A Very Happy New Year

J-Wire wishes all its readers and contributors a very happy, successful and fulfilling 2013. Read more

Habait Hayehudi – Religious Zionism at the Crossroads

As a lifelong religious Zionist, I was saddened observing the ongoing collapse of the movement which had made a unique and valuable contribution to the welfare of the nation, upholding enlightened Jewish values, striving for unity and promoting tolerance…writes Isi Leibler. Read more

Adler naming rights in doubt.

An appeal to have the naming rights of the Melbourne’s Sephardi Association Synagogue revert solely to the building’s original benefactor has been upheld. Read more

Les Miserables 3½/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli

Les Miserables, believed by some to be the best novel ever penned in French, has been adapted in nearly every form imaginable, including dozens of movies, television mini-series in French and English, loose “thematic reworkings,” and comic books…writes James Berardinelli. Read more

Jewish presence at Short + Sweet

To date, four members of the community will participate in the upcoming Sydney drama festival Short + Sweet…offering an opportunity for the theatrically-inclined to demonstrate their talent. Read more

Hebrew Uni research shows 60% of Palestinians prefer Hamas

A  new survey reveals Palestinian and Israeli attitudes in the wake of the Israeli operation in Gaza and the recognition by the UN of the Palestinian state as a non-member state. Read more

It’s the Candle, not the Place

I recently returned from a four week trip overseas where we celebrated various Simchas and enjoyed family time in different places…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Palestine: Violating Vatican Vows

Diplomatic relations between Israel and the Vatican are set to considerably cool following the Pope granting a private audience to Mahmoud Abbas on 17 December…writes David Singer. Read more

Hagel – a Litmus Test of Obama’s Attitude to Israel

The possible nomination of former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense will represent a litmus test as to whether President Obama is poised to resume his anti-Israeli campaign, despite supporting Israel during Operation Pillar of Defense and only last week employing a US veto in favor of Israel at the UN…writes Isi Leibler. Read more

Chief Rabbi: a visit on the cards

Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis will become the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregation of the UK and the Commonwealth in September…and has signalled a visit to Australia and New Zealand. Read more

12-yr-old helps blind and deaf

12-yr-old Josh Jackson is running a personal fund-raising campaign  to assist the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children…utilising his passion for skateboarding. Read more

Position Vacant – Race Discrimination Commissioner

The search for Australia’s next Race Discrimination Commissioner has begun with a call for applicants who can continue the work of the Australian Human Rights Commission in combating racism. Read more

Israeli aid for Fiji

Following Cyclone Evan the Embassy of Israel in Canberra has played a vital role in coordinating and sponsoring the provision of aid to the Pacific of urgent medical and emergency supplies. Read more

Rupert, meet Elizabeth

Elizabeth Mason met mogul newsman Rupert Murdoch and walked away $30,000 richer. Read more

Ordering in Ivrit

Sydney’s Board of Jewish Education  took a group of Hebrew high school students from Rose Bay Secondary College and Killara High School to the Pita Mix restaurant in Rose Bay. Read more

See the tree, see the forest

The world knows about Israel’s technological success but its environmental success stories often go under the radar. Read more

Done deal!

The deal to keep the Sydney Yeshiva operating as a viable entity has been concluded with an elated Harry Triguboff now owning the synagogue and school buildings after finalising and signing the contracts. Read more

Work is not stress

Nowadays, pursuit of a completely stress free life is a very common goal. There are thousands of books and programs on relaxation techniques and stress management and there are millions of prescriptions written for tranquilizing medications…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Toulouse students visit Israel

Ten months after the murderous terror attack on their school, 12th grade students from the Ohr Torah school in Toulouse are currently  visiting Israel at the initiative of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Read more

Palestine: Reunification Trumps Confederation

 Reunification of the Arab populated areas of the West Bank with Jordan – as existed between 1948-1967 – has again emerged as the most viable solution to the Jewish-Arab conflict…writes David Singer. Read more

Meet the Swedish Ambassador

The Capital Jewish Forum recently hosted a meeting with Sven-Olof Petersson, Sweden’s ambassador to Australia. Read more

Dubai and Qantas: The ACCC in the picture

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has expressed its view on the submission by the ECAJ on the creation of Dubai as a hub for Qantas flights. Read more

A Wrong Turn

The United Nations General Assembly vote on November 29, upgrading the Palestinian mission at the UN to the status of an “observer state” was a unilateral move which violated a core tenet of the Oslo Accords, stipulating that neither party would attempt to unilaterally change the legal status of the West Bank and Gaza…writes Dr Colin Rubenstein. Read more

Retirement Home AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the B’nai B’rith Retirement Villages Ltd. was recently held in Sydney. Read more

Mazel Tov to successful students

J-Wire wishes Mazeltov to all HSC and VCE students  and other final school year students throughout Australia and New Zealand who reached their goals in their final school exams. Read more

The Election Season: An Unedifying Spectacle

Most of us would be relieved if the election season could be considerably shortened. The worst aspects of our dysfunctional politics have been highlighted in this campaign, commencing with primaries which tended to promote the lowest common denominator, frequently involving seamy deals and even outright corruption…writes Isi Leibler. Read more

New Chief Rabbi

The Chief Rabbinate Trust has confirmed the appointment of South African-born Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, as the 11th Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the UK and the Commonwealth. He will assume office when Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks steps down in September 2013. Read more

Carr “disappointed” about settlements

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr has expressed strong disappointment at the approval by the Jerusalem District Planning Board’s of 1,500 new housing units in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Ramat Shlomo, as well as with reports the Board is considering approving another 5000 units in nearby settlements. Read more

Bialik Shines in the VCE

Melbourne’s Bialik College has once again recorded great results in the VCE. Read more

Back to school

Sydney’s Macquarie University will hold a Summer School  7 to 11 January, 2013 offering courses in Classical Hebrew (Beginners and Advanced) and Aramaic, and places are still available. Read more

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