Launceston Jewish community hurt by synagogue vandalism

The Launceston Jewish community is reeling from an act of vandalism on the city’s 1844 synagogue, with the city’s Rabbi calling the act a “disgrace” and “a crime against everyone”.

LAUNCESTON’S Jewish community is reeling after an act of vandalism on the city’s synagogue.

A Star of David on the gate of the 1844 heritage-listed building, was defaced last week – seemingly with a black marker.

The St John Street building is the second-oldest synagogue in Australia after Hobart and is considered a rare example of Egyptian revival architecture in the country.

Launceston Rabbi Yochanan Gordon said the city’s Jewish community was hurt by the vandalism.

“Launceston has always been a city that got together to fight hatred,” he said.

“Today the community has been hurt by the actions of individuals, and when one defaces a Jewish symbol – especially on a synagogue – it is a crime against everyone.”

He said the Jewish community thanked the Launceston residents who reported the vandalism, which showed him the wider community stood “together against this disgrace”.

The 1844, heritage-listed Launceston synagogue. A Star of David on the synagogue’s gate was this week defaced with black marker. Picture: FRIENDS OF THE LAUNCESTON SYNAGOGUE, FACEBOOK.

Melbourne-based academic and Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich described the defacement as “cowardly vandalism” and an attack on “all those who cherish the values of religious freedom”.

“This is the latest in a string of antisemitic attacks that have occurred throughout our nation over the past year, and we say once again that such abhorrent expressions of hate-fuelled behaviour run counter to our country’s values of respect for all faiths,” he said.

“Whenever a synagogue or any other house of worship is defaced, it sends shockwaves through the community and causes tremendous emotional damage to its members.”

Dr Abramovich said he hoped anyone with information about the vandalism would come forward quickly so the “perpetrators of this outrage will be swiftly brought to justice”.

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In August and October last year, a Launceston auction house offered Nazi memorabilia for sale including an SS officer’s ring, which fetched $1000.

Premier Will Hodgman denounced the auction for breaching “community standards and expectations” and said there had been “a line crossed”.

The Launceston vandalism also comes in the wake of news a couple in the small Victorian town of Beulah had been flying a Nazi flag over their home this week.

The flag has been pulled down after it was condemned as “disgusting” by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, while Beulah residents held a peace rally today in response.

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