Victorian Political Leaders Gather at Chabad Sukkah Near Parliament
by CrownHeights.info
Political leaders from across Victoria’s political spectrum joined Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece at a Sukkos gathering hosted by Chabad of Melbourne CBD, with antisemitism and Jewish safety taking center stage.
The gathering took place Wednesday at the Sukkah in Gordon Reserve, located near Victoria’s State Parliament. The annual “Sukkah in the City” event is organized by Rabbi Chaim Herzog of Chabad of Melbourne CBD and provides a public setting for Jewish identity and Sukkos celebrations in the heart of Melbourne.
Among those attending were Lord Mayor Reece, Labor MP Ryan Batchelor, Victorian Deputy Opposition Leader and Caulfield MP David Southwick, and Shadow Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Affairs Evan Mulholland.
Rabbi Herzog described the sukkah’s prominent location as significant, saying it was important to publicly demonstrate Jewish identity, particularly amid the current climate in Melbourne.
Lord Mayor Reece spoke about the city’s response to antisemitism, citing recent incidents including an attack on an Israeli restaurant and an attempted arson attack at the East Melbourne Shule. He said the City of Melbourne has adopted measures aimed at more quickly removing antisemitic and hateful material, reporting that approximately 3,000 items, including stickers and graffiti, had been removed during the first year of the initiative.
Batchelor highlighted the sukkah’s location beside Parliament as a visible celebration of Jewish culture and tradition, while Southwick noted that attendance at the event has declined since October 7 as some members of the Jewish community have felt less safe in Melbourne’s city center.
Mulholland, meanwhile, said the sukkah’s physical fragility served as a reminder of the strength of the Jewish community itself.
The event brought together representatives of both the governing Labor Party and the opposition Coalition, underscoring the ongoing engagement between Chabad and Victorian civic and political leaders.
