots of people … if you break the rules we will be in lockdown longer,” he said.

“I have not seen the footage and I do not want to cast aspersions on any groups or any section of our community.

“The Jewish community called out that behaviour and were very quick to do it and I am very grateful to Jewish leaders for doing that.”