Faith leaders unite at arson-hit synagogue

Melbourne’s religious leaders stood together at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on Thursday morning in a powerful display of solidarity following the synagogue’s arson attack, with a neighbouring Anglican church offering to host the congregation’s Shabbat dinner.

Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli led the interfaith gathering organised by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council.

East Melbourne’s Rabbi, Dovid Gutnick, told the leaders there was a difference between previous incidents and the recent arson attack, saying it occurred “at a time when it was obvious that there were people in the building.”

“It’s not what happened, but what was intended to happen and what could have happened, and that’s the trauma that our community is feeling at the moment,” he said.

Rabbi Ralph Genende, AIJAC’s Interfaith and Community Liaison, said that Jews could not cure antisemitism alone.