By: Fern Sidman

A wave of antisemitic violence in Melbourne’s central districts has drawn international condemnation and deep concern from Jewish leaders and Israeli officials, following a brazen arson attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation during Shabbat services and a violent assault on a popular Israeli restaurant. Authorities in Australia’s Victoria state have arrested a suspect in connection with the synagogue attack, as police continue to investigate both incidents, which have been described by community leaders as symptomatic of a disturbing resurgence of antisemitic extremism.

According to a report that appeared on Sunday in The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), a 34-year-old man from New South Wales was apprehended Saturday night in Melbourne’s central business district, less than 24 hours after he allegedly attempted to set fire to the historic synagogue during evening prayers. Surveillance footage released earlier in the day appears to show the suspect dousing the building’s front entrance with a flammable liquid before igniting it and fleeing the scene. Fortunately, the fire was quickly contained by local firefighters, and none of the approximately 20 worshippers inside were injured.

Victoria Police confirmed that the man has been charged with multiple offenses, including reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possession of a controlled weapon. He was scheduled to appear before the state’s bail and remand court on Sunday.

While the investigation remains ongoing, authorities have stated they are actively reviewing the man’s intent and ideological motivations to determine whether the attack qualifies as a terrorism-related offense. According to the information provided in the JNS report, this line of inquiry reflects a broader concern among both local officials and international observers that the incident may be part of a growing trend of ideologically motivated violence targeting Jewish communities in diaspora settings.

Only hours before the synagogue attack, a separate incident occurred that further rattled Melbourne’s Jewish population. As reported by JNS, a mob of approximately 20 anti-Israel demonstrators stormed Miznon, a beloved Israeli eatery on Hardware Street in the city’s central business district. Witnesses told police the group was chanting “Death to the IDF” as they entered the premises, hurling chairs, flipping tables, and throwing food and objects at the restaurant’s windows.

Although only one 28-year-old suspect was arrested and later released pending further investigation, Victoria Police have launched a broader effort to identify the remaining individuals involved in what officials are now calling an orchestrated assault on the restaurant, as per the JNS report. Eyewitnesses described terrified diners cowering behind counters and seeking cover as the protest rapidly devolved into chaos.

While authorities have not yet formally linked the two attacks, the timing and ideological overtones have prompted fears within the Jewish community and beyond that Melbourne may be witnessing a coordinated campaign of intimidation against Jewish Australians and Israeli nationals.

The back-to-back incidents have prompted swift and unequivocal condemnation from Israeli leaders. Speaking Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called both attacks “reprehensible” and denounced them as “severe hate crimes.” He emphasized the need for Australian authorities to act decisively.

“The State of Israel will continue to stand alongside the Australian Jewish community,” said Netanyahu, in a statement carried by JNS. “We demand that the Australian government take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law and prevent similar attacks in the future.”

President Isaac Herzog echoed the sentiment, issuing a powerful rebuke of what he characterized as “vile and violent antisemitism in the heart of Melbourne.” Referencing both the attempted synagogue arson and the Miznon restaurant assault, Herzog expressed horror that “in 2025, we are still faced with the chilling image of an attempt to burn Jews alive as they pray, and attacks on Jewish businesses.”

“Antisemitism is a stain on any society,” Herzog said in a statement shared with JNS. “It must be confronted with urgency and resolve.”

The East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, founded in 1857, is the city’s oldest synagogue and has long been regarded as a symbol of Jewish continuity and identity in Australia. JNS reported that local Jewish organizations described the attack as not merely a criminal act, but an assault on the soul of the community.

As JNS has reported in recent months, Jewish communities worldwide have faced mounting threats amid intensifying global political tensions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Australia, traditionally known for its multicultural tolerance, has not been immune to these pressures. In 2023, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry documented a 35% increase in antisemitic incidents nationwide — including harassment, vandalism, and threats of violence — with Melbourne and Sydney emerging as particular flashpoints.

The Australian government has thus far refrained from issuing an official statement on the Melbourne incidents, but calls are growing for a more robust federal response. Jewish groups are pressing for increased funding for synagogue security, stronger hate crime legislation, and greater political support for efforts to counter antisemitism in schools and public discourse.

In a statement to JNS, leaders of the Zionist Federation of Australia condemned the attacks as “a stark reminder that anti-Jewish hatred knows no borders.” They called on Australians of all backgrounds to “stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and reject these hateful ideologies.”

For many members of Melbourne’s Jewish population, the events of Friday night mark a turning point. The proximity of the synagogue arson attempt to Shabbat services, combined with the overtly political nature of the restaurant attack, have stoked fears of escalating violence and prompted renewed debate over the resilience of Australia’s multicultural compact.

As the JNS report indicated, the response from Victoria’s law enforcement and political leadership in the coming days may well determine whether these incidents remain isolated horrors — or the first signals of a deeper crisis brewing beneath the surface.

What remains clear is that the scars from this weekend’s assaults will not easily fade. And for Melbourne’s Jewish residents, the Shabbat that should have brought peace instead became a night etched in fear — and resilience.