The popular Sydney Jewish bakery, Avner's, has been forced to close its doors permanently following years of sustained antisemitic abuse, a decision its owner says was compounded by the recent Bondi terror attack.
A Community's Heartbreak and Support
Ed Halmagyi, the 50-year-old chef and television personality from Better Homes and Gardens, made the painful announcement this week. The closure of his Surry Hills bakery, which only opened in 2024, comes in the wake of the devastating attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi on Sunday, which claimed 15 innocent lives.
In response, the local community has rallied, covering the bakery's exterior with handwritten notes expressing heartbreak and solidarity. City of Sydney councillor Adam Worling shared a video on Instagram showing the letters almost completely obscuring the shopfront windows.
"Thank you to the amazing Surry Hills community for showing your love and support," Worling wrote. He added a hope for a world that is "more loving, respectful and supportive" so businesses do not need to close due to "ongoing hatred, harassment and attacks."
Years of Unrelenting Harassment
A note posted on the bakery explained the dire situation. "In the wake of the pogrom at Bondi, one thing has become clear – it is no longer possible to make outwardly, publicly, proudly Jewish places and events safe in Australia," it stated.
The note detailed "two years of almost ceaseless antisemitic harassment, vandalism and intimidation" which made it impossible to ensure the safety of staff and customers. Halmagyi later revealed to ABC Sydney radio that the bakery faced abuse five to six days a week, including graffiti, hate letters, broken windows, and verbal attacks.
In a stark example, on the day the bakery sold 1,000 doughnuts for Hanukkah, Halmagyi first had to remove stickers reading "Jews kill babies." Later, a man in a pickup truck hurled abuse at staff in front of dozens of customers.
The Tragic Backdrop of the Bondi Attack
The bakery's closure follows Australia's second-worst mass shooting, which targeted a Jewish celebration. The 15 victims included a 10-year-old girl, British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, and Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman.
The alleged attackers, father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, were swiftly confronted by police. Sajid was shot dead, while Naveed, recovering in hospital, now faces 59 criminal charges.
For Halmagyi, the attack underscored the escalating threat. "After two years... we have to be realistic about the threats that exist going forward," the bakery's statement read. "Those concerns are now clearly more pressing and more serious."
The closure of Avner's Bakery stands as a sombre indicator of the climate of fear affecting some communities, even as locals leave messages pleading, "It’ll be terribly sad if we lose this much-loved addition to the hood."
