Coronavirus: Ultra orthodox Jewish community holds mass gathering amid ban

Community leaders, politicians criticise ultra-Orthodox Jews who defied a ban to hold a breakaway service | WATCH

Still footage of a gathering of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Melbourne.

Jewish community leaders and politicians have slammed members of a Melbourne ultra-orthodox community for allegedly holding breakaway religious services of up to 50 people in contravention of a mass gathering ban.

Video has emerged of worshippers entering a makeshift synagogue at a residential address on Glen Eira Road in St Kilda East on Wednesday night, after all synagogues and places of worship in the city were shut down to comply with federal government measures.

In the footage, taken about 8pm on Wednesday, worshippers can be seen entering through the gates of a home which has lights set up in its backyard, where it is understood they attended a minyan – a prayer gathering of 10 Jewish men.

Posted by Manny Waks on Wednesday, 25 March 2020

As part of stage 2 restrictions announced by the National Cabinet on Tuesday night, mass gatherings including places of worship have been banned.

The Australian has spoken to two pedestrians who observed the gathering on Wednesday night, who said police did not show up to the address despite making three calls complaining about the gathering.

“There must have been about 50 people that came and went over the hour,” one said.

“I’m Jewish and I’m absolutely furious they are behaving like this, putting the lives of the entire Melbourne community and beyond at risk.

“We called the police three times and they never came.”

Another passer-by told The Australian a white sheet had been set up in the courtyard of the property, in front of a floodlight that had been installed.

“They don’t care. It’s terrible because they go to the shop and the supermarket and they spread it. We’re disgusted in the police for not attending to it,” she said.

A Victoria Police spokesman told The Australian “Victoria Police is not going to be providing comment on individual spot checks or reports of people breaching self-isolation”.

Jewish Community Council of Victoria President Jennifer Huppert said the worshippers appeared to be a breakaway group from the nearby Adass Israel synagogue, but were not associated with it officially.

“The community is very distressed to learn that a small number of people continue to ignore the restrictions,” she told The Australian.

“Earlier in March we set up the Victorian Jewish Community COVID-19 taskforce. We’ve been actively communicating the government restrictions within the community and supporting the government efforts to combat COVID-19.

“Generally the community has been very supportive. We want to make clear this behaviour is not acceptable and is in contravention of the Jewish belief that the protection of life takes priority over religious practice. And that message has been coming from religious leaders too,” Ms Huppert said.

Daniel Rabin, a local rabbi and executive member of the Rabbinic Council of Victoria, told The Australian the vision was “terrible”.

“Every credible rabbi has done the right thing. We even closed synagogues before the government told us to,” Mr Rabin said.

Local MP for Macnamara Josh Burns had been notified of the gathering by residents, and said the worshippers “should be shut down quickly or risk facing consequences”.

“I thank the majority of the community, who have done the right thing,” Mr Burns told The Australian.

“Anyone who is not complying should be shut down quickly or risk facing consequences.”