Published: 10 September 2021
Last updated: 4 March 2024
DEBORAH STONE: 'Like the overwhelming majority of Jews, I am angry and hurt' by the selfishness of a small group of ultra-Orthodox Melbourne Jews over Rosh Hashanah
I AM ONE of the many Jewish Melburnians who has had a very hard week, celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, in lockdown for a second year.
I tried to maintain the traditional sense of an oasis in time for the holy day, so I didn’t look at the news. I didn’t hear until Wednesday morning that a small group of ultra-Orthodox Jews had breached lockdown and barricaded themselves in a synagogue.
A cameraman was treated for a concussion after a tense stand-off outside an illegal gathering at an ultra-Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Ripponlea.
Like the overwhelming majority of Jewish people, I am angry and hurt by this selfish behaviour. In no way does it represent the values or beliefs of Jewish tradition and culture.
Most Jews in Melbourne had Rosh Hashanah like I did. Instead of the traditional feast shared around a long, loud table with my extended family, my husband and I ate the round bread and apples and honey alone.
Instead of singing the ancient prayers of reflection and meditation in community, I watched a Zoom service from the sofa.
FULL STORY Behaviour of a minority does not represent values of Jewish tradition (Age/SMH)
Andrews blasts ‘bad behaviour’ as six fined after Ripponlea synagogue stand-off (Age/SMH)
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday criticised the “very bad behaviour” of those who had gathered and thanked the leaders of the Jewish community for condemning the public health breaches.
Police say 100 people to be fined over gathering at Melbourne synagogue (Guardian)
Victoria police say up to 100 worshippers who gathered near a synagogue in Melbourne’s south-east in breach of Covid-19 lockdown rules will be fined.
People were allegedly spotted entering a building, believed to be a prayer room, near a Ripponlea synagogue early on Tuesday morning to mark the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.
JCCV STATEMENT
JCCV is appalled by illegal prayer gathering
Photo: Victoria Police are seen as people exit from a building near a Ripponlea synagogue in Melbourne, Tuesday, September 7 (James Ross/AAP)
