Adass bakes shmurah matzah despite firebombing

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Melbourne’s Adass Israel community continued its decades-long tradition of baking shmurah matzah this Friday, using parts of their synagogue that were not severely damaged in December’s firebombing attack.

Adass Campaign Director Chayim Klein told The AJN the community was determined to maintain its pre-Pesach ritual despite the challenging circumstances.

“We need to do it before Pesach, and we do it every year. So this will be no different,” Klein said.

The baking process is very much a group activity for all ages. Photo: Peter Haskin.

“We can’t do it where we usually do it. We’re doing it in different rooms, but it’s ‘Hey, we’re here. We’re not going away.'”

The community has operated its own bakery for decades, where members gather annually to bake shmurah matzah – the most stringent form of matzah production.

“On Friday, we all turn into bakers. We all stand there and bake away and make matzahs,” Klein explained.

The process involves numerous stringencies, including the requirement that no more than 18 minutes elapse from the moment water touches flour until the matzah emerges from the oven.

The matzah going into the oven. Photo: Peter Haskin.

He acknowledged the emotional complexity of returning to the damaged building.

“It’s quite emotional, it’s traumatic. It’s taking everybody back into the shul, into the synagogue that was firebombed.”

The Adass community invited supporters who assisted them following the December 6 attack to come and see the baking take place including politicians, emergency services personnel and community leaders.

“Many, many people from all different walks of life and different communities stretched out their hands to help us,” Klein said.

“We feel it’s an opportunity… Come and have a look what we’re about. Get this kind of experience of how devastating the fire was, but with God’s help, we look forward and keep trying and keep pushing.”

The finished product. Photo: Peter Haskin.

Klein expressed gratitude for the widespread support received since the attack.

“We’re very grateful to for the massive support from the Jewish community, but just as important, the wider community, the politicians, emergency services, the councils. It’s just a very heartwarming task as a community to be able to try and continue to grow, to try and flourish.”