Episode Details

A firebombing destroyed two buildings at Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue in December 2024, sparking a national reckoning over antisemitism and community safety. Despite years of failed grant applications due to bureaucratic hurdles, the synagogue had sought government funding for security — while other Jewish groups received millions in federal and state aid. After the attack, the community rallied, securing $30 million from the federal government and $100,000 from Victoria to rebuild, with restoration expected by 2029. Board member Benjamin Klein described the synagogue as the community’s heart, now scarred by trauma — his wife couldn’t drive past the site for months. Some Jewish Australians are now considering leaving due to rising threats. Three suspects have been charged, and Australia’s spy agency links the attack to Iran’s IRGC. As a royal commission investigates antisemitism — triggered by a Sydney Hanukkah shooting — community leaders voice growing fear and the painful reality of having to justify their right to exist in Australia.

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