TJC: Two synagogues in the Australian city of Melbourne have been vandalised in the past week in what some community leaders believe was in response to the deepening crisis in Gaza.An exterior wall of Bentleigh Progressive Synagogue (BPS) were daubed with anti-semitic slogans, including �Die Jews�, as well as a swastika and Star of David joined with an equals sign.

It was the fourth attack of its kind on BPS since the outbreak of the intifada in September 2000.

Shul president Frank Moore said: �It�s the worst attack we�ve had. It disgusts me and distresses me that people can do this. It�s an attack on the community as a whole; it�s an attack on being Jewish.�

At the Leo Baeck Centre, situated in the Kew East area of the city, vandals threw bricks through several glass windowpanes, which are only protected by bushes.

Gavin Queit, Director of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria�s (JCCV�s) Community Security Group, said that the incidents were �probably based on what is happening in Israel at the moment. We have not had any major vandalism at shuls while there was relative calm in Israel, but when the news from Israel involves military operations, we invariably have an increase in incidents.�

Constable Andrew McGuiness from Caulfield Police, who is investigating the Bentleigh attack, said that as there was no video footage or identifiable graffiti �tags� at the scene, apprehending a suspect would be difficult.
Leo Baeck�s Rabbi Jonathan Keren Black said there was nothing to suggest the attack, which shul officials said was the first of its kind at the temple, was motivated by anti-semitism.

The attacks come as the Community Security Group prepares to issue a pamphlet to shuls around Melbourne advising congregants on how to minimise the risk of being attacked, following a surge in antisemitic incidents involving individuals earlier this year.

The Melbourne attacks follow two incidents at Sydney shuls in the past month. On June 24, intruders broke in to Coogee Synagogue, damaging the handle of a Torah scroll and stealing the curtain from the ark. Earlier last month, vandals detonated the intercom at North Shore Temple Emanuel.