The granddaughter of one of the architects of the Ripponlea synagogue in Melbourne's southeast was one of hundreds of Jewish people who gathered outside the temple in a show of solidarity after Friday's targeted firebombing.
Miriam said her grandfather Philip Ermst, who arrived in Australia after fleeing Budapest in 1948, modelled the Adass Synagogue on one destroyed during the Holocaust.
Community member Miriam says the damage to the Adass Synagogue brings back some trauma for her.(Caitlin Powell/AAP PHOTOS)
"I've been to the ruins of his synagogue in Budapest and I've seen what looked black after the Nazis finished with it," she told AAP.
"And this brings back some pretty bad trauma for me because it's eerily similar."
Others at the rally sang and danced to demonstrate the strength of the community but spirits were dampened with news precious religious articles and artefacts were damaged in the blaze.
Jewish Community Council of Victoria CEO Naomi Levin said she had spoken to Adass leaders and been told five Torah scrolls, handwritten copies of the book of Moses used during prayers, won't be salvaged.
"When they brought the Torah scrolls out, those were significantly water damaged, smoke damaged and some of them also burnt," Ms Levin said.
Emotions were running high at the rally as the political debate has become more divided. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)
President of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria Rabbi Moshe Kahn thanked the community for its support.
"Some people light fires to bring destruction, to bring hate, to bring chaos, while others light fires to bring light and to bring warmth," he told the rally.
"And today, we stand here together united to bring light, to bring warmth, to bring healing into a world that is fractured."
At least 20 women danced in a circle while others sang Am Yisrael Chai, a Jewish solidarity anthem usually used as an affirmation of the continuity of Jewish people.
Opposition leader John Pesutto and his deputy David Southwick attended the rally alongside Senator James Paterson.
Labor MP Josh Burns, who himself is Jewish and grew up in nearby Caulfield, spoke at the rally amongst cries of "shame" and booing by attendees.
The firebombing continues to fuel political division with cabinet minister Murray Watt alleging Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had politicised the incident by claiming the government had made Australia less safe for Jewish people.
While some sang and danced, others carried flags and signs to demonstrate community strength. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was up to Victorian and federal police to decide whether the incident could be classed as a terror attack but he personally believed it fit the bill.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has linked the synagogue attack to Australia's decision to support a non-binding UN General Assembly resolution.
The Australian Palestine Advocacy Network accused Mr Netanyahu of deliberately sowing division and condemned the attack on the synagogue.
Caulfield resident Hallely Kimchi said it was time for more to be done to protect Jewish people.
"It is not about Israel. It's about Jews in Melbourne," she told AAP.
The synagogue remains closed to the public after it was set alight by two masked men in what police have described as a targeted assault.
Two of its three buildings were gutted and two congregants who were inside at the time preparing for morning prayers were evacuated, one suffering minor injuries.
Rally attendee Hallely Kimchi says Jewish people should feel safe in the Australian community. (Caitlin Powell/AAP PHOTOS)
A fundraising campaign to rebuild the synagogue is under way, with Adass Israel board member Benjamin Klein promising it will come back bigger and better.
"The building will be a beautiful jewel in the crown once again," he said on Sunday.
Victorian Police will meet with members of the Australian Federal Police on Monday to discuss the motive for the attack.
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