Community message
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- Community Message
UNBREAKABLE IN THE FACE OF HATE
As we secure legal wins and endure attacks, Jewish Victorians stand proud and united.
WE STAND PROUD
As many of you know, on Friday evening there was an attempt to set East Melbourne Synagogue on fire. The next morning, I attended Shabbat services there, at a congregation that has stood proudly on the outskirts of Melbourne’s CBD for more than 150 years. Being called up to the Torah felt like the strongest possible statement we could make – that despite these attacks and efforts to instil fear, Jewish Victorians will not be scared or intimidated. We remain strong, courageous, and proud of who we are as Jewish Australians.
We call on the Victorian Government and law enforcement agencies continue to be unequivocal in their words and actions: this is unacceptable, and those responsible for this despicable act must be brought to justice swiftly.
THE LAW HAS BEEN ENFORCED
I congratulate my counterparts at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) on their 19-month pursuit of justice against William Haddad and the Al Madina Dawah Centre in Sydney.
Earlier this week, the judge found that Haddad had breached the Racial Discrimination Act by making public speeches that were antisemitic in nature. He ordered the speeches be removed from online platforms. You can read the full judgement here.
I would like to quote from a message sent around by my predecessor Daniel Aghion KC, now ECAJ President.
Daniel wrote:
Legal action is a last resort. It is time-consuming and expensive. But when it became clear that the authorities were not going to take action against Haddad, we decided that we had no alternative but to take legal action ourselves to defend our community from his hate-mongering. This week’s judgment in our favour vindicates that decision, but we feel let down that the authorities did not enforce the law themselves. We believe Haddad’s speeches incited or threatened violence towards Jews and he could have been prosecuted under state and federal laws.
Hate speech against Jews is against the law in Australia. This case emphasises this point. But it also reiterates what many of us feel, that the authorities are slow or reluctant to enforce laws in this space.
I know there are a number of individuals in our community who are pursuing similar cases against those who are spreading hate speech against Jews. I acknowledge these actions take their toll on those individuals, and I express my appreciation on behalf of Victorian Jews.
These civil actions are one approach that can be taken. The JCCV’s approach is to continue to strongly advocate for more police action against those who are breaching existing laws – and the swift implementation of Victoria’s strengthened anti-vilification laws when they come into effect in September.
The JCCV remains aggrieved and alarmed with the very slow progress in the following situations:
- The firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue on December 6 2024. No charges have been laid.
- The antisemitic neo-Nazi demonstration on the steps of Victorian Parliament on December 20 2024. No charges have been laid.
- The antisemitic display by neo-Nazis at a polling booth in Kew, just hours after antisemitic leaflets were left at homes in Caulfield on May 1 2025. No charges have been laid.
- Multiple cases of antisemitic graffiti at synagogues, Jewish schools and other Jewish buildings. No charges have been laid.
We will not give up. The JCCV will continue to work with authorities to ensure Jewish Victorians can live safely and without fear.
