Only 24% of tourists visiting Israel are Jewish
July 25, 2013 by J-Wire
Income from tourism in Israel has grown from $4bn in 2009 to $5.1bn in 2012 with 56% of inbound tourists being Christian and only 24% Jewish. Read more
Beyond the Pale…writes Michael Kuttner
July 24, 2013 by J-Wire
Not so many years ago back in Czarist Russia, Jews were confined to certain areas of the country beyond which they were not allowed to live. Ironically in light of today’s developments this was called the Pale of Settlement. Of course Russia was not alone in confining its hapless Jews to certain clearly defined areas as most of Europe from time to time also indulged in this selective practice of segregating where their Jewish population could live. Read more
Now playing on the Reality TV: The Fayyad Plan—A + B + C(EU) = 100%
July 19, 2013 by J-Wire
The big show we’re all watching stars US Secretary of State John Kerry, skeptical but concerned about his attempts to restart negotiations between us and the Palestinians…write Ari Briggs and By Jan Sokolovsky. Read more
Claims Conference: Has it No Shame? …asks Isi Leibler
July 17, 2013 by J-Wire
For more than a decade, there have been passionate pleas for the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, the organization responsible since its inception for the distribution of over $70 billion of restitution payments, to review its management, governance and oversight procedures and prioritize the distribution of discretionary funds so that aged Holocaust survivors desperately in need of assistance could live out their remaining years with a modicum of dignity. Read more
Progressive Jewry welcomes US Gay Marriage decision
The roof body of Australian Progressive Jewry has welcomed the decision affording equal rights to married gay couples. Read more
JCA’s Mia Freedman Function
June 29, 2013 by J-Wire
June 15 : Sydney – Mia Freedman was the keynote speaker for JCA….visit the gallery Read more
Danby stays on
June 28, 2013 by J-Wire
Federal Labor MP Michael Danby has accepted Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s request that he continue as Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts. Read more
You Don’t Need Time or Money
June 13, 2013 by J-Wire
Charity and kindness are of the most important aspects of Jewish tradition…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more
Queen’s Birthday Awards
June 9, 2013 by J-Wire
J-wire will publish the list of honorees one minute after midnight tonight.
Goot on Claims Conference team
May 28, 2013 by J-Wire
The President of the ECAJ Dr Danny Lamm has welcomed the announcement of the appointment of Robert Goot, to the Select Leadership Committee of the Claims Conference. Read more
The video they did not want you to see
May 28, 2013 by J-Wire
A video featuring the reactions of Melbourne’s Gary Smorgon House’s residents to “Gangnam Style” was banned from YouTube bu has made its reappearance….watch it here. Read more
South African educator to visit Australia
May 22, 2013 by J-Wire
The former principal of the King David School in Johannesburg will visit Australia later this week. Read more
The Gonski View
May 20, 2013 by J-Wire
Leone Hersh interviews David Gonski for j-junction Read more
New Zealand soldier abducted on the Golan Heights
May 16, 2013 by J-Wire
A New Zealand soldier has been abducted on the Israel-Syria border in the Golan Heights. Read more
A case of shameful silence and deliberate inaction…writes Michael Kuttner
May 11, 2013 by J-Wire
The United States of America which prides itself as the torch bearer of justice, liberty and morality in the world is shockingly guilty of betraying these very virtues over its continued failure to bring to justice the murderers of many of its citizens at the hands of Palestinian Arab terrorists. Read more
The end of the road
Richard Bowles, the Australian-English ultra-marathon runner, has completed the 1009-kilometre Israel Trail, described by National Geographic as one of the world’s most epic adventures. Read more
Friends of Israel v Friends of Palestine
May 8, 2013 by J-Wire
A second member of the NSW Parliament has joined Labor MP Shaoquet Moselmane in supporting a student move to disassociate the University of Sydney from the Technion in Haifa…and Sydney University itself has expressed its thoughts on the affair. Read more
Representing Australian Jewry globally
May 8, 2013 by J-Wire
Two members of the Australian Jewish community have been appointed vice-presidents of the World Jewish Congress Read more
Runner is forced to quit
April 29, 2013 by J-Wire
Spigelman features in off-Archibald show
April 25, 2013 by J-Wire
An exhibition will open in Sydney on April 28 featuring works submitted for the Archibald Prize, but failing to pass the selection stage. Read more
Sydney young adults fly high as Australia celebrates Yom Ha’azmaut
April 17, 2013 by J-Wire
Hagshama, Network, ZCNSW, JCA, Hillel, UPJ, UIAYL, Studio Central, Artza, Shorething and MASA have celebrated in Sydney the 65th anniversary of the state of Israel. Read more
Your ABC rejects ECAJ complaint
April 10, 2013 by J-Wire
A complaint to the ABC by The Executive Council of Australian Jewry following a radio interview with journalist Antony Loewenstein dealing with the activities of the late Ben Zygier has been dismissed by the national broadcaster. Read more
Yom Hashoah Message from the PM
April 4, 2013 by J-Wire
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has sent a message to the community to mark Yom Hashoah. Read more
Thank you and Chag Sameach
March 23, 2013 by J-Wire
After five years of publication and approaching my 72nd birthday, I have decided to shut down the J-Wire site in favour of enjoying my remaining years in this glorious city of Sydney, this wondrous Australia and of visiting far off parts of the globe remaining on my bucketlist.
I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all those who have supported the site with a special mention of those who contributed editorially including Fraser Beath McEwing, Isi Leibler, David Singer, Emily Gian, Michael Kuttner, Raffe Gold, Ron Weiser.
And to those who vented their enthusiasm through commentary and emails…thank you for your participation.
It has been a long and exciting journey and the years which J-Wire chronicled will be carefully archived.
I have particularly enjoyed the unreported co-operation with the Australian Jewish News and with other correspondents dealing with Jewish affairs. It is most satisfying that on most occasions we did not do battle with each other recognising that it was better to stick together as there are enough forces outside the community wishing to engage in activities producing negativity towards the Australian and New Zealand Jewish communities.
But all is not over. A new site is being launched which will restrict itself to op-eds and opinion pieces and include the arts
The site is www.jviews.org and I expect it to be functional within 24 hours.
Once again…thank you…and Chag Sameach. Enjoy your Pesach.
Henry Benjamin
Chag Sameach from Tony Abbott
March 15, 2013 by J-Wire
The Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott has sent a Pesach message to J-Wire readers… Read more
Two for One Offer from J-Wire
February 24, 2013 by J-Wire
J-Wire is offering twelve readers the opportunity to buy one ticket and get one free for the Australian Chamber’s Orchestra’s concert in Sydney’s The Great Synagogue on Tuesday. Read more
Israeli prime Minister’s Office say Zygier had no contact with Australian security agencies
February 20, 2013 by J-Wire
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims all is well between Israel and Australia. Read more
Ex-priest found not guilty of sex charges worked at Sydney Yeshiva
February 20, 2013 by J-Wire
James Patrick Jennings was found not guilty in 2010 after being tried on six charges of indecent assault on schoolboys in 2009 worked for more than ten years at the Sydney Yeshiva. Read more
Sydney Man gives Gift of Life
February 19, 2013 by J-Wire
A Sydney man who donated a spoonful of blood to the Gift Of Life organisation six years ago has been matched to a patient dying from leukemia…and a transplant of his bone marrow will soon be on its way in an attempt to save the patient’s life. Read more
Anna Karenina ***/4 – a movie review by James Berardinelli
February 14, 2013 by J-Wire
Like Frankenstein and Hamlet, Anna Karenina is a literary touchstone that filmmakers return to on a regular basis. Read more
