Victoria farewells Ambassador Rotem
The Victorian Jewish community has farewelled Yuval Rotem, Israeli Ambassador to Australia and his wife Miri.
Sam Tatarka, Philip Chester, Danny Lamm, Mirit Rotem, Yuval Rotem, Nina Bassat and Mark Leibler
Over 270 Jewish community leaders attended to thank Yuval Rotem, a great Ambassador and a highly respected representative of Israel, and his family at a function organised by JCCV, ZCV, ZFA, AIJAC and ECAJ.
The bipartisan support for Israel was apparent through the attendance of many State and Federal MPs representing the Labour and the Liberal Parties, including Mark Dreyfus, Michael Danby, Ted Baillieu, David Southwick and Marsha Thomson.
The Presidents of the five host organisations Nina Bassat, Philip Chester, Danny Lamm, Mark Leibler and Sam Tatarka spoke of their personal experience with Yuval, his impeccable qualifications, his unqualified support for the local Jewish community and his role as an excellent advisor on a variety of issues. His role in leading and managing through many significant Israel related issues over his six year tenure were applauded.
The Ambassador himself spoke movingly and passionately about his time in Australia, where his children have grown up, the people he has met and the lifelong friendships he has made and the long lost (lost through the post Holocaust dispersion of survivors) family connections he has regained. It is clear that Australia will forever be his second home.
The function was held at the Glen Eira Town Hall and was supported by a large number of community co-sponsor organisations representing a cross section of the Victorian Jewish community, including COSV, PJV, VAJEX, JHC, ADC, Hadassah Australia, B’nei B’rith, NCJWA, UIA, WIZO, AICC and others, who made the night possible.
Sydney will have its turn to farewell the Rotems next week…
With other guests
