Celebrity chef Ed Halmagyi, famed for his role on Better Homes and Gardens, has announced the permanent closure of his Jewish bakery in Sydney, citing years of sustained antisemitic abuse and a heightened security climate following the Bondi terror attack.
A Heartbreaking Decision for 'Fast Ed'
The beloved chef, known affectionately as 'Fast Ed', made the painful decision to shut the doors of his popular Surry Hills bakery, Avner’s. A note posted on the storefront on Wednesday confirmed the closure, just two years after its opening in 2024.
The statement read, "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 detailed two years of almost ceaseless antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and intimidation directed at the small business.
Relentless Campaign of Hate
Halmagyi revealed to ABC Sydney radio that his bakery had faced abuse on a near-daily basis since its launch. "We have been five to six days a week subject to graffiti, vandalism, hate letters, busted windows – it goes on and on, for two years I've put up with this," he stated candidly.
In a shocking incident, he described having to remove stickers accusing 'Jews kill babies' before a celebratory event. Later the same day, a man in a pick-up truck hurled extreme verbal abuse at staff and customers.
The chef admitted feeling "stupid" for underestimating the building threat against the Jewish community, a threat that has become tragically visible.
The Bondi Attack and an Unsustainable Future
The decision was finalised in the shadow of the devastating terror attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach on Sunday. Fifteen innocent people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed, and 40 others were injured in Australia's second-worst mass shooting.
The bakery's statement emphasised that even after this atrocity, threats continued. "As an open and very public business that operates at all hours, we are unable to ensure the safety of our staff, our customers, our families," it concluded.
Despite selling 1,000 doughnuts for the Festival of Lights, the reality of running an openly Jewish business became untenable. The note ended with a heartfelt thanks to the community that had supported them, signing off with the final words: "Avner’s is closed."
