ANZAC Day and Yom Hazikaron
One of the most significant days in the Australian calendar, Anzac Day, has coincided the year with Yom Hazikaron.
In front of the bust of the late Sir John Monash, Warwick Abadee speaks to a group of youths. Rabbis Mendel Kastel (l) and Dovid Slavin (rt)
Across the nation in cities and the smallest settlements, Australians will commemorate Anzac Day in many ways…marches, reunions, playing ‘two-up’ and simply relaxing- all remembering those who fought or currently do so for our nation
We in the jewish community played our part as we always have. And this year, we had the very rare happening of reminding ourselves of Israel’s Yom Hazikaron (memorial day for those who fell on military service or as a result of terrorism ) falling on the same date.
On Sunday, the NSW Jewish Ex servicemen and women (NAJEX) held its customary commemoration as it has done for many years. The packed NSW Jewish War Memorial’s building’s benefactors hall, the site of Australian Jewry’s only permanent military exhibition, was the venue . Attending were politicians, representatives of major Jewish and non-Jewish organisations, school students and scouts/cubs among many others.
Military chaplains Rabbi Yossi Segelman and Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins are overseas and their duties were carried out by Rabbis Mendel Kastel and Dovid Slavin who presided over the dignified proceedings.
Najex’s president, Warwick Abadee, warmly welcomed all guests. The guest speaker and NAJEX board member, Flight Lt. Daniel Mendoza-Jones of the Australia Defence Forces, delivered a very well received address.
Lest we Forget
The treaty of Sevres was annuled in 1923. The Balfour declaration was made by an imperial power over the heads of the colonial population and was imposed on the along with the mandatory regime. The Zionists collaborated with the British imperial regime in terrorising the Palestinian freedom struggle against the mandate, particularly through the SNS and Jewish militia. A shaeful history of atrocities and colonial collaboration.
Britain’s primary goal in fighting the Turks in WW1 was securing oil for its navy. But the actions of our ANZACs in Gallipoli and Beersheba also helped free Palestine from Ottoman rule, giving Jews, including my own family, a haven from persecution. The Treaty of Sèvres, which ended our war with the Ottomans, incorporated the Balfour Declaration and became the legal basis of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Lest we forget.