Melbourne Jews Face Menorah Setback
“Antisemitism is alive and well. We remember. Never again.” These words rang out in the Stonnington Council chamber in Melbourne as councillors voted to delay approving the installation of a Menorah at Malvern Town Hall.
Hanukkah, the eight-day festival of Jewish resilience, commemorates the Maccabees’ triumph over the far larger Seleucid empire more than 2,000 years ago. When the Temple in Jerusalem was reclaimed, only one day’s worth of oil remained, yet it burned for eight. That miracle is the heart of Hanukkah. This year, the first candle will be lit after sundown on Sunday, December 14.
Hanukkah stands for light over darkness, freedom over oppression, and hope in the bleakest moments. Its message is universal, and public displays of it bring communities together. Rabbi Reuvi Cooper reminded councillors that Hanukkah symbolizes a city where all cultures are welcome, “light, hope and togetherness in the City of Malvern.” In a fractured world and a deeply divided Australia, those values are desperately needed.
Yet somehow, this simple, uplifting celebration has become mired in controversy. The motion to defer was initiated by Councillor Steve Stefanopoulos and seconded by Deputy Mayor Samantha Choudhury.
Around the world, radical Islamist extremists have chanted that they will not rest until their ideology reaches “every home.” Only last week, such chants rang out in New York’s Times Square. Australia has seen echoes of this dangerous rhetoric. But those opposing the Menorah should be reminded that in Israel, Jewish communities display signs wishing their Muslim neighbors a happy Ramadan. This is a tradition of respect, goodwill, and coexistence. It is a far cry from the intolerance some are showing here in Stonnington.
As a former student of Columbia University, perhaps Deputy Mayor Choudhury was taught about context. Who can forget when Republican Elise Stefanik questioned the President of Columbia and other universities over the rapid rise of antisemitism on campus and whether the “calling for the genocide of Jews” is bullying and harassment according to their codes of conduct. Their response was dependent on the context! History matters. And it is precisely this lack of context that turns a simple celebration of light and hope into a political battlefield.
This makes the Deputy Mayor’s stance all the more baffling. She has previously shared warm family Ramadan greetings, an expression of cultural pride welcomed by the community. Australians celebrate one another’s festivals, whether Ramadan, Diwali, Christmas, or Hanukkah. That is the essence of multicultural Australia. Yet that fabric begins to unravel when the installation of a Hanukkah Menorah becomes controversial.
During the debate, Councillor Sally Davies backed the motion, noting the Menorah was ready and would come at no cost to council. A simple, meaningful gesture of support for the Jewish community. Councillor Jamie Bell called the deferral inappropriate, reminding the chamber that the Jewish community is already experiencing heightened anxiety amid rising antisemitism. Councillor Tom Humphries called the deferral “nothing short of antisemitism,” prompting Councillor Stefanopoulos to leap to his feet, labelling the remark defamatory. Councillor Jami Klisaris said she had never witnessed such poor behaviour in her years on council. Mayor Melina Sehl demanded a retraction. Councillor Kate Healey said plainly that, given the Rabbi’s assurances, there was no justification for a delay.
The vote split 4–4. Mayor Sehl used her casting vote to defer the motion. Now a special meeting must be held. More delay. More anxiety. More division.
Our streets have been filled with division for years, particularly since the October 7, 2023 atrocities when Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 250 hostages. The wave of antisemitism that followed has retraumatised Holocaust survivors, who see echoes of their childhood fears. Jews are now attacked under the guise of anti-Zionism. Antisemitism has become so normalised that, for some, it is treated almost like a trend.
As former Prime Minister Bob Hawke once said, “When the bell tolls for the Jews, it tolls for the rest of Australia.” This is not just a Jewish issue. Antisemitism anywhere threatens the values and safety of all Australians.
This raises serious questions about Deputy Mayor Choudhury’s motives. She argued that the council needs a cultural events calendar, but would such a delay be demanded of any other community? Is this principle or selective obstruction? Why is a straightforward decision suddenly impossible? And how does a council in 2025 not already have such a calendar? Introducing this requirement now only serves to delay the Menorah and risks ensuring Chanukah is ignored this year.
Councillor Stefanopoulos claimed the motion was “too sudden.” Yet the Acting CEO confirmed that he and the Rabbi from Chabad Malvern met back in May 2025, and the Menorah was openly discussed. The claim of “short notice” collapses under scrutiny.
In State Parliament, Caulfield MP David Southwick condemned the council’s behaviour, calling the meeting “a disgrace,” saying that rather than uniting the community, councillors delivered “division and chaos.” He urged Stonnington Council to reconsider what he rightly described as an appalling decision.
Let us hope that council finally comes to its senses and allows light, hope and togetherness to fill City of Malvern during Hanukkah.