The growing antisemitism in Australia has begun to have direct consequences on the daily lives of the Jewish community. Representatives from various organizations reported to a Royal Commission of Inquiry that several synagogues were forced to cancel religious services because they could not afford the necessary security costs to protect the worshippers.
During the fifth hearing of the commission, specifically dedicated to the security of the Jewish community, it was revealed that many institutions had to divert financial resources intended for their activities to fund guards, surveillance systems, and other protective measures following the sharp increase in antisemitic incidents recorded since the massacre perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Synagogues are allocating more resources to protect their worshippers
Lawyer Richard Lancaster explained to the commission that numerous congregations reported having suspended the traditional Friday night religious services because they could not afford security personnel.
He noted that nearly all the synagogues consulted agreed that a growing part of their time, budget, and organizational effort must be dedicated exclusively to ensuring the safety of their members.
Community representatives warned that the Jewish community faces a permanent dilemma: to strengthen security measures to protect their worshippers, with the risk of being accused of isolating themselves from the rest of society, or to reduce those controls and be exposed to new attacks.
