Calling for ‘the world’s longest love’, faith leaders unite against anti-Semitism

In a powerful gesture of solidarity and hope, Melbourne’s religious leaders came together on the steps of the historic East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Thursday 10 July to denounce the rise in anti-Semitism and affirm their shared commitment to unity, peace and mutual respect.

The interfaith gathering followed a disturbing arson attack on the synagogue last Friday night, as members of the Jewish community gathered for Shabbat dinner. That same weekend, a protest outside Israeli-owned restaurant Miznon in the CBD turned aggressive, further fuelling community fears.

At the initiative of Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, the media conference drew together senior representatives from Melbourne’s Jewish, Christian, Muslim and broader interfaith communities. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Rabbi Dovid Gutnick and Rabbi Ralph Genende OAM on the steps of the synagogue, they offered statements of support and solidarity.

Hatred, as you all know, knows no religious, racial or cultural boundaries.

Rabbi Genende, a leading figure in interfaith relations and dialogue in our city, spoke eloquently on the gravity of the current moment.

‘I want to say that anti-Semitism isn’t a Jewish problem. It’s a societal problem,’ he said. ‘It’s driven by hatred. Hatred, as you all know, knows no religious, racial or cultural boundaries. It’s a hatred of the other. It’s scapegoating. It’s a sickness. It’s a virus that cannot be cured by Jews. We, Jewish people, cannot cure anti-Semitism. Only the anti-Semite can do that—together with the society to which they belong.’

While reaffirming the strong and ancient connection of Jews to the land of Israel, Rabbi Genende emphasised that Jewish people in Melbourne ‘can’t be held responsible for all the actions of Israel or its mistakes, and we can’t resolve its moral problems and its practical complexities. But we cannot and we should not allow it to … come here to the streets of Melbourne.’

To be able to stand together, to come together in healing and in reconciliation and in respect of one another is … a message that is so much needed for our city at this moment.

What happened on Friday, he said, is ‘not about Israel. It’s about the kind of unbridled, often irrational hatred of Jewish people.’

While strongly affirming ‘the sacred right of people to protest in a democratic society’, he also defended ‘the fundamental right of all citizens to feel safe and secure here in our Australian cities. And it’s time that the Jewish citizens of Melbourne stop feeling intimidated by the Sunday protests, which are too often too aggressive in their nature, violent in their words and offensive in their expression.’

Addressing Rabbi Gutnick, Archbishop Comensoli said it was an honour ‘to be able to stand here with you’ outside the East Melbourne Synagogue and ‘amongst a number of other religious buildings here on the hill.

‘To be able to stand together,’ he said, ‘to come together in healing and in reconciliation and in respect of one another is … a message that is so much needed for our city at this moment.

‘There is no place for intimidation. There is no place for violence by way of what we say or even by our actions,’ he added. ‘There is a place to be able to speak with one another and to grapple with one another … to come to a better sense of truth. And all of that needs to be a part of what we might do as people of faith in the one God and [in] the hope that … we can move towards a way of walking together, rather than a walking and acting apart.’

In the face of such darkness, we are reminded of the strength of faith, the resilience of community and the power of unity. Please know that you are not alone.

Joining the group was Batul Gulani, a represenative of the AMAFHH Federation, a Shia Muslim organisation, and a member of Victoria’s Mulitfaith Advisory Group. Her words highlighted the significance of the moment.

‘An attack on a place of worship is an attack on the shared values of peace, safety and sacredness that unite all faiths,’ she said. ‘We condemn such hateful acts and offer unwavering support for your right to gather, pray and live without fear.’

‘In the face of such darkness, we are reminded of the strength of faith, the resilience of community and the power of unity. Please know that you are not alone.’

Anglican Bishop Paul Barker likewise offered a message of peace and fellowship.

‘We want to be people of peace. We want to encourage the fact that though we have differences in our faiths, there is no place for intimidation, bullying, violence or hatred at all,’ he said. ‘We want to be in a society of social cohesion, a society of peace, where people can come and worship without having to have protection at doors.’

We stand here in strongest possible support for the fact that people must be free, must feel safe to enter their places of worship. That is the most profoundly civilising value we share as an Australian society.

Fellow Anglican Bishop Philip Huggins reflected on the historical trauma the Jewish community carries and the civilisational values at stake.

‘Our places of worship are where we have communion with the Divine, where we have spiritual comfort, where we have memories that are soaked into our family story,’ he said. ‘We know the history of the Holocaust, how the Holocaust began with attacks on synagogues, with the burning of synagogues in the night … That is why we are here today.’

‘We stand here in strongest possible support for the fact that people must be free, must feel safe to enter their places of worship. That is the most profoundly civilising value we share as an Australian society,’ he said.

Rev Helen Summers, director and founder of the Interfaith Centre of Melbourne and a member of the Victorian Multifaith Advisory Group, lives locally and brought a message grounded in common religious values and human empathy.

We can have different viewpoints, but there is no place for violence in all of our religious traditions. We believe in the same values, but somehow we forget them at times … We have to pull together.

‘All world religions hold to the Golden Rule of “Do unto others as we would have them do unto us”,’ she pointed out. ‘I’m here today to support Rabbi Dovid Gutnick and his community, both as a neighbour and as the director of the Interfaith Centre of Melbourne.’

Speaking to Melbourne Catholic after the media conference, she said that she had been ‘horrified’ by the events of Friday night. ‘Many here in Australia have come from different cultures, and when events happen overseas, people are disturbed, emotions come up.

‘We can have different viewpoints, but there is no place for violence in all of our religious traditions. We believe in the same values, but somehow we forget them at times … We have to pull together … to overcome the divisions in our society.’

Inside the synagogue earlier that morning, Rabbi Gutnick welcomed the visiting faith leaders to a roundtable discussion. While he spoke of the trauma his community felt, he also expressed gratitude for the support and friendship offered in the wake of the attack.

We are feeling so much love and support ... That’s East Melbourne, that’s Melbourne: interfaith, friendship, harmony, cohesion.

‘It’s not what happened, but what was intended to happen and what could have happened,’ he said, describing the moment an arsonist attempted to set fire to the synagogue during Shabbat dinner with 20 guests inside. ‘And that’s the trauma our community’s feeling at the moment. But on the other hand, we are feeling so much love and support.’

He shared stories of spontaneous generosity, such as Anglican minister Fr Michael Bowie from across the road offering them the use of the church hall for a Shabbat dinner when it became clear that the synagogue’s hall couldn’t accommodate all the bookings. ‘It was just a lovely offer, spontaneous … That’s East Melbourne, that’s Melbourne: interfaith, friendship, harmony, cohesion.’

Drawing on a powerful image from the prophet Zechariah in the Hebrew Bible, Rabbi Gutnick likened the resilience of the community to being ‘forged through fire’.

‘That’s what we’re hoping this event is: a strengthening of Melbourne forged through an act of fire.’

He also reminded those gathered of the long history of the synagogue itself, recalling that it has been a spiritual home for many of Melbourne’s most prominent Jewish figures, including Sir John Monash and Isaac Isaacs. ‘As far as regular services, open daily, we’d be the oldest in Australia doing that,’ he noted.

‘The world’s longest love’ that we represent [shows] our commitment to this city remaining a place of cohesiveness, a place of unity, a place of togetherness and a place of peace.

The synagogue also has a rich tradition of interfaith friendship, from the days when neighbouring Christian clergy joined with their Jewish neighbours for Yom Kippur prayers, to the regular meetings between faith leaders on Eastern Hill that continue to this day. Until a few years ago, he noted, neighbouring faith communities also joined together for an annual Harmony Walk, journeying from a nearby mosque to the East Melbourne Synagogue and finally to St Peter’s Anglican Church, Eastern Hill. ‘Maybe this year’s a good year to restart it,’ he suggested.

As the media conference concluded, Rabbi Genende thanked all who had come. ‘If we are here today standing against what has been called “the world’s longest hatred”, I think that “the world’s longest love” that we represent [shows] our commitment to this city remaining a place of cohesiveness, a place of unity, a place of togetherness and a place of peace.’

Turning to Rabbi Guttnick, he concluded by wishing him and his congregation a Shabbat Shalom—a peaceful Sabbath.