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A historic synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, was defaced twice in the same day this weekend with antisemitic and politically charged graffiti, in a disturbing escalation of hate targeting Australia’s Jewish community.
Vandals scrawled “Iran is da bomb” and “Free Palestine” on the walls of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, a heritage-listed synagogue on Toorak Road, just south of the city’s central business district.
According to a police spokesperson, “It is believed a wall of the Toorak Road premises was graffitied by an unknown person sometime on Sunday afternoon.”
The offensive markings were removed, “but unknown offenders again graffitied the building sometime on Sunday evening,” the spokesperson added.
On both occasions, the phrase “Free Palestine” was spray-painted on the site.
“There is absolutely no place at all in our society for antisemitic or hate-based symbols and behavior,” the police spokesperson stated. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
The hateful messages appeared less than 12 hours after the United States bombed Iranian nuclear facilities — raising concerns about the international spillover of geopolitical tensions.
“This was not random. It was a calculated attempt to intimidate Jewish Australians,” said Dvir Abramovich, Chair of Australia’s Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC). “An attack on a synagogue is an attack on every church, mosque, and temple. It’s an assault on religious freedom and the right to live without fear.”
Melbourne Hebrew Congregation Rabbi Shlomo Nathanson, speaking to the Herald Sun, expressed the exhaustion and frustration felt by Australian Jewry.
“This is an offense to the Jewish community,” he said, “but it’s also a call to conscience for all Australians to say: ‘Not on my watch. Not in my Australia.’”
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the attack as “disgraceful” and urged residents not to let conflict abroad divide Australian society.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) strongly condemns the vile antisemitic graffiti attack on the Toorak Synagogue. Defacing a place of worship with hateful messages is a direct attack on the Jewish community and a threat to Australia’s core values of respect, inclusion, and coexistence.
“This shocking act of hate reminds us that no community is immune to antisemitism,” said CAM CEO Sacha Roytman. “We commend the Mayor of Melbourne and the city’s leadership for their swift response and unwavering commitment to standing with the Jewish community. But goodwill alone is not enough — we need a unified, coordinated response from mayors across the country. Every local leader has a duty to act with courage and clarity.”
To help empower municipal leaders, CAM is co-hosting the 2025 Australian Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, to be held September 3-5 in Gold Coast. With over 75 mayors and city leaders expected to attend, the summit will provide practical tools, data, and partnership opportunities to effectively combat antisemitism and strengthen social cohesion at the local level.
“We must equip cities with the resources they need to confront hate, not just react to it,” Roytman emphasized. “What happened in Melbourne must not be normalized. We invite every local government to join us in building a united front against antisemitism.”
CAM calls all Australian municipal leaders to publicly condemn this act and reaffirm their commitment to ensuring that Jewish life — and all communities — are protected, valued, and respected.
