Ambassador Jones
Jeremy Jones, AIJAC’s Director of International and of Community Affairs, a former president and honorary life member of the ECAJ and an executive member of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies has been appointed a 2013 People of Australia Ambassador. Read more
It’s time this charade called a Peace Process came to an end.
When will this charade ever end? On the eve of Obama’s arrival in Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated for the umpteenth time “With a Palestinian partner who is willing to conduct negotiations in good faith, Israel will be prepared for a historic compromise that will end the conflict with the Palestinians forever.” Read more
Hate on Facebook
The Online Hate Prevention Institute has released a major new report into antisemitism on Facebook to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21st 2013. Read more
Austen Tayshus forms the Nobody Knows Anything Party
Inspired by comedian Beppe Grillo’s success in the recent Italian elections, but deflated by his raging antisemitism, I have decided to form my own political party here in Australia. It will be called the NKA (Nobody Knows Anything Party). It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to…writes Austen Tayshus. Read more
Pesach message from NSW Premier
Barry O’Farrell, Premier of NSW, has sent a Pesach message to the NSW Jewish Community. Read more
UIA’s Melbourne Major Event
Over 800 United Israel Appeal supporters gathered on Wednesday evening at The Peninsula in the Docklands to hear from international guests Former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman and Former IDF Helicopter Pilot and gold medal Paralympian Noam Gershony. Guests were also honoured to be in the presence of Gilad Shalit who made a grand entrance following a highly emotional video capturing imagery from his release. Read more
Do Jews have a suicidal gene in their DNA?
With the imminent arrival of Barack Obama, Israel is still trying to put together a coalition government of such disparate groups, that if it were not so serious, it would be laughable…writes Gil Solomon. Read more
ABC gets a letter from Judy
Judy Singer watched how ABC-TV’s 7:3o Report handled the Ben Zygier case following the release of findings by Foreign Minister Bob Carr. She penned this off to them… Read more
Not Israel’s favourite song
Dr Dvir Abramovich, chairperson of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, has questioned the Australian Broadcasting Commission about program content that apparently endorses genocide and the destruction of the State of Israel. Read more
The Broken Streamer
A Melbourne play – a migrants’ tale. Read more
Mardi Gras
More than 80 members of the community turned last night to join the Dayenu float in the 2013 Mardi Gras parade. Read more
The ZFA beats to a different drum
ABC-TV’s “The Drum” recently addressed the issue of Israelis who hold an Australian passport or vice versa following the death in custody of Bez Zygier. The Zionist Federation of Australia’s president t Philip Chester responds…. Read more
The Struggle for the Negev
Ari Briggs – International Director of Regavim, an Israeli Non-Government Organization, and JNF Shaliach Ygal Shapir have shared a platform at Sydney’s The Central Synagogue discussing good and bad news coming out of the Negev. Read more
Victorian teachers welcomed back
Fourteen Victorian educators have been welcomed back from the 2012/13 Holocaust studies course at Yad Vashem, Jerusalem. Read more
The Ben Zygier case: Questions that not even the journalists are asking…a J-Wire editorial
As intriguing as the Ben Zygier case undoubtedly is, there is perhaps an additional, unstated reason it has attracted the level of media frenzy we have seen over the last two weeks. The entire incident raises searing questions about the ethics and responsibilities of journalists. Read more
Foreign correspondent draws record crowd
Award winning Australia foreign correspondent and author Irris Makler was guest speaker at the Sydney Jewish Museum on Sunday at the Turning Pages Book Club. Read more
An Open Letter to Michael Burd
J-Wire recently published an open letter to Human Rights advocate Julian Burnside QC from reader Michael Burd crticising him for an apparent lack of support for Jewish refugees whilst acknowledging the barrister’s support for Arab and Muslim communities…Julian Burnside responds. Read more
Rabbinical Council of Victoria reaffirms its stance on sexual abuse
The Rabbinical Council of Victoria has issued a statement outlining its position towards sexual abuse within the community…welcomed by Manny Waks, the founder of sexual abuse advocacy organisation Tzedek. Read more
An insane democracy called Israel
With events that have taken place in recent times, one can only come to the conclusion that Israel is a democracy gone insane. Read more
Walking for JNF
When three Year 8 boys talk up a 50km day bushwalk together, it is usually just talk. But three boys from Sydney’s Masada College will match their words with action when they walk almost 50km through the Garigal National Park in one day. Read more
Open letter to Julian Burnside
Dear Mr Burnside
I believe you will the guest speaker at a Jewish Function, March of the Living [ MOTL] next Sunday morning on the subject of refugees. I have read a lot of your articles, opinion pieces and I have also been to some of your forums and events where you have spoken. Read more
J-Wire tickets give away
J-Wire has ten double passes to give away to experience the amazing and very personal film “Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir”. Read more
Conflicting with Conflict Studies
Israel advocate Elaine Black asked Dr Dennis MacEoin to respond to an article written by Professor Stuart Rees published in onlineopinion supporting the stand taken recently by Associate Professor Jake Lynch at Sydney University’s Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. Professor Lynch had advocated denying Israeli academic Dan Avnon from visiting and working with the university. Read more
Danby eager to make voting easy
An additional early voting centre, with extended opening hours has been requested for the voters of Melbourne Ports, Federal MP Michael Danby announced today. Read more
In whose interest?…write Betzalel Smotrich and Ari Briggs
On Sunday, in a move both grave and alarming, the Cabinet, by a vote of 16 for, 3 against and 1 abstention, approved far-reaching changes to the legislation dealing with the reorganization of Bedouin settlement in the Negev. Read more
J-Wire Cartoon
Cartoonist Michael Hodge has joined the J-Wire team. Click read more to see his first contribution…. Read more
Bob Carr on the Israeli Election
On air with Jon Faine
The Prime Minister was questioned on the Israeli election by ABC’s Jon Faine. J-Wire publishes the transcript. Read more
Student leaders end world tour
The Australasian Union of Jewish Students’ premier Leadership Development Program to the United States, United Kingdom and Israel has ended after five weeks jam-packed with meeting inspiring speakers, lobbyists, academics, politicians, diplomats and leaders from all over the Jewish world. Read more
Law firm founder passes away
Rabbi Aviva Kipen officiated at the funeral service for the late Peter Redlich, founder of law firm Holding, Redlich who passed away in Melbourne earlier this month. The following is the eulogy she delivered. Read more
