Southern Sydney Synagogue

The Southern Sydney Synagogue is located in the suburb of Allawah in Sydney, Australia. The congregation is incorporated as an amalgamation of the Illawarra Hebrew Congregation, the South Coast Hebrew Congregation, and the Bankstown Synagogue. The Southern Sydney Synagogue has been the target of firebombing, vandalism, and arson incidents on multiple occasions between the 1990s and the 2020s.

Overview

The Illawarra congregation was originally established in 1943 as the Illawarra Hebrew Congregation,Southern Sydney Synagogue. Organisation Archives.
Australian Jewish Historical Society. Accessed 10 January 2025. also known as the Illawarra Synagogue. The synagogue's founder was Nathan Haneman, a Lithuanian Jew who migrated to Australia in 1928.Illawarra Synagogue has long and colorful history
''The Australian Jewish Times''. Thu 9 Jan 1975. Page 16. Accessed 10 January 2025. Prior to the establishment of the congregation, Haneman sought to organise the local Jewish community and first founded the Illawarra Hebrew Association in the early 1930s. The association was active in promoting Jewish education in the local area. The congregation included Holocaust survivors who supplied ritual objects salvaged from synagogues destroyed by the Nazis. In 1954, the congregation purchased a centre at 5 Andover Street, in Carlton. By 1959, the congregation had grown and began seeking to build or purchase a larger centre. In 1960, the congregation joined eleven other Sydney synagogues to form the Federation of Orthodox Synagogues in New South Wales. Additionally, in 1960, the congregation purchased the former RSL building in Allawah. In 1966, the congregation formally registered as a non-profit corporation and changed its name to the Illawarra Synagogue. In 1977, the congregation expanded with the purchase of the former Mormon Church of Allawah.Illawarra Synagogue’s English success story
''The Australian Jewish Times''. Fri 6 May 1988. Page 6. Accessed 10 January 2025. In 1998, the congregation changed its name to the Southern Sydney Synagogue.

Mergers

In 1982, after the closure of the South Coast Hebrew Congregation's synagogue in Wollongong, originally founded in 1963, the congregation merged with the Illawarra Synagogue, and was known as the Illawarra, South Coast and District Synagogue.

Following the destruction of the Bankstown Synagogue in 1991, its congregation merged with Southern Sydney Synagogue.

Antisemitic attacks

The Southern Sydney Synagogue has been the target of firebombing, vandalism, and arson incidents on at least nine separate occasions:
* 1991 firebombing – On 28 March 1991, the synagogue was targeted by arsonists in a firebombing attack. The attack was viewed as part of a series of attacks on synagogues in Sydney occurring in early 1991. The arson attack forced the synagogue to close for three months for repairs costing over A$200,000, with services held in a temporary venue.Ende, Tara (1991)
Shules rebuild after arson attacks
''The Australian Jewish News'' Fri 31 May 1991. Page 10. Accessed 10 January 2025.Ende, Tara (1991)
Illawarra reconsecrated
''The Australian Jewish News''. Fri 19 July 1991. Page 3. Accessed 10 January 2025.
* 1993 firebombing – On 1 August 1993, the synagogue was targeted in a firebombing, with petrol-bombs damaging the exterior wall of the synagogue. A day earlier, the congregation celebrated its fiftieth anniversary at a ball at the Airport Hilton. The attack was condemned by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.Petrol bomb hit on shule
''The Australian Jewish News''. Fri 6 Aug 1993. Page 3. Accessed 10 January 2025.
* 1995 vandalism incidents – In early 1995, the synagogue was targeted in two separate vandalism incidents.
** The first incident saw swastikas spray-painted on the synagogue windows.
** The second incident saw bricks thrown into the synagogue, shattering two windows.Attacks in ACT, Sydney
''The Australian Jewish News'' Fri 10 Mar 1995. Page 4. Accessed 10 January 2025.
* 2000 vandalism incident – In September 2000, the Southern Sydney Synagogue as well as a synagogue in Bondi were vandalised.
* 2001 firebombing attempt – In May 2001, an attempt was made to firebomb the synagogue. The congregation subsequently spent A$10,000 for security upgrades on the synagogue building.Bialoguski, Stefan. (2001)
$10,000 security bill for synagogue
''The Australian Jewish News'' Fri 29 June 2001. Page 6. Accessed 12 January 2025.
* 2002 vandalism incident – On 2 April 2002, the Southern Sydney Synagogue was vandalised with the words "Free Palestine" daubed on the walls. The attack was condemned by the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council.Lee, A. (2002)
Antisemitic incidents rock community
''The Australian Jewish News''. Fri 12 Apr 2002. Page 1. Accessed 12 January 2025.
* 2003 arson attack – In 2003, the Southern Sydney Synagogue was targeted in an arson attack. Reportedly, vandals smeared oil on one of the synagogue walls and then used an accelerant to set it and the synagogue lawn alight. The synagogue suffered damage from the smoke and flames. The synagogue president alleged that the state government had agreed to the implementation of security measures but failed to deliver them prior to the attack.Bard, A. (2003)
Antisemitic incidents in Sydney
''The Australian Jewish News''. Fri 28 March 2003. Page 1. Accessed 12 January 2025.
* 2025 vandalism incident – On 10 January 2025, the synagogue was targeted in a vandalism incident that saw swastikas and pro-Palestinian slogans spray-painted on the synagogue walls.‘Bastards’: Angry premier condemns new graffiti attack on Sydney synagogue
''The Australian''. 10 January 2025. The synagogue was also defaced with the partly obscured words " Allah Hu Akbar". The NSW premier, Chris Minns, condemned the attack. A day after the attack, the Newtown Synagogue was vandalised with the arsonists attempting to burn down the synagogue. The two incidents were condemned by the Australian Human Rights Commission.Race Discrimination Commissioner condemns latest antisemitic attacks on synagogues
''Australian Human Rights Commission''. 13 January 2025.

See also

* List of synagogues in Sydney
** Great Synagogue (Sydney)
** Central Synagogue (Sydney)
** Emanuel Synagogue (Sydney)
** North Shore Synagogue

References

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Synagogues in Australia
Antisemitism in Australia