SYDNEY – “No fire, no vandalism, no paint, no threats, no intimidation will stop me. I will continue to fulfill my duty to my country, my community, and my people.” These were the defiant words of Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, after his former home in Sydney’s Dover Heights was targeted in a disturbing antisemitic attack.
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In the early hours of January 17, 2025, two cars were torched and defaced with anti-Jewish slurs, while the house was vandalized with red paint. Though no longer living there, Ryvchin has become a symbolic target due to his prominent role in the Jewish community.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the attack, calling it “flagrant racism” and “totally un-Australian.” In response, Minns announced plans to tighten protest laws and hate-speech legislation to better safeguard places of worship and curb the incitement of hatred.
This attack is part of an alarming rise in antisemitic incidents in Sydney. Authorities report 124 cases since the establishment of a special task force, with 102 still under investigation. The Jewish community, shaken by this latest act of hate, is increasingly concerned about safety, with some residents contemplating relocation to Israel.
Community leaders are calling for unity and action against the spread of hatred. Ryvchin’s resilience has become a rallying cry for a community determined to stand firm in its identity despite growing threats.
There is an old Jewish saying: the antisemite does not accuse the Jew of stealing because he thinks he stole something. He does it because he enjoys watching the Jew turn out his pockets to prove his innocence.
The rape deniers know women were raped, mutilated and tortured.…
— Alex Ryvchin (@AlexRyvchin) December 6, 2023
Tough talking guy