Danby questions UNRWA funding in Federal Parliament
Michael Danby, the Federal Member of Parliamernt for Melbourne Ports, delivered a speech in Parliament today questioning the suitability of UNRWA as the recepient of Australian financial refugee aid. Read more
Hanson on the comeback trail
February 25, 2009 by J-Wire
Founder and leader of the now defunct infamous One Nation Party Pauline Hanson has announced a return to the political arena. Read more
Multicultural Advisory Council Meets for the First Time
February 25, 2009 by J-Wire
The newly-formed Multicultural Advisory Council will advise the Government on the way it deals with cultural, racial and religious intolerance. Read more
Will the Daily Telegraph explain antisemitic blog?
February 24, 2009 by J-Wire
Sydney’s Daily Telegraph published a blog earlier this month in which a writer has offered advice to those calling for the blood of the man arrested for the alleged crime of lighting fatal bushfires in Victoria…”just tell the mob he’s a Palestinian. That’ll justify any amount of murder.” Read more
Fifth Jewish MP for Victoria
February 24, 2009 by J-Wire
Melbourne lawyer Jennifer Huppert has become the third current member of parliament in Victoria. Read more
AUJS denies ABC Sought Liberal Jewish Students for Q&A
February 24, 2009 by J-Wire
In a bid to have a balanced audience for its Q&A TV panel program, the Sydney Morning Herald has claimed that th ABC approached the Australian Union of Jewish Students. Read more
Double Bay Bridge Club moves
February 23, 2009 by J-Wire
The Diamond Bay Bowling Club has become the new home for Sydney’s Double Bay Bridge Centre. Read more
The Wetland Project Revives Yarkon River
February 23, 2009 by J-Wire
Purified sewage from Kfar Saba and Hod HaSharon is about to undergo a transformation. Read more
April Mission Highlights
February 23, 2009 by J-Wire
JNF Australia has released details of their Memorable Moments Mission to Israel in April. Read more
Shofar blown at National Memorial Service for Bushfire Victims
February 22, 2009 by J-Wire
At 3:27 today, the Nation of Australia observed a period of silence….heralded by the saddened notes of a Shofar. Read more
Father of Slain Mumbai Victims Helps Bushfire Victims
February 21, 2009 by J-Wire
Rabbi Nachman Holtzberg joined members of Sydney’s Jewish community yesterday…preparing food for victims of Victoria’s bushfires. Read more
Muslim Leader Sticks by his “Gaza Holocaust” Statement
February 20, 2009 by J-Wire
The chairman of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils has openly stood by his comparison of the recent Gaza incursion to the Holocaust. Read more
Victorian State MP Calls for Police Hate-Crimes Unit
February 20, 2009 by J-Wire
John Pandazopoulos has accused Victorian police of being reluctant to establish a hate-crimes unit which would facilitate laying racial vilification charges where appropriate. Read more
Brisbane’s Jewish population on the rise
February 19, 2009 by J-Wire
2006 census results show a 13% increase in the Jewish population of Queensland. Read more
New Chabad Centre for Canberra
February 18, 2009 by J-Wire
A new Chabad centre is to be established in the nation’s capital. Read more
Newsletter published
February 18, 2009 by J-Wire
To see the rest of the newsletter, visit the JFATV website
Nazi memorabilia retailer stays silent
February 18, 2009 by J-Wire
A Canberra antiques trader is yet to respond to a letter sent a week ago requesting the removal of Nazi items from sale. Read more
Mumbai Rabbi’s father thanks the Sydney Community
February 18, 2009 by J-Wire
The father of the Rabbi brutally murdered in the attack on Mumbai’s Chabad House has publicly thanked the Sydney community for its support. Read more
Two face court over attack on Jews for Jesus
February 17, 2009 by J-Wire
Two 19-year-old Jewish youths are due to face court this week following the smashing of the Jews for Jesus shopfront window in Bondi. Read more
BPJC Building Fund
February 17, 2009 by J-Wire
BPJC launched our building fund at our second birthday party. BPJC Secretary Scott Leonard launched the fund in the presence of our special guest Mr Steve Denenberg, Executive Director of the Union for Progressive Judaism, members and supporters.
Mr Leonard explained how like other Australian Jewish communities, ‘Brisbane includes the religious and secular, young and old, and people from a range of different nations. Each of these groups has different needs but the common theme throughout our history has been a temple as the centre of a community. We are looking for a property large enough for future expansion for offices and meeting halls as demand arises. It will become an asset available to support the whole community’.
Contact the Secretary now to pledge your support to this important project. Click here to read the complete speech.
Money only now, please – bushfire appeal
February 16, 2009 by J-Wire
Magen David Adom have stopped collecting goods for bushfire victims due to oversupply. Read more
Dementia – no prison for Holocaust survivor
February 16, 2009 by J-Wire
81-year-old Peter Agoston will not face trial for attempting to defraud the Australian Tax Office of almost $9 million. Read more
Kaddish recited for bushfire victims
February 15, 2009 by J-Wire
Temple Beth Israel hosted a community-wide service to pray for the victims of the Victorian bushfires Read more
Bushfires: Missing 90-year-old found alive
February 15, 2009 by J-Wire
Eugene Goodvach was visiting his country property in Marysville when the area came under threat from the ferocious bushfires. Read more
Triguboff donates court victory cash to bushfire appeal
February 15, 2009 by J-Wire
Sydney property magnate, Harry Triguboff, won a landmark case against the NSW Valuer General last week. Read more
Moriah girl making music
February 14, 2009 by J-Wire
Nicky Kurta, a former pupil at Sydney’s Moriah College has teamed up with two other girls to form Australian all-girl group, Sultry Sally. Read more
Prayers for shark attack victim
February 13, 2009 by J-Wire
Sydney’s Emanuel Synagogue congregation said prayers on Friday night for the recovery of a surfer attacked by a shark. Read more
Australia to have representative on peak international dialogue group
February 12, 2009 by J-Wire
“The International Jewish Committee on Inter-Religious Consultation(IJCIC), a coalition of major international Jewish organizations representing world Jewry to other religions, is to have direct Australian input.I am pleased to announce the inclusion of Jeremy Jones the Director of International&Community Affairs of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council as part of the delegation of the American Jewish Committee to IJCIC,” Mark Leibler,AIJAC’s national chairman said this week.
“As the major Jewish community in the Asia/Pacific region, Australian Jewry takes its obligations in promoting positive images of Judaism, dialogue and coalition building, in this country and the region, very seriously.We have a uniquely qualified representative and diverse experiences which will be able to inform and add value to IJCIC’s work,” Leibler added.
In 2007, Jeremy Jones, a Member of the Order of Australia, was awarded the Australian Human Rights’ Medal, in part due to his role in interfaith dialogue in Australia, Asia and the Middle East. He is a member of the International Scholars’ Abrahamic Trialogue, sits on the Advisory Board of Griffith University’s Multifaith Centre and spoke at the Opening Plenary of the Inaugural Conference of Australia’s Religious Leaders in Sydney in 2007.
A former president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, he is a founding and continuing participant in the Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims & Jews, the Uniting Church in Australia/Jewish Community National Dialgue, the Anglican Jewish Australian Dialogue,the Annual Conversations of the Australian
Catholic Bishops’ Commitee with the ECAJ and the Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations.He has also participated in international interfaith meetings in countries as diverse as The Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, Jordan and Kazakhstan.
Dr Colin Rubenstein, Executive Director of AIJAC, said ” AIJAC, with our partner the American Jewish Committee, continues our multifaceted activities in Asia/Pacific, as well as in Australia, where we promote appreciation of the concerns of the Jewish people.”
“We now have been given the opportunity to contribute knowledge and expertise on a global scale, and will also be able to enhance our work through regular contact with world experts in the field of dialogue”, he added
AJC Executive Director David A. Harris said “AJC is proud and pleased that our cherished partner AIJAC will be joining our delegation to IJCIC. AIJAC will be a critically important voice within this global Jewish institution, ensuring that the views of Australasia and the Asia/Pacific region are heard. In interreligious dialogue, as in its
other work, AIJAC has been a strong and respected diplomatic voice on behalf of the Jewish people.”
The Great Adopts an Orang-Utan
February 12, 2009 by J-Wire
Miriam the orphaned orang-utan and some of her friends in the Borneo jungle have new step-parents, thanks to the generosity of Sydney’s Great Synagogue members.
Law service at the Great
February 12, 2009 by J-Wire
Judges in scarlet and purple, Queen’s and Senior Council in full-bottomed wigs and a parade of other distinguished members of the legal procession attended the annual Jewish service at The Great Synagogue for the opening of the 2009 Law Term in early February.
In the presence of the NSW Chief Justice James Spigelman AC, the service included an address by The Great Synagogue’s Senior Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence.
Giving the congregation a fascinating insight into the way Jewish traditions interact with the world, Rabbi Lawrence described the Jewish response to the credit crunch of 2000 years ago when the sage Hillel created the concept of the prosbul.
Members of various levels of the judiciary participated in the service, which was conducted by Rabbi Lawrence and Rabbi Chaim Ingram following the illness of Chazan David Hilton.
The service was followed by a dinner for more than 120 people, addressed by World Jewish Congress vice-president and Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Robert Goot.
The dinner was sponsored by Thomson Reuter.
