Key Points
- Barber Hussain Al-Maliki and customer Amit Ivrahim have been friends for a decade.
- Mr Al-Maliki says he worried his Caulfield business would suffer due to fall-out from the current Israel-Hamas war.
- Caulfield is home to many people of Jewish heritage.
Iraqi-born Muslim Hussain Al-Maliki owns a barber shop in the Melbourne suburb of Caufield, which is home to a Jewish population of more than 20,000.
Among his regulars is Amit Ivrahim - a Jewish Israeli - and the two have forged a friendship that has flourished for over a decade.
Their bond has endured despite the ongoing Hamas-Israel war, which has seen various forms of heated protest and commentary within the Muslim and Jewish communities in Australia, since early October.
On 7 October, Hamas militants launched a coordinated land, sea and air attack, killing around 1200 and abducting dozens.
Israel has bombarded Gaza since the attack, with more than 11,000 people killed, according to the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Mr Al-Maliki says he felt shock and sadness in the aftermath of the October 7 attack, and feared that his business would be impacted by events overseas.
However, his fears dissipated due to the “overwhelming support” of his Jewish customers and friends in the suburb, particularly Mr Ivrahim.
'We're best friends'
According to Mr Al-Maliki, Mr Ivrahim is his best friend who helps him with technology and computer problems.
"Our friendship developed years ago as we shared more about our backgrounds," he said.
Mr Al-Maliki migrated to Australia as a refugee from Iraq more than 18 years ago, while Mr Ivrahim migrated to Australia 11 years ago.
Mr Ivrahim's father was born in Hilla during the 1930s - a southern Iraqi city close to the ancient city of Babylon - while his mother was born in Baghdad.
“I became friends with him when he learned that I came from Iraq, so he started coming to the shop," Mr Al-Maliki explained.
Barber, Hussain Al-Maliki, became friends with Amit Ivrahim after they discovered they both had Iraqi roots. Credit: Hussain Al-Maliki
'Jews and Muslims have lived together for hundreds of years'
Mr Ivrahim says communication has been key to the relationship amid the war.
"I do not think it affects our relationship. We talk together, regardless of our different opinions. This is because we live in Australia," he said.
"I feel bad because any conflict without a logical resolution hurts me ... Jews and Muslims have lived together for hundreds of years.
My relationship with Hussain is good and kind, and there is no conflict since I'm Jewish and Hussain's a Muslim.Amit Ivrahim
In fact, Mr Al-Maliki said to the contrary, his relationships with his Jewish customers had strengthened amid the war.
"Since the war between Israel and Hamas began, many of my customers and friends from the Jewish community have visited me, including a 75-year-old man who has been a customer since 2006," he said.
The barber added that the man hugged him while he cried, saying, "I'm very concerned because my family lives in Israel as they want to stay there”.
"People have no personal problem with me.
“Until now, they have been my friends, and there is no problem.”
He admits that he has received added support from the Jewish community in the recent weeks.
“When we are by ourselves, I discuss with customers and friends topics related to the war in the Middle East, and we accept each other's opinions, especially since right now.”
