Jewish Communal Appeal [JCA]

The Jewish Communal Appeal is the fundraiser, planner and facilitator for the New South Wales and ACT Jewish communities.

Established in 1967, the JCA was founded to manage a communal appeal and to enable an equitable distribution of communal funds.  The first appeal, some 42 years ago raised $340,000.

JCA has since grown and the range of Jewish organisations and services has continued to expand.    Today, there are 21 member organisations covering areas including community care, education, disability services, health, aged care, cultural affairs, political and physical security and sport.

In addition to raising funds for distribution amongst its member organisations, the JCA facilitates appropriate interaction between communal organisations to ensure appropriate use of resources and plans for future communal needs.

JCA is further committed to ensuring that this community remains one of the most vibrant and robust Jewish communities in the world.  They work to engage, educate and support the community in an attempt to strengthen Jewish continuity and to preserve the Jewish legacy for future generations.

NEWS FROM JCA

PJ Library Officially Open

The PJ (Pyjama) Library mails free Jewish themed books and music CD’s to families on a monthly basis. It was officially launched in Sydney last week at a big Pyjama Party at Set Café,  Westfield Bondi Junction.

 

Over 100 families joined in the celebrations, enjoying midnight snack bags, story time and an energetic drumming circle.

The response to the PJ Library has been overwhelming with 650 families across NSW and the ACT already registered in the program. Dr Hilton Immerman, CEO of The Shalom Institute, a joint partner with the Jewish Communal Appeal (JCA) in bringing the PJ Library to our community said: “I was very proud to be associated with the event and found it gratifying to see a dream we had in 2007 become a tangible reality.”

For families in NSW and the ACT  interested in finding out more about The PJ Library please visit www.pjlibrary.org.au. For any questions please contact info@pjlibrary.org.au

 

Tonight is Census Night – Please Identify

Sydney’s Jewish Communal Appeal has sent a message requesting all Australian Jews identify as being Jewish in today’s census.

In a statement issued yesterday, the JCA which represents 21 organisations, said:

JCA Planning counts on accurate census information to look at the long term needs of our community – you count on us, we count on you to be counted.

On Census night, August 9, we are asking you to identify as JEWISH.

Specifically Questions 18 and 19 relate in this regard.

Only an accurate COUNT of the Jewish Community can allow the JCA to focus the community’s resources in the right direction and ensure that you can COUNT on us when you us most.

For any privacy concerns, please note that Census information is strictly CONFIDENTIAL.

JCA at the AJC hosting the AJC

More than 600 supporters of the JCA [Jewish Communal Appeal] packed a function room at Sydney’s AJC  [Australian Jockey Club] to listen to David Harris, the Executive Director of the AJC [the American Jewish Committee...].

Harris, who advocates internationally on Israel’s behalf, has held his position at the AJC since 1990. Introducing him, JCA vice-president Michael Graf said: “David Harris meets with world leaders to advance the well-being of Israel, to combat anti-Semitism to monitor the condition of Jewish communities and to promote inter-group and inter-religious understanding.” He added that Harris is currently involved in meetings between Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barak Obama.

He spoke about the common bond that unites Jewish communities. He said: “I meet with Jewish communities around the world and I have a sense that there is a certain pervasive gloom and doom…especially as to how it affects Israel and the Jewish people…a sense that Israel is in danger. Israel is not well understood, Israel is losing the battle for public opinion…our enemies seem to be growing in number in boldness and assertiveness. We are so few and they are so many. Do we have a future and is it a bright future or not?”

He delved into history to answer the question…transporting the function back in time to May 1945. Harris said:  ”How the world must have looked if 600 Jews from Sydney had gathered at the AJC to assess the state of the Jewish people. We would have begun by celebrating  the end of the Second World War.  We would then have focused inwardly and begun to despair. They would have realised that one third of the Jewish people had been annihilated. Two thirds of the Jewish European community had been destroyed One and half million children had gone up in smoke and flames.”

He said that too many in the world,  aware of what was happening to the Jews, had failed to come yo our rescue, had failed to come to our assistance and had failed to divert one single plane on a bombing raid across Poland in order to attack one single rail line to stop one single train even for one single day.  Survivors returning to their home towns were made unwelcome. Bergen Belsen continued to exist under British rule as a displaced persons camp as Jews had no place to go. He added that some had lived for years “in striped pyjamas in Bergen Belsen after the war”.

Harris pondered as to how it felt for Jews seeking a new life in Palestine when the British Mandate did everything in its power to prevent survivors reaching Palestine with many of them being incarcerated in camps in Cyprus.

He told how 5 million Jews in the United States had voted for the “iconic President Franklin D. Roosevelt” and yet, fearful of triggering domestic anti-Semitism …930 passengers, fleeing Nazi Europe on the ship  ”St Louis” were sent back to Europe…rather than accepting them on American soil.

The Jewish community, the source of 500,000 soldiers for the U.S. armed forces could do absolutely nothing to change the mind of the Roosevelt administration..

Harris went on to say that after the war the Jewish people found their faith and their footing.  He said: ” On May 14 1948,  three years after witnessing the lowest point in Jewish history we witnessed its apex.   In just a span of 1000 days the Jewish people returned to sovereignity in the land of Israel. The State of Israel had been established.

He said that the same people who could not defend themselves except in isolated cases during the war defended themselves against five Arab armies during the War of Independence. Israel was determined to thrive and with no natural resources, build with its human capital… Harris said: “in 60 years it has become one of the top nations in the world, a member of the OECD with more Nobel Prize winners than all its neighbours collectively, advancing the frontiers of human knowledge and human experience for all people.”

David Harris continued by saying that in the United States the Jewish community which could not find the political means to move the 930 people off the St Louis on to the shores of Florida  determined “never again” and set about organising themselves to become a formidable political force and we would do it smartly by seeking to engage other Americans in this great cause. including president Harry Truman, a Christian, who made the fateful decision against the advice of his own Secretary of War to recognise the State of Israel.

Harris acknowledged that America’s support for Israel is bipartisan irrespective of who sits in the White House. He added: “If there is one other similar country I know of today it is Australia.”

He reflected “As we look at the world today and wonder How bad is it? Will me make it through.  We made it through worse. We established miracles.”

Harris went on to say “Europe rebuilt. Years later the Berlin Wall fell and we reconnected with Jewish communities which had experienced a second powerful attack…the attack of Communism. If you visit Eastern Europe you will find established smaller scarred communities.” He said they reflected Jewish life Jewish belief Jewish faith commitment and indominability.

He added: “Wherever I look, I see signs of hope, optimism and progress.”

Harris brought the meeting sharply into the focus of today’s world saying: “As we face the risks and the dangers today in the new vocabulary including words like delegitimisation, demonisation of Israel, UDI – Unilateral declaration of Independence for Palestinian, BDS – Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions, lawfare and all the other elements of the new lexicon of the enemies of the State of Israel who wish to deny the Jewish people the right to self-determination which has been ours for over 3000 years.

We need to stand up need to stand tall need to stand proud need to stand unafraid

This is the moment for each of to stand up to the moment and dig deep into that reservoir of courage and commitment which has been an essential part of the Jewish people for over 3000 years.”

He continued: “We have defied all the odds at every stage of our  history and we will continue to defy the odds because we are here to stay. Israel is here to stay. Our presence is permanent.”

Stating that “our job is unfinished”, Harris said that our job is not simply surviving or of proving our enemies wrong  but “to try and repair a broken world”.

David Harris then moved to the future.

He said “I see the challenges you do.”

He said he loses sleep because he believes every word Iran’s Ahmandinejad and Khamenei say about a world without Israel…as does the Hamas Charter. And Lebanon’s Hezbollah  wants a world without Israel…and Jews.

Harris concluded by saying thatwhat shapes our thinking is our conviction that we have the right to be in Israel saying “we shall stay in Israel…we have the right to live in peace and normality anywhere.”

He said a world which cannot find a place for the Jewish people and the State of Israel is not a world in which any civilised human being who respects the basic tenets of human freedom, rights and dignity should want to live either

Our cause is not our cause alone. It is the cause of  every self respecting proponent of human rights and human dignity who cares about the state of the world

His closing remark…”Our best days are ahead of us.”

Special JCA community awards were presented by JCA president Peter Phillipsohn to Josie Lacey, accepted by her daughter Rebecca Ehrlich, and Marika Weinberger after an acknowledgement of the visionary work of JCA founder Hal Goldstein who passed away last week.

A presentation was also made by Lori Levin who participates in the Big Brother, Big Sister mentoring program. Levin went into great detail about a case she is involved in…an emotional reminder that there are many in need in communities in which success flourishes and masks its dark places.

The Jewish Communal Appeal will distribute $10.8 million to its 21 constituent members this year.

 

JCA goes behind the scenes

Sydney’s Joint Communal Appeal has interviewed members of the community who play an integral part in how JCA functions. President Peter Philippsohn explains what is behind the venture…

from Peter Philippsohn…

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”–Winston Churchill
People very often see the Jewish Communal Appeal as purely a fund raising organisation.
However, I’d rather think of JCA as part of our community’s people raising organisation.People are our greatest asset.
In my ten years with JCA and earlier through other organisations, I’ve met many of our community’s great volunteers. These aren’t just the presidents and board members who give invaluable service, these are people who just want to “do something”.
If you’re reading this blog, there’s a very good chance that you’re one of them.
I recently spent time with Ari Kuchar, a young videographer recently, putting together JCA’s Testimonial Series which involved interviewing six volunteers at some of our communal organisations. Ari’s comment at the end of the sessions was that he didn’t know that all these services existed in our local Jewish community. Ari found his greatest challenge was editing the to the final cut of the clip because “it was all such good stuff”.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be releasing these video interviews (vlogs) so you can meet some of the special people who we rely on. In no particular order they include:
* Liz Sharota at JewishCare offers bereavement counselling through its Chesed program.    * Anthony Goodridge at Maccabi coaches young kids in swimming    * Noellene Rosen at Sydney Jewish Museum records and documents the history of Holocaust survivors    * George Freund does anything that is asked of him at CoA    * Jeremy Spinak at the Board of Deputies guards against anti-semitism    * Linda Kugel at Moriah makes Parents into Friends
Each has a unique story as to how they came to volunteer for the community.   I hope you found them as engaging and personal as I did whilst filming.
I thank each of these volunteers for sharing their story with us.”

 

Security of Sydney’s Jewish community

Ian Sandler, Chief Executive Officer of Sydney’s Jewish Communal Appeal, reflects on the security of our community and how hundreds of people make a difference.

What would your reaction be to know that back in 2008, almost 3000 Jews in Australia had personally experienced or witnessed anti-semitism in Australia?  Shock?  Disbelief? Was one of them you?

Does the threat to us and our children increase as the line between anti-Semitism and anti-Israel becomes more and more blurred?  In a recent publication by the Communal Security Group, the Chairman of the NSW Council for Jewish Community Security, Peter Wise discussed the role that the organisation plays in our community.  A community that is required to be constantly vigilant.

How sad it is that as a Jewish Community, we have to think and plan so carefully about the security of our communal institutions. The very nature of communal security is so terribly negative in concept. Security is a distraction; and it is such a major drain on our communal resources; both financially and in terms of human resources. How much better it would be for our energies to be taken up by things productive; for things that work towards the betterment of society at large.

However, whilst the threat of terrorism continues to be part of daily life throughout the world; and whilst the number of anti-Semitic incidents and hate crimes continues to rise both internationally and here in Australia, we have no choice other than to be continuously vigilant.

Our community is fortunate to have a Communal Security Group (CSG) which is manned by such a dedicated group of skilled professionals and trained volunteers. The CSG is tasked with the day to day safety of our communal infrastructure and the protection of our events, but to do its job efficiently and well, the CSG needs the assistance – the eyes and ears – of each and every member of our community.

The CSG currently retains hundreds of valued volunteers. They are your sons, daughters, mothers, fathers and friends. Their ages range from 18 to 60 . Each volunteer commits many hundreds of hours of service every year. They devote this time to train, prepare and plan, transforming themselves into a trained security force capable of protecting us against the unfortunate and real security threats we face today. Their ethos is to Protect Jewish Life and Jewish Way of Life and their commitment to you is to protect you and your family. As a community it needs to be our commitment to them to ensure that they have the resources to do so.

Through the JCA, money is allocated to CSG’s operational costs. In addition to eyes and ears, CSG needs volunteers, people who are trained to deal with difficult situations effectively.  Suspicious objects, suspicious people outside a school or synagogue, a confrontational situation in the street?  Do you know how to react?  Can you effectively protect yourself and others around you?

The CSG will be commencing a recruitment training program in early May. We urge you to consider attending an information evening if you are interested to hear more, and potentially interested to make a commitment to the safety and security of our community – your family and friends. Please send an email with your full name, age and mobile phone number to csg@sydcsg.com.au. If you require any security advice or assistance, please contact the CSG on 1300 793 274 (1300 SYD CSG).

Make that call.  Make that commitment.  Only by working together do we keep our community strong and safe.

On behalf of the JCA and our community, I thank and commend every CSG volunteer.

Wishing you all Chag Sameach and a safe and kosher Pesach.

 

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