"#Synagogues have cancelled services and diverted costs from other services to prioritise their safety in the wake of rising levels of #antiSemitism in #Australia, the Royal Commission has been told. #Sydney silk #RichardLancaster addressed the inquiry on Monday and spoke about the financial challenges synagogues have faced when it came to making their organisations safe. “Representatives of the #synagogue told of how they cancelled Friday night services because they couldn’t afford to pay a guard, and felt that they could not discharge their duty of care to congregants without one,” Mr #Lancaster said. “The Commission has received submissions from very many synagogues around Australia. A constant theme is the organisational time, energy and money that has to be committed to security.” https://www.themercury.com.au/news/breaking-news/synagogues-forced-to-cancel-services-over-security-costs-royal-commission-told/news-story/91a5be3e76116ca3acf7c48fe201accb