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Chef Ed Halmagyi: Years of Hate Crimes Plague Sydney Bakery
16 Dec
Summary
- Celebrity chef Ed Halmagyi's Sydney bakery has faced daily abuse for two years.
- The bakery has been subjected to graffiti, vandalism, and hate mail weekly.
- Halmagyi chooses to keep graffiti displayed to raise awareness of antisemitism.
Australian celebrity chef Ed Halmagyi has revealed the ongoing ordeal of antisemitic abuse his Sydney bakery, Avner's, has faced for two years. Since its opening in 2024, the Surry Hills establishment has been a weekly target of graffiti, vandalism, and hate letters. Halmagyi described one incident where a man shouted hateful remarks in front of customers and staff, highlighting the pervasive nature of this abuse.
Halmagyi shared that his bakery has experienced numerous attacks, including offensive stickers and threatening messages like "Jews kill babies." He recounted an instance where an upside-down red triangle, a symbol used by Nazis and Hamas, was painted on his window with a note reading "be careful." Despite the intimidation, Halmagyi chose not to remove the graffiti immediately.
He explained his decision to keep the hate symbols visible was to ensure people recognized that such incidents occur. By refusing to erase the graffiti, Halmagyi aims to confront the reality of antisemitism and asserts his refusal to be defined as a victim of these circumstances, emphasizing a message of resilience and awareness.
