A brazen anti-Semitic arson attack on our Shul (Synagogue) has left the Adass Israel Congregation and the broader Melbourne and global community shaken.
The Shul and its mission to create a Jewish place of worship and community will not be deterred.
Help us rebuild and rededicate the Adass Israel Shul complex.
This is an attack not only on Adass Shul, but on every Jew and every Australian.
In fact - this is an attack on democracy and freedom of religion.
WE WILL RESPOND TO THIS HATE WITH LOVE AND STRENGTH, AND REBUILD OUR SHUL BIGGER AND BETTER.
Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible in Australia.
Donations in USD are tax deductible in the USA.
New CCTV footage released by Police - inside the Shul as the fire exploded into the foyer with force.
At approximately 4:15 am, Friday morning, 5 Kislev -6 December 2024, Adass Israel Synagogue on Glen Eira Ave, Ripponlea was set ablaze by two masked men.
The two arsonists smashed glass windows to enter the building. They came prepared with petrol drums and spread the petrol around the Synagogue with brooms to maximise damage.
The building has been extensively damaged.
At the time, community members were inside the building, studying and preparing for morning prayers.
The arsonists were surprised to find personnel inside and hastily left the site after noticing the congregants. However, despite knowing congregants were inside, the arsonists proceeded with setting the fire alight.
Thankfully, the congregants made it out alive, although one of them received burns and required medical attention.
The Adass Congregation Synagogue is home to Melbourne’s diverse Orthodox and Chassidic congregation of several hundred families. Many are Holocaust survivors or descendants of Holocaust survivors. This violence evokes memories of the Nazi war crimes.
The congregation was founded in 1949 by holocaust survivors from Hungary, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Poland, many who had brought along Torah Scrolls that they had rescued from the ashes of Europe. These scrolls now had to be rescued again from an anti-Semitic arson attack.
The Adass Congregation leadership thank Jewish communal leaders who have offered support and alternative accommodation for prayers and religious activity. The Adass leadership calls on the State and Federal governments to take decisive action to eradicate the scourge of antisemitism immediately.
IN THE PRESS:
Sky News Feature
Sky News Intro
Andrew Bolt Interview Snippet
Rav Shimon Opman enters the burnt shul 1 month later for the first time. Watch on TorahAnytime
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Adass Yisroel - My Synagogue
by R' Aryeh Goldman
It was in this synagogue that I felt truly embraced—accepted and loved for who I am.
It was in this synagogue that I poured out my soul, finding comfort and connection through prayer.
It was in this synagogue that I celebrated the miraculous gift of life with the birth of my precious children.
It was in this synagogue that I delved into the timeless wisdom of the Torah, its light guiding my every step.
It was in this synagogue that I danced with boundless joy, celebrating our vibrant Jewish festivals.
It was in this synagogue that I shed tears of pain and hope, finding solace that carried me through my struggles.
It was in this synagogue that I found lifelong friends—people who truly cared.
It was in this synagogue that I shared words of hope, igniting inspiration in the hearts of others.
It was in this synagogue that I began each morning with purity, renewal, and purpose.
It was in this synagogue that I witnessed the profound strength of community, united in faith and purpose.
It was in this synagogue that I learned the essence of living as a Jew.
It was in this synagogue that I drew close to G-d.
It was in this synagogue that I created memories—sacred and eternal, etched deeply in my heart.
And it was in this synagogue that a piece of my soul was consumed by flames.
From the ashes rises not despair but the promise to rebuild,
To rekindle the fire of faith,
And to ensure that the light of this holy place never fades.
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