In a troubling incident on July 4, 2025, a man attempted to set fire to the Adass Israel Synagogue, a historic religious site in East Melbourne, Australia. The attack marks another wave of anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim incidents triggered by tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Fortunately, the approximately 20 individuals inside the synagogue during the incident emerged unscathed, according to a statement from Victoria police.
Firefighters responded promptly, extinguishing a small fire that had damaged the synagogue's front door. The escalation of violence coincided with protests in central Melbourne, where demonstrators rallied against perceived excessive security measures at local gatherings. Reports indicated that a faction of about 20 protesters redirected their anger towards diners at a nearby restaurant, chanting inflammatory slogans.
This incident is not isolated, as it follows a previous attack on a Melbourne synagogue in December, for which no arrests have yet been made. The ongoing hostilities have underscored a worrying trend of rising anti-Semitism in Australia, prompting local leaders to speak out against the wave of hate crimes afflicting both Jewish and Muslim communities.
Firefighters responded promptly, extinguishing a small fire that had damaged the synagogue's front door. The escalation of violence coincided with protests in central Melbourne, where demonstrators rallied against perceived excessive security measures at local gatherings. Reports indicated that a faction of about 20 protesters redirected their anger towards diners at a nearby restaurant, chanting inflammatory slogans.
This incident is not isolated, as it follows a previous attack on a Melbourne synagogue in December, for which no arrests have yet been made. The ongoing hostilities have underscored a worrying trend of rising anti-Semitism in Australia, prompting local leaders to speak out against the wave of hate crimes afflicting both Jewish and Muslim communities.
