A boomerang for Israel

An Aboriginal artist and co-founder of the Indigenous Friends of Israel is heading to Israel to gift a two-metre boomerang he made and painted to the Israeli government.

Munganbana Norman Miller said: “I want the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, President Herzog and the Israeli government to know that there are Indigenous people in Australia and around the world who stand with Israel. I want to say, you are not alone despite hostility from the nations, even our own Australian government.”

Travelling with his wife Barbara, Norman added: “I have Jewish and Aboriginal designs on the boomerang with the Star of David in the centre. This is the meaning of the painting on the boomerang:

He said that the boomerang represents Indigenous peoples with earthy colours surrounding Israel, represented in the centre by the Star of David, in love, protection and blessing.

He explained: “Dot painting is often used in Australian Aboriginal art, and it also represents here, ‘the islands will look to Me’ (Isaiah 60:9), signifying the remotest parts of the earth, bringing honour to the Jewish people. We want to say with this boomerang that no matter what the world says, ‘we care and we stand with you. You are not alone.’

The Indigenous Friends of Israel recognise that Jews are Indigenous to the land of Israel, “just as we Indigenous people are Indigenous to our lands”.

The organisation has launched a declaration in solidarity with Israel from the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Rim on the Jewish New Year 5786, which Norman Miller will present together with the boomerang.