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1991 Sydney synagogue attacks
1991 Sydney synagogue attacks
	Locations of the five attacks
Location	Sydney, Australia
Date	26 January 1991 to 28 March 1991 (AEDT; UTC+11:00)
Target	Members of Jewish congregations, five synagogue buildings
Attack type	Arson attack
Weapon	Petrol
Deaths	0
Injured	1
Perpetrators	At least two unknown perpetrators
	Four synagogues damaged; Permanent closure of one synagogue; Injury of one synagogue security guard

The 1991 Sydney synagogue attacks were a series of arson incidents, occurring between 26 January and 28 March 1991, targeting synagogues in Sydney, Australia.^[1]^[2] Five synagogues were attacked by arsonists within two months, resulting in one injury and over A$700,000 in damages. The attack also resulted in the permanent closure of the Bankstown Synagogue.^[3]

Overview

The series of attacks began on 26 January 1991, at the North Shore Temple Emanuel, in Chatswood, with arsonists setting fire to and destroying the synagogue's kindergarten, causing A$385,000 in damages.^[4]^[3] The following attack occurred on 26 February, at the Sephardi Synagogue, in Woollahra, arsonists broke into the synagogue kitchen and set it ablaze, causing A$25,000 in damages.^[3] On 5 March, at the Bankstown Synagogue, arsonists broke into the sanctuary and set it ablaze, causing A$140,000 in damages.^[3] The Torah scrolls at the Bankstown Synagogue were pulled from the building before they could be damaged in the incident.^[5]^[6] The synagogue subsequently closed and its assets were transferred to other synagogues in Sydney.^[7] On 12 March, at the North Shore Synagogue, two masked arsonists attempted to set the synagogue ablaze when the attack was foiled by a security guard. The guard was injured in the altercation.^[3]^[8]^[9]^[10] On 28 March, at the Illawarra Synagogue, in Allawah, arsonists set the synagogue sanctuary ablaze, causing A$155,000 in damages.^[3]^[5] The Illawarra Synagogue was repaired shortly after the 28 March 1991 attack. The synagogue was later targeted by arsonists in 1993, although the damage was not as extensive as the 1991 attack.^[11]^[12] Hours before the attack on the Illawarra Synagogue, a delegation of Jewish community leaders had been meeting with Prime Minister Bob Hawke discussing legislative measures relating to racial vilification and racial violence.^[10] Police investigations resulted in no arrests. And the incidents prompted changes in the security measures adopted by Australian Jewish institutions.^[13]

Following these events, New South Wales Premier Nick Greiner ordered an increase of police security to Jewish sites,^[14] and established a police taskforce to work with Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and other intelligence groups to thwart attacks.^[15]^[16] On 20 June 1991, the Australian Senate agreed to a motion by Senator Robert Hill which noted the violence, intimidation and vandalism against the Jewish community in Australia, specifically, the arson attacks on five Sydney synagogues. The senate condemned the attacks and called on the Federal Government to respond to the issue.^[17]^[16]^[18]

That same year, synagogues in other Australian cities were targeted by vandals. Bricks were thrown through a window at the Newcastle synagogue, and a bloodied pig's head was placed at the Brisbane synagogue.^[19]^[20] The Adass Yeshurun Synagogue in Doncaster, Melbourne, was targeted with a flaming tyre placed at its entrance.^[6] And the National Jewish Centre in Canberra, was broken into and a large brass menorah was stolen from the premises.^[21]

References

^ Rutland, S. (2006). Negotiating Religious Dialogue: A Response to the Recent Increase in Anti-Semitism in Australia. Negotiating the Sacred: Blasphemy and Sacrilege in a Multicultural Society, 17-30.
^ Jones, J. (2006). The Jewish Community of Australia and Its Challenges. Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Sydney's synagogue fires 1991-93". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 62, no. 4 (Melbourne ed.). Melbourne. 30 September 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
^ Waingarten, Tara (1 February 1991). "Muslims condemn attack on kindie". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 96, no. 19 (Sydney ed.). Sydney. p. 3. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via Trove.
^ ^a ^b Jones, Jeremy (7 March 1991). "Fire at Synagogue in Sydney is Fourth Arson in Six Weeks". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Vol. 69, no. 46. New York, NY. JTA. p. 3. Retrieved 14 December 2024 – via Jewish Telegraphic Agency archive.
^ ^a ^b Waingarten, Tara (8 March 1991). "Bankstown Synagogue torched". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 96, no. 24 (Sydney ed.). Sydney. p. 3. Retrieved 14 December 2024 – via Trove.
^ Ende, T. "Bankstown Synagogue closes its doors." The Australian Jewish News. Fri 1 Nov 1991 Page 3. Accessed 16 December 2024.
^ Secord, Walt (5 April 1991). "Greiner calls in police after fourth shule fire". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 58, no. 28 (Melbourne ed.). Melbourne. p. 3. Retrieved 14 December 2024 – via Trove.
^ Secord, Walt (5 April 1991). "Premier's concern on shule arson". Australian Jewish News. Vol. 96, no. 28 (Sydney ed.). Sydney. pp. 3 and 30. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via Trove.
^ ^a ^b Jones, Jeremy (29 March 1991). "Fifth Synagogue Fire in Sydney Unites Christians, Jews for Law". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Vol. 69, no. 62. New York, NY. JTA. p. 4. Retrieved 14 December 2024 – via Jewish Telegraphic Agency archive.
^ "A church/shule visit." The Australian Jewish News Fri 11 Mar 1994. Page 2. Accessed 16 December 2024.
^ Lenthen, S. (1993). "Petrol bomb hit on shule." The Australian Jewish News Fri 6 Aug 1993. Page 3. Accessed 16 December 2024.
^ Lenthen, Shoshana (21 October 1994). "Lauer:"book still open" on fires". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 100, no. 7 (Sydney ed.). Sydney. p. 7. Retrieved 14 December 2024 – via Trove.
^ Alhadeff, V. (1991). "Premier concerned: Police upgrade security." ⁨⁨The Australian Jewish News. 12 April 1991⁩. Page 3. Accessed 16 December 2024.
^ "NSW Jewry thanks Nick Greiner." The Australian Jewish News. Fri 20 Nov 1992. Accessed 16 December 2024.
^ ^a ^b Nemes, I. (1997). "Antisemitic hostility." C. Cunneen, D. Fraser, & S. Tomsen (eds) Faces of Hate: Hate Crime in Australia, Leichhardt, NSW: Federation Press, 44-74.
^ "Jewish Community in Australia." Senate Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Thursday, 20 June 1991. Page 5076. Accessed 16 December 2024.
^ "Senate condemns shule arson." The Australian Jewish News Fri 28 June 1991. Page 7. Accessed 16 December 2024.
^ Secord, Walt (10 January 1992). "Antisemitism in 1991 The year of 150 attacks". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 58, no. 18 (Melbourne ed.). Melbourne. p. 3. Retrieved 14 December 2024 – via Trove.
^ Secord, Walt (10 January 1992). "Steep rise in Australian antisemitic incidents". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 97, no. 18 (Sydney ed.). Sydney. p. 3. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via Trove.
^ Deutsch, Sylvia (3 May 1991). "Canberra community centre break-in". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 96, no. 32 (Sydney ed.). Sydney. p. 3. Retrieved 14 December 2024.