Anthony Albanese ‘emotional, in shock’ after synagogue visit

Jewish community leaders say Anthony Albanese described his visit to the Adass Israel Synagogue as ‘very emotional’ after witnessing the extent of the damage, as new details of his private meeting are revealed.

Jewish community leaders say Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was in “shock” when he walked inside the firebombed Adass Israel Synagogue, describing the visit as “very emotional” after witnessing the extent of the damage.

In a chaotic visit to the synagogue during which Mr Albanese had to push his way through a large scrum of locals, Jewish leaders and media, he said Australia stood with the Adass community whose synagogue was destroyed.

Jewish leaders speaking with The Australian described Mr Albanese as emotional, sensible and reasonable, but hoped the sight of destruction would shake him up to scale up efforts in stamping out hatred towards Jews in Australia.

Chief Rabbi Shlomo Kohn, Rabbi Benjamin Klein and synagogue president Michael Spigelman were among the leaders who took Mr Albanese inside what’s left of the synagogue.

“Obviously the sight of the synagogue and how it looks at the moment is quite heart-wrenching so the Prime Minister was in shock, absolutely,” Rabbi Klein said.

Anthony Albanese inside the Adass Israel Synagogue. Picture: PMO

After inspecting the destroyed interior of the synagogue, Mr Albanese said the arson attack was an act of terrorism fuelled by anti-Semitism and stoked by hatred.

“We’re a country that needs to come together and unite. One of the things that we spoke about inside with the community leaders was the fact that people have come to Australia because we are a country that is peaceful. We are a country that respects people of different faiths and are enriched by our diversity here.”
He said his government would commit to funding the rebuilding of the synagogue “to make sure that those who perpetrated this evil crime do not receive any benefit, and get the message that Australia is not a country that will tolerate such an act”.

On arriving outside the synagogue, Mr Albanese was swarmed by a group of seemingly dissatisfied Jewish community members and heckled by several people.

“Time to resign,” one person yelled. “MIA,” yelled another person draped in an Australian flag.

Others yelled: “Nice day for tennis” and “Does the Prime Minister condemn calls for intifada against Jews?”

The Prime Minister was in ‘shock’ during his visit. Picture: PMO

Mr Albanese was joined by Labor MP Josh Burns, who accused Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of intervening during a press conference to prevent Liberal senator James Paterson from reading a statement in response to the synagogue firebombing.

On Tuesday, Mr Burns said he was “amazed with the bravery and stoicism that’s been displayed by the Adass Israel congregation”, praising the Jewish community for coming together and showing kindness after the attack.

After rushing through the crowd to avoid questions, Mr Albanese had an open conversation with Jewish leaders in a private meeting at the home of the Mr Spigelman.

Mr Spigelman’s wife had prepared a table with food in anticipation of Mr Albanese’s arrival. After coffee and a cookie, he was even gifted a Jewish Menorah that symbolises light.

“The Prime Minister’s visit was very emotional. He’s a very nice man, very sensible, very reasonable, a very warm person. And he was very touched,” Mr Spigelman said.

“He was very touched by what he saw and he was shocked to see the state of the synagogue.”

Rabbi Klein told The Australian Mr Albanese “understood” that Jewish people were afraid of going to the city on a Sunday, where pro-Palestinian rallies take place every week.

“I took my kids to the city on a Sunday about four weeks ago and a person came up to us and said, ‘I think you should leave because the pro-Palestine protest is around the corner and you don’t want to be there with your kids’ … I literally got in my car and drove off. And I was crying,” Rabbi Klein said.

“That’s not the Melbourne I’m used to. I want to go to the city on a Sunday with my family and go for a walk, and we can’t do that anymore. It’s as simple as that.

“It needs to be stamped out and the Prime Minister said he understood that. And he understands that as the leader of the country, that is something that he has to work on. And he was very, very understanding and listened quite carefully.”

Mr Albanese told the Jewish leaders at the conclusion of his visit that he promised to visit them again next year when progress is made in restoring the synagogue.