In a rare show of bipartisan unity ahead of Australia’s national elections, both of the country’s major political parties have pledged substantial financial support to rebuild Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue. The synagogue, a cornerstone of the city’s Jewish community, was severely damaged in an antisemitic firebombing attack in December 2024.
On Tuesday, the ruling Labor Party announced an allocation of AUD 30 million ($19 million) towards reconstruction efforts, alongside an additional AUD 1.2 million earmarked for security enhancements. The government had previously provided AUD 250,000 to restore Torah scrolls damaged in the attack.
“The firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue was a crime of cowardice and prejudice,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement. “We won’t stand for that. We are committed to ensuring that this community rebuilds.”
Opposition Pledges Greater Support
A day before Labor’s announcement, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton pledged up to AUD 35 million ($22 million) to restore the synagogue if his Liberal Party comes to power in the upcoming elections, scheduled for May.
“We want to bring it back to life, much bigger and better than what it was,” Dutton stated during a visit to the site on Monday. He also vowed to take stronger measures against antisemitism, particularly on university campuses, and proposed new legislation to deport visa holders convicted of antisemitic crimes.
Rising Antisemitism in Australia
Antisemitism has become a pressing issue in Australia, with incidents surging in the past year. According to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), anti-Jewish incidents in the country quadrupled following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Between October 2023 and September 2024, Australia recorded 2,062 incidents, compared to 495 in the previous year.
Concerns were heightened last month when authorities in Sydney discovered a trailer packed with explosives. Initially suspected to be part of a plot targeting a synagogue, police later suggested it may have been planted by organized crime to divert law enforcement resources.
In February, a video surfaced showing two nurses in a Sydney hospital making violent threats against Israeli patients, shocking the nation and further fueling concerns about rising antisemitism.
A Synagogue with Deep Historical Roots
The Adass Israel Synagogue, located in the Ripponlea suburb, has been a pillar of Melbourne’s Jewish community since its founding in 1949 by Holocaust survivors from Hungary, Germany, the former Czechoslovakia, and Poland. Many current members are descendants of Holocaust survivors, and some of the Torah scrolls rescued from the fire had previously been saved from the destruction of the Holocaust.
After the attack, the congregation quickly mobilized efforts to continue services. Last week, Adass Israel resumed weekday prayers at a temporary location, which remains undisclosed for security reasons.
Ongoing Investigation and Community Support
Despite security footage capturing two suspects carrying out the predawn attack, police have yet to make any arrests. Authorities have assured the public that investigations remain ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Jewish community has rallied to support reconstruction efforts. In addition to government pledges, a crowdfunding campaign has raised over AUD 600,000 towards rebuilding the synagogue.
As the Australian elections draw closer, the commitment to rebuild the Adass Israel Synagogue has become a focal point of bipartisan support. While political parties debate broader strategies to combat antisemitism, the pledges to restore the synagogue send a strong message of resilience and unity against hate crimes.
