Australian-American billionaire Rupert Murdoch, 93, made a rare appearance at Sydney’s Central Synagogue, where he was awarded a special honor for his outspoken support of Israel and the Jewish people, particularly during the past year following the October 7 Hamas-led attack. The visit comes amid a surge of antisemitic incidents in Australia.
Murdoch, who heads the global media conglomerate News Corp, which operates hundreds of media outlets across at least 50 countries, attended the event with his wife, Elena, and other family members. News Corp’s influential outlets, including those in the U.S., UK and Australia, employ hundreds of thousands worldwide.
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Rupert Murdoch (second from left) at Sydney's Central Synagogue
(Photo: Daniel Linnet)
Rabbi Levi Wolff, leader of the synagogue and a Chabad emissary, explained that the synagogue hosted Rupert Murdoch to honor his efforts in supporting Israel and the Jewish community during an especially challenging period.
He highlighted Murdoch’s decision to allow his media networks worldwide to freely support Israel during a period of intense global scrutiny, which Rabbi Wolff described as having "a dramatic impact while Israel faced media attacks from all directions."
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In a brief statement after receiving the honor, Murdoch said, “Israel, in the last four years, has been alone on the front line of Western democratic civilization, leading the charge.”
4 View gallery
Rupert Murdoch (second from left) at Sydney's Central Synagogue
(Photo: Daniel Linnet)
With U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returning to the White House, he expressed hope for a shift in U.S. policy, saying, "I just pray that starting in another month, America gets back beside them,” in a veiled critique of the Biden administration.
Rabbi Wolff emphasized the significance of Murdoch’s global influence. "His support has a critical international impact. We wanted to thank him on behalf of our community and the Jewish people at large," he said, adding that Murdoch’s backing of Israel is rooted in his belief in justice, not personal ties to Jewish friends.