Many in Jewish community fear Australia is at a ‘tipping point’

Members of Australia’s Jewish community have gathered at a rally in Sydney, warning the federal government that ‘time’s up’ following an escalation of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic attacks.

Enough is Enough rally at Sydney's Martin Place. Picture: NewsWire/Monique Harmer

Australian Jews are afraid the country is at “tipping point” and it’s only a matter of time before people are physically hurt, as crowds on Sunday warned the federal government that ‘time’s up’ following an escalation of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic attacks over the past few weeks.

About 300 Jews and Israelis booed Anthony Albanese as speaker Hagit Ashual of Together With Israel called on him to take stronger action at the “Enough is Enough” rally in Sydney’s Martin Place, saying “we need you take a no tolerance approach to anti-Semitism, hatred and violent speech in our streets”.

The event followed a second vandalism attack in Woollahra and the firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne.

Later, crowds later vocalised disappointment at Penny Wong’s “support” of a “disgraceful ICC (International Criminal Court)” and voting at the United Nations “in favour of resolutions that Australia would never have supported in the past”.

Rabbi of Sydney’s Great Synagogue Benjamin Elton said “we are now at a tipping point” and “this is no longer a threat, this is our reality” after 70 activists demonstrated outside the place of worship, leaving a group of Australian Jews locked inside earlier this month.

Liberal Senator Dave Sharma speaking at the Enough is Enough rally against anti-Semitism. Picture: Richard Dobson

“My shul and its predecessors have been worshipping in the city centre for almost 200 years … But it took until 2024 for there to be a demonstration outside our synagogue. That is not progress. That is our society in crisis,” he said.

“We ask that places of worship including the Great Synagogue, and all other synagogues, are made safe, because what we have seen in the last couple of weeks is that violence in Woollahra and destruction in our streets, of a Jewish suburban area, leads to the torching of a synagogue in Ripponlea, and who knows what is going to happen next.

“Now is the time to make a stance, because all of Australia is going to suffer if Jews or Christians or Muslims or anyone else, cannot assemble in their places of worship in freedom and in safety, and with an understanding that we respect each other.”

“In Australia in 2024, they’re burning down synagogues, and now we have to say enough is enough.”

Enough is Enough rally at Sydney's Martin Place. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

Liberal Senator Dave Sharma called for “enough of synagogues being firebombed … enough of Jewish businesses being boycotted, enough of Jews being doxxed, (and) enough of Jewish neighbourhoods being vandalised by vigilantes”. TV chef Ed Halmagyi, whose Jewish bakery has been repeatedly vandalised, told the crowd that joy and “building community” was the antidote to hate.

Zack Shachar, the cousin of Israeli hostage Naama Levy, who was captured by Hamas on October 7, told The Australian that the past two weeks had been the worst period for Jews in Australia since October 7. Mr Shachar was one of a dozen who read out the names of all the hostages “to make sure that they are not forgotten”.

“As a citizen of Australia, a lot of what came into my head (this week), we started to talk about what would be the red line for us? And if this line is crossed, what are we going to do about it? It’s not 1936 or 1939. We’re not going to wait until something happens. If things are escalated here, I think we’re going to have to rethink what we’re going to do,” he said.

Mr Shachar said he had tossed up going back to Israel, moving to a less Jewish populated area of Sydney where he would not be identified, or moving to New Zealand or another country.

Zack Shachar. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I’m very disappointed from the government. After 14 months, we’ve got to the point where we have to think of our future in Australia, after almost 15 years here,” he said.

“It’s like the frog in the pot. You’re heating up the water slowly. It’s getting worse and worse and worse. It started with just words, then it escalated to actions, and then they are firebombing the synagogue and here in Sydney as well. It’s just a matter of time before someone physically gets hurt.”

Many people were angry, and apprehensive for what was still to come, calling the events of the past few weeks “absolutely disgusting”.

“It’s disgusting that our governments are not more active about solving the problem … It is just disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful what’s happening,” Alex Gelman OAM said.

“The more silent our government is, the worse it’s going to get. So we all need to stand up and reclaim our streets.

“There’s definitely urgency, because these things are just going to get worse … It’s really important we deal with this in its embryonic stage, before it gets out of hand.”