The new New Zealand Government
October 26, 2017 by John McCormick
Well the outcome of the coalition talks wasn’t as I advocated back on September 27 but we have an interesting situation now that the cabinet is known. In particular the four ministers and one under-secretary allocated to New Zealand First…writes John McCormick. Read more
Madama Butterfly: an opera review by Victor Grynberg
October 25, 2017 by Victor Grynberg
Last July Victoria’s Minister for Creative Arts, (in)famously accused Opera Australia of being happy to have an audience that will “die in their seats”. Read more
The enemy of my enemy
October 25, 2017 by Isi Leibler
The dramatic swing to the right in the recent Austrian elections is likely to have widespread repercussions throughout Europe. It will also oblige Israel to reconsider its current approach to far right-wing groups….writes Isi Leibler. Read more
Youth mentoring programs at Jewish Care
October 24, 2017 by Kirsten Young
Jewish Care Victoria has a long history of working with, and supporting, young people in the Jewish community by offering youth mentoring programs that connect 14-18 year-olds with independent and trained mentors aged 25 years and over. Read more
Job Readiness training for the ultra-orthodox community
October 23, 2017 by Ayal Tusia
In August 2017, Melbourne’s Jewish Care’s Employment and Education Centre, in partnership with Adass Israel, ran the first of a series of workshops entitled ‘Tools and Techniques to Find Employment’. Read more
Feintooner
October 23, 2017 by Feintooner
Out with the new and in with the old…this week’s cartoon from Feintooner. Read more
Hopes and fears – a video from Jewish Care
October 23, 2017 by Ayal Tusia
‘Hopes and Fears’ shows a group of Holocaust survivors explaining what hopes and fears they have for future generations and the world they live in. Read more
How should Jews interact with others?
October 23, 2017 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
Ask the Rabbi…Rabbi Raymond will proffer his answers. Read more
Labor’s support for Israel
October 23, 2017 by J-Wire
It’s becoming abundantly clear that Labor is abandoning its support for Israel, and the few remaining pro-Israel Labor MPs appear incapable of stopping it…writes Senator James Paterson. Read more
Balfour Declaration Centenary shames Arab and UN deniers…writes David Singer
October 23, 2017 by David Singer
The continuing Arab refusal – aided and abetted by the United Nations – to recognise the international legitimacy of the Balfour Declaration 100 years after it was first issued on 2 November 1917 – remain the greatest obstacles to resolving the Jewish–Arab conflict. Read more
The hope of change at UNESCO lies with new French Jewish leader
October 22, 2017 by Sean Savage - JNS.org
The election of the first Jewish director-general of the United Nations cultural body UNESCO, French politician Audrey Azoulay, is raising hope that with her background and political experience, she could return the organisation to its original mission…writes Sean Savage/JNS.org. Read more
Speaker at Centre for Jewish History violently denounces Israel
October 22, 2017 by Stephen M.Flatow - JNS.org
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any messier over at the Centre for Jewish History, a New York Times columnist who was invited to speak at an event there has unleashed a barrage of verbal attacks on Israel…writes Stephen M. Flatow/JNS.0rg Read more
On the other hand…writes Michael Kuttner
October 21, 2017 by Michael Kuttner
Discoveries, innovations and world “firsts” combined with other positive developments kick start the post (Jewish) New Year into high gear. Read more
When the ABC uses its “Media Watch” program to attack critics of the ABC…writes Allon Lee
October 20, 2017 by Allon Lee
Two federal MPs. The high profile Turnbull Government backbencher George Christensen from Queensland. The other, federal Labor Victorian MP Michael Danby. Read more
Council managers taught about the Jewish community
October 20, 2017 by David Marlow
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) has hosted fourteen members of the management team of the City of Glen Eira on its second City of Glen Eira Jewish Immersion Day. Read more
Post holiday precipitation…writes Michael Kuttner
October 20, 2017 by Michael Kuttner
On the last day of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) we pray for rain over the forthcoming winter season. Read more
From Out of Left Field: The JCCV shifts to the Left
October 20, 2017 by Professor Bill Rubinstein
Anyone familiar with the stances adopted by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) in recent time will surely have noticed that it has shifted sharply to the left, especially over, but not limited to, the referendum on same sex marriage…writes Professor Bill Rubenstein. Read more
Deepavali Festival in Sydney
October 19, 2017 by Community newsdesk
The Jewish community represented at a Deepavali festival at Parramatta Park in Sydney. Read more
Palestinian unity deal could allow Hamas leader to become PA president
October 19, 2017 by Agencies
The Gaza-controlling Hamas terror group’s recent decision to sign a unity deal with the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) ruling Fatah party may have been motivated by more than just a desire to reconcile after years of bitter rivalry. Read more
Four out of six were made in Australia…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
October 19, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
The SSO’s Emirates Metro Series chose the theme of fire for its Opera House concert last night. And fiery it was – mostly. Australian composer Brett Dean conducted his own Fire Music while Australian pianist, Piers Lane, had to fire up to get into the ring with Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.3 in D minor leaving Sibelius to represent Finland with six minutes of Scene with Cranes Op 44 No2. Read more
President Trump did the right thing by walking away from UNESCO
October 18, 2017 by Alan Dershowitz
The State Department announced on Thursday that the United States would be withdrawing from the UN agency UNESCO, citing financial reasons, the need for reform and the body’s “continuing anti-Israel bias”…writes Alan M. Dershowitz. Read more
Fatah-Hamas reconciliation: A fusion of evils…writes Isi Leibler
October 17, 2017 by Isi Leibler
World leaders – including some of our American friends – are apparently still unwilling to face reality and continue to delude themselves that Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority can be induced to making a peace settlement if Israel continues to appease them and excuse their crimes. Read more
My view…writes Ron Weiser
October 17, 2017 by Ron Weiser
President Trump continues to surprise his critics when it comes to the Middle East. He behaves in a more measured way, carrying out most of his administration’s activities behind the scenes and by maintaining different levels of pressure upon parties on all sides. Read more
Hamas’s reported agreement to cease terror against Israel seen as ‘highly unlikely’
October 16, 2017 by Adam Abrams - JNS.org
Under the new unity deal brokered last week between the Gaza-controlling Palestinian terror group Hamas and the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) ruling Fatah party, Hamas reportedly agreed to cease all terror attacks against Israelis…writes Adam Abrams/JNS.org. Read more
America and Israel quit UNESCO over “Palestine” fiasco
October 16, 2017 by David Singer
UNESCO’s decision to admit “Palestine” as a member state in 2011 in apparent breach of UNESCO’s own Constitution has come back to bite UNESCO with a vengeance – as America and Israel now give formal notice of their intention to quit UNESCO on 31 December 2018…writes David Singer. Read more
Were Adam and Eve Jewish?…ask the rabbi
October 16, 2017 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
Rabbi Raymond Apple has the answer, Read more
Feintooner
October 15, 2017 by Feintooner
Feintooner on the Hamas/Fatah conciliation. Read more
An indigenous New Zealander says “I am a Zionist”
October 15, 2017 by Perry Trotter
Part Maori, part Samoan and part Italian, this Kiwi explains why he is a Zionist…a video production. Read more
After Trump decertifies Iran deal, Congress must decide its future
October 15, 2017 by Sean Savage - JNS.org
In fulfilling a key campaign pledge, President Donald Trump announced in a White House speech on Friday he decertified the Iranian nuclear deal as part of a new and tougher approach towards the Islamic Republic. The move brings a new level of challenges and uncertainty in handling one of the most complex international agreements in recent years…writes Sean Savage/JNS.org Read more
Sydney CBDChabad to launch mental health event
October 14, 2017 by Community newsdesk
Mental illness now affects one in five Australians, meaning over a million people suffer from a form of mental health issue, most commonly depression and anxiety. Read more
