‘Serious things happened’: Celebrity chef on his decision to close Jewish bakery

Key Concepts

• Anti-Jewish Hatred/Antisemitism: A significant increase in hostility and prejudice towards Jewish people, manifesting in various forms of intimidation and threats.
• Threat Assessment & Security: The challenges of evaluating and responding to escalating threats, particularly those involving potential violence.
• Balancing Freedoms & Security: The complex interplay between protecting freedom of expression and association while ensuring public safety.
• Intelligence Gathering & Monitoring: The role of agencies like ASIO in identifying and tracking individuals of concern, and the difficulties in maintaining consistent surveillance.
• Community-Level Policing: The importance of focusing security efforts on local communities where radicalization and threats originate.
• Royal Commission: A formal inquiry into a matter of public importance, potentially to investigate the handling of security issues.

The Closure of ANA’s Bakery & Rising Antisemitism in Sydney

The interview centers on celebrity chef Ed Halmaji (“Fast Ed”)’s decision to close his popular Jewish bakery, ANA’s Bakery in Surrey Hills, Sydney, following a sustained period of intimidation and escalating threats in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. Halmaji frames the closure not as a deliberate “decision” but as a necessary response to an untenable situation.

Escalation of Threats & Intimidation (2022-2024)

For two years prior to the closure, the bakery experienced a consistent pattern of harassment, beginning with “graffiti, vandalism, broken windows, glue in the door locks, threatening notes under the door, people screaming abuse out the window of a passing car.” While initially dismissed as “water off a duck’s back,” the situation progressively worsened, involving incidents that required police intervention. More recently, threats became explicitly violent. A specific incident involved a car displaying a “big Syrian flag” driving past the bakery while a passenger yelled threats of violence and support for “free Palestine” in front of 50 customers. This event, coupled with ongoing police warnings about the seriousness of the threat, proved to be a turning point. Halmaji ultimately concluded that “they’re just bagels. I can't risk my kids, my staff, customers, myself. It's just not worth it.” He acknowledges a sense of defeat ("they have won in that sense") but also asserts his own victory in prioritizing safety ("I guess I'm winning in a sense that I'm still going").

Response of Authorities & Praise for NSW Police

Halmaji is highly complimentary of the New South Wales Police, specifically praising the team from Surrey Hills and senior officers from Sydney command. He describes their follow-up on incidents of vandalism and threats as “amazing” and “incredible,” acknowledging the “extraordinarily difficult job” they perform. He notes support from both state and federal levels.

The Root of the Problem & the Debate Around a Royal Commission

Halmaji argues that the surge in antisemitism is a “social problem,” not a governmental one. He emphasizes that the issue isn’t caused by police or security services, but rather originates within communities. He highlights the inherent difficulty in balancing freedom of expression and association with the need to prevent harmful extremism. He cautions against implementing overly restrictive laws, questioning the potential consequences for civil liberties.

Royal Commission – Focus on the Problem, Not the Agencies

Regarding calls for a federal royal commission, Halmaji expresses cautious support, stating that “transparency is always good.” However, he stresses the importance of defining the scope of the investigation. He argues that a commission focused solely on scrutinizing government agencies would miss the crucial point: “This is not a governmental problem. This is a social problem.” He believes the focus should be on understanding the root causes of antisemitism within communities and equipping security services to address these issues at a local level.

ASIO & the “Fell Off the Radar” Narrative

The discussion touches upon the Bondi attacker’s past interactions with ASIO. Halmaji challenges the common phrase “fell off the radar,” pointing out that ASIO’s explanation was that the individual had been investigated and cleared. He distinguishes between these two interpretations, arguing that “falling off the radar implies that somehow appropriate attention had been withdrawn.” He emphasizes the need to ensure security services have the “time, the energy, and the opportunity to be focused on what's happening at a community level because that's where the danger is emanating from.”

Logical Connections & Synthesis

The interview progresses logically from the personal experience of Halmaji and the closure of his bakery, to a broader discussion of the underlying causes of rising antisemitism and the challenges of addressing it. The specific incident involving the car with the Syrian flag serves as a catalyst for Halmaji’s realization of the escalating danger. The praise for the NSW Police is interwoven with the critique of focusing solely on governmental responses, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive, community-focused approach. The debate surrounding a royal commission underscores the importance of accurately identifying the source of the problem – societal prejudice rather than governmental failings.

Main Takeaways:

• The closure of ANA’s Bakery is a stark example of the real-world impact of rising antisemitism.
• Addressing antisemitism requires a multifaceted approach that tackles the root causes within communities, not just reactive security measures.
• Balancing freedom of expression with public safety is a complex challenge that demands careful consideration.
• Security agencies need adequate resources and focus to effectively monitor and address threats at the local level.
• A royal commission, if pursued, should prioritize investigating the societal factors driving antisemitism rather than solely scrutinizing government agencies.