‘Now we can all exhale': Synagogue replaces darkness of hate with light
He wondered if it was just luck that when the attack happened the fire station was metres away, that the restaurant nearby used its ice buckets to help douse the flames and that a good Samaritan rushed to stamp out the fire with their feet.
To his mind, the only way the flames could have been tamed so quickly was that the spirits from 150 years of congregations had all exhaled at once, blowing out the fire before it could harm those inside.
'How else can you explain it?' he told the service.
Whatever happened, the rabbi said, the fact that they were all alive and together as a community 'would stay with him forever'.
Loading
Gutnick also said he'd never forget missing a call from the prime minister and received a voicemail detailing his shock over the attack.
After a few in the crowd applauded, he clarified that he'd immediately called Anthony Albanese back and was 'not making a political point'.
Extra security was provided at the venue, with guards stationed at the doors and two police cars within metres. But in acknowledgment of what has been a difficult week for the synagogue, Gutnick urged those in attendance not to linger out the front for their own safety.
Victoria Police confirmed counterterrorism command was leading the investigation into last Friday night's alleged arson attack, but it had not been declared an act of terrorism.
A western Sydney man from the suburb of Toongabbie has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possession of a controlled weapon.
About 20 people, including children, were taking part in Shabbat inside the historic Albert Street synagogue when flammable liquid was allegedly poured on the front door of the building, and set alight.
Chazan Brett Kaye led Friday night's congregation in prayer, through singing and chanting. By the end of the service, Gutnick joked that he might defect to the St Kilda shul, where Kaye is the cantor.
The rabbi sought to highlight the triumph of light over darkness as the theme of his service.
True to his request, the service was upbeat as children ran up and down the aisle, the congregation joined loudly in prayer and song and old friends greeted each other.
The rabbi's wife, Rachel Gutnick, said the lighting of the candles marked the transition from the weekday to the sacred. 'The space, we believe, is transformed,' she said. 'Now we can all exhale.'
She was among those who lit the candles at the East Melbourne Shul on Friday night. As she did so, she covered her eyes while they said a blessing to 'increase our focus'.
She said the lighting of the candles took on a special meaning after a difficult week. 'It is all about increasing light, doing things that bring light whether it's spiritual or physical,' she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
6 days ago
- The Age
Israeli missile kills six children collecting water in Gaza
Jerusalem: At least eight Palestinians, most of them children, were killed and more than a dozen were wounded in central Gaza when they went to collect water, local officials said, in an Israeli strike which the military said missed its target. The strike hit a water distribution point in Nuseirat refugee camp on Sunday, killing six children and injuring 17 others, said Ahmed Abu Saifan, an emergency physician at Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military said the missile had intended to hit an Islamic Jihad militant in the area but that a malfunction had caused it to fall 'dozens of metres from the target'. 'The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians,' it said in a statement, adding that the incident was under review. Water shortages in Gaza have worsened sharply in recent weeks, with fuel shortages causing desalination and sanitation facilities to close, making people dependent on collection centres where they can fill up their plastic containers. Loading Ramadan Nassar, a witness who lives in the area, told the Associated Press that about 20 children and 14 adults had been lined up to get water. He said Palestinians walk some 2 kilometres to fetch water from the area. In Nuseirat, a small boy leaned over a body bag to say goodbye to a friend. 'There is no safe place,' resident Raafat Fanouna said as some people went over the rubble with sticks and bare hands
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Israeli missile kills six children collecting water in Gaza
Jerusalem: At least eight Palestinians, most of them children, were killed and more than a dozen were wounded in central Gaza when they went to collect water, local officials said, in an Israeli strike which the military said missed its target. The strike hit a water distribution point in Nuseirat refugee camp on Sunday, killing six children and injuring 17 others, said Ahmed Abu Saifan, an emergency physician at Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military said the missile had intended to hit an Islamic Jihad militant in the area but that a malfunction had caused it to fall 'dozens of metres from the target'. 'The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians,' it said in a statement, adding that the incident was under review. Water shortages in Gaza have worsened sharply in recent weeks, with fuel shortages causing desalination and sanitation facilities to close, making people dependent on collection centres where they can fill up their plastic containers. Loading Ramadan Nassar, a witness who lives in the area, told the Associated Press that about 20 children and 14 adults had been lined up to get water. He said Palestinians walk some 2 kilometres to fetch water from the area. In Nuseirat, a small boy leaned over a body bag to say goodbye to a friend. 'There is no safe place,' resident Raafat Fanouna said as some people went over the rubble with sticks and bare hands
The Age
11-07-2025
- The Age
‘Now we can all exhale': Synagogue replaces darkness of hate with light
Gutnick reflected on miracles as he addressed the service, and how the flammable carpet and door were spared the worst damage even as accelerant leaked under the door. He wondered if it was just luck that when the attack happened the fire station was metres away, that the restaurant nearby used its ice buckets to help douse the flames and that a good Samaritan rushed to stamp out the fire with their feet. To his mind, the only way the flames could have been tamed so quickly was that the spirits from 150 years of congregations had all exhaled at once, blowing out the fire before it could harm those inside. 'How else can you explain it?' he told the service. Whatever happened, the rabbi said, the fact that they were all alive and together as a community 'would stay with him forever'. Loading Gutnick also said he'd never forget missing a call from the prime minister and received a voicemail detailing his shock over the attack. After a few in the crowd applauded, he clarified that he'd immediately called Anthony Albanese back and was 'not making a political point'. Extra security was provided at the venue, with guards stationed at the doors and two police cars within metres. But in acknowledgment of what has been a difficult week for the synagogue, Gutnick urged those in attendance not to linger out the front for their own safety. Victoria Police confirmed counterterrorism command was leading the investigation into last Friday night's alleged arson attack, but it had not been declared an act of terrorism. A western Sydney man from the suburb of Toongabbie has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possession of a controlled weapon. About 20 people, including children, were taking part in Shabbat inside the historic Albert Street synagogue when flammable liquid was allegedly poured on the front door of the building, and set alight. Chazan Brett Kaye led Friday night's congregation in prayer, through singing and chanting. By the end of the service, Gutnick joked that he might defect to the St Kilda shul, where Kaye is the cantor. The rabbi sought to highlight the triumph of light over darkness as the theme of his service. True to his request, the service was upbeat as children ran up and down the aisle, the congregation joined loudly in prayer and song and old friends greeted each other. The rabbi's wife, Rachel Gutnick, said the lighting of the candles marked the transition from the weekday to the sacred. 'The space, we believe, is transformed,' she said. 'Now we can all exhale.' She was among those who lit the candles at the East Melbourne Shul on Friday night. As she did so, she covered her eyes while they said a blessing to 'increase our focus'. She said the lighting of the candles took on a special meaning after a difficult week. 'It is all about increasing light, doing things that bring light whether it's spiritual or physical,' she said.
