Racial attack outside Melbourne synagogue

A man has been caught on camera racially abusing Jewish people outside a Melbourne synagogue.

The video, uploaded on Facebook by The Australian Jewish News, shows a man threatening people outside the Adass Synagogue in St Kilda on Thursday, telling them to "go back to Israel".

The man then gets violent and is tackled to the ground by four men before police arrive.

Police allege the man had been confronted by people from inside the synagogue after allegedly stealing a child's scooter from outside the building.

They arrested a drunk 39-year-old Reservoir man and charged him with theft, assault and criminal damage.

He has been bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on January 19.