Live: Firebombed synagogue representative addresses antisemitism royal commission

The community from the Adass Israel Synagogue, which was the target of a 2024 firebombing, will provide evidence at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion today.Follow our coverage here.Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:33amTue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:33amFunds provided by Commonwealth for rebuildMr Klein says a lot of discussion has been had about funding the rebuilding through grants."We've been granted money from the federal government to assist us with that, which is really a life saver in terms of being to rebuild the building," he says."We can stay there for the next 50, 100, 150 years, we'll have somewhere for the community."Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:31amTue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:31amMr Klein thanks Melbourne community for supportMr Klein thanks the wider community, Jewish and gentile, for their support and love during the time.Flowers outside the Israel Adass synagogue (Supplied: Victorian Multicultural Commission)He recounts one particular example when a car drove past two days after the fire and the window went down, causing his heart to skip a beat."I wasn't sure what he was going to do, will he chuck something at me, will he scream at me?" Mr Klein says."He was someone from the northern suburbs. He says he drove to the synagogue just to come past and say: 'I stand with you, and this is not how typical Australians are and we're not proud of this'."Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:27amTue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:27amSynagogue served as 'heartbeat' for Jewish communityRichard Lancaster SC is leading the questioning at today's hearing.He asks Mr Klein to expand on the impact of the 2024 fire on the wider community.Richard Lancaster SC (ABC News)Mr Klein says the synagogue serves as a hub for the community to celebrate milestones and access support services."It's very much the heartbeat of the community," he says."When you see it in ruins, my wife couldn't drive past the site for six months."Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:24amTue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:24amQuestioning turns to Adass Israel SynagogueMr Klein is then asked about the December 2024 firebombing attack, and he becomes emotional when recalling it.He explains the rebuilding process, including temporary accomodation being set up for worshippers."In terms of building the synagogue back again with what we had, it's a mammoth task," he says.He says that it is probably the "busiest synagogue in the southern hemisphere", and is open from very early in the morning for the community."We're very active, there's a huge amount of activity happening there and lots of people utilising the space," Mr Klein says."By taking that away, burning that down, it's really changed the whole fabric of the community."Firefighters respond to Adass Israel firebombing (ABC News)Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:20amTue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:20amJewish community increasingly on alertMr Klein says security measures have become front-of-mind due to the changing climate."We started seeing a change in the environment outside," he says."From the little things, and I call them little things even though they're quite traumatic."Like a car driving past and the window coming past, screaming "eff Jews" or profanities around Jewish people, 'Hitler missed you'."Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:17amTue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:17amHearing gets underwayThe first person to be cross-examined in today's hearing is Benjamin Klein, a board member at the Adass Israel Synagogue.He describes the local community as ultra-orthodox, where life revolves around the synagogue."We've always been able to practise and live in Melbourne as Jewish Australians very proudly and easily," he says.Mr Klein says for many years, security was not an issue at the synagogue, and recalls not even having locks on the doors before the 2020s."Things started to change, in terms of what we were used to growing up," he says.Benjamin Klein (ABC News)Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:10amTue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:10amSpotlight on synagogue firebombingToday's hearing will centre around the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in December 2024 in Melbourne.Early-morning worshippers fled the building as a fire ripped through the synagogue, gutting its interior.The firebombing was later linked by spy agency ASIO to the Iranian government.ASIO chief Mike Burgess said the attack was directed by a former Australian resident living in Iraq and recruited by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.Three people have since been arrested over the firebombing.For a preview of today's hearing, check out our story below:Tue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:05amTue 21 Jul 2026 at 10:05amWelcome to the blogGood morning and thank you for joining us for today's coverage of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.This week, the royal commission hearings in Melbourne will primarily focus on security arrangements for the Jewish community.Today, we're expecting to hear from the community from the Adass Israel Synagogue, which was the target of a 2024 firebombing.