The firebombing occurred 11 days after two gunmen targeted a Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach, and killed 15 people. Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, ended on December 22.
On Thursday, Jewish leaders called the St Kilda East attack antisemitic and that it was “open season on Jews”.
Police outside a Jewish school in St Kilda East earlier this month.Credit: Jason South
“Bondi Beach is now soaked in Jewish blood. Is that what we are waiting for here … in Melbourne?” said rabbi Gabi Kaltmann.
St Kilda Chabad rabbi Effy Block, who has the same menorah on top of his car, said the burnt-out vehicle belonged to a friend.
“It’s traumatising. They are coming off the Bondi massacre. They saw fire outside – they ran out of the house. Mentally, it was very traumatising for them,” he said.
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“It was an antisemitic attack because they saw the menorah.”
Premier Jacinta Allan said on Thursday afternoon that the firebombing was not what any family deserved to wake up to on Christmas Day.
“This little car has been driving around town spreading the Hanukkah and holiday cheer. I even saw one drive past when I was in Caulfield on Monday afternoon,” she said in a statement on X.
Police will patrol the area, and the burnt car will undergo forensic analysis by an arson chemist.
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