TV chef Ed Halmagyi defiant in the face of anti-Semitism

Large red inverted Hamas triangles, painted overnight on Avner’s bakery in Sydney, were accompanied by a note slipped under the door warning him to ‘be careful’.

Chef Ed Halmagyi remains positive despite vandals leaving spray painted Hamas symbols on his bakery. Picture: Nikki Short

Well-known Jewish chef Ed Halmagyi said he decided not to wash the graffitied Hamas symbols off his eastern European bakery window on Sunday morning because “people need to know” that this happens in Australia in 2024.

The large red inverted triangles, painted on Avner’s in Surry Hills sometime between 10pm Saturday and 1.30am Sunday, was accompanied by a written note slipped under the door that warned the former TV chef to “Be Careful”.

All day on Sunday, customers, who had travelled from across Sydney to show their support, sat in front of the symbols, and enjoyed their baked goods.

A Sydney bakery owned by TV personality Ed Halmagyi has been targeted in an anti-Semitic attack with this note lift under the door. Picture: Instagram

“I thought about (taking the symbols down this morning), but I thought, that’s a very silly thing to do because people should know that this stuff happens,” the former Better Homes and Gardens star told The Australian.

“The reaction of wanting to scrub it off immediately and pretend like it’s not there. That implies two things. One, that it was effective, and made me feel somehow vulnerable. And it simultaneously says you’re a victim of your circumstances. I’m not a victim,” he said defiantly.

As The Australian arrived at the bakery, a couple approached Mr Halmagyi and told him they had seen the incident on social media and wanted to offer their patronage.

“It’s too small and irrelevant to hurt me,” Mr Halmagyi told them, smiling.

Customer Eyal Wolstin. Picture: Nikki Short

Eyal Wolstin said he travelled from Maroubra to “show solidarity and support” to Mr Halmagyi.

“The last thing that he needs to face at the moment is stupid behaviour like that ... All the Israeli’s on our WhatsApp group are saying come and share your support. So we are here, enjoying a coffee,” he said.

Chef Ed Halmagyi on Sunday. Picture: Nikki Short

It’s in stark contrast to the mass cancellations reportedly suffered by Nomad restaurateur Al Yazbek, who was charged with displaying a Nazi symbol at a pro-Palestine rally.

“One of things that’s very clear is that here in Australia, as opposed to other places, we don’t support the vitriol and hate that is tolerated elsewhere in the world. Australia is a very peaceful place. Which is why when people take their own time to try and create division, that’s why it stands out, because it is unusual. And it’s largely ineffective.

“The main thing for me. People want to spray paint the shop, go for it, can’t stop you. Want to leave you notes under the door, go ahead I can’t stop you. But I do get to choose my reaction … Spray paint doesn’t effect me.”

His grandmother Alice, who he has a plaque for on the outside of the building, was in Auschwitz in 1944 – one of only a handful of her community that survived.

On Saturday night, a candle marking her death was still burning in the window.

“So many people have come along to say are you OK. I am OK but the fact they wanted to find out is really representative of the community that we’re building.”

He wanted to call the incident out for what it is – anti-Semitism.

Massive crowds outside the cafe on Sunday. Picture: Nikki Short

“I’m very proudly Jewish. But I’m also Australian. I’m not Israeli. If you’ve got a problem with what’s happening with internal Israeli politics, you’ve got a problem with Israeli military politics, a problem with Israeli foreign policy, there’s a very good way to deal with that. You go down the hill and you talk to the Israeli consul,” he said.

“If you’re getting to me, it’s not because its an Israel problem, it’s because it's a Jewish problem. And we have a word for that, it’s called anti-Semitism.”

Mr Halmagyi has been vocal on his personal social media page about issues like the October 7 massacres and the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Of October 7, he said: “Victims were Muslim and Christian, Buddhist, atheist and Jewish, Druze, Bedouin, Arab, Thai, Canadian, German, Israeli and from more than 40 other nations. And to the people of Gaza, we see you and your pain, and you are in our prayers.”

From October 9 until the end of Yom Kippur on Saturday, Avner’s flew an Israeli flag.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said: “Marking a Jewish business with the Hamas death triangle is a dangerous form of incitement to violence that invokes the darkest days in human history.”

“Australians will be appalled by this conduct which is totally at odds with our national values.”

NSW Police attended the business on Sunday afternoon after becoming aware of offensive graffiti sprayed on the walls of the premises, and were told the man received a written note containing an alleged threat. Police are investigating the incident.