The power of a wish
February 28, 2019 by Miriam Bell
One moment rhythmic gymnast Noga Barkan was on top of the world – preparing to represent her country, Israel, at the Rio 2016 Olympics. But in the next moment that world had slipped out from under her feet and she was facing a cancer diagnosis. Read more
Australia’s position with Hezbollah to be considered
February 28, 2019 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Following the U.K.’s decision to ban Hezbollah in its entirety, Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise has told media that the current situation in which Hezbollah military wing is banned in Australia but not its political wing will be up for discussion. Read more
UK Labour Party suspends Chris Williamson for antisemitic remarks
February 28, 2019 by JNS
Britain’s Labour Party has suspended one of its members, Chris Williamson, for saying the party has been “too apologetic” about accusations of antisemitism. Read more
MDA moves national dispatch centre to reinforced facility
February 28, 2019 by JNS
Magen David Adom, Israel’s national EMS organization, has dedicated its new National Operations Centre… a dispatch centre east of Tel Aviv that’s housed in a reinforced and partially subterranean facility designed to be protected against missile, chemical and biological attack. Read more
Cardinal Pell on the Jews
February 27, 2019 by J-Wire Newsdesk
“For some extraordinary reason, God chose the Jews”…Cardinal Pell V Q&A George Pell doesn’t have a high opinion of the Jews. From Q&A debate with Richard Dawkins, 9 April 2012. Read more
NZ Jewish community welcomes UK decision to ban Hezbollah
February 27, 2019 by J-Wire Newsdesk
New Zealand holds the same position as Australia in banning Hezbollah’s military wing whilst accepting its political presence. Read more
JCA launches 2% bequest program
February 27, 2019 by Community newsdesk
What will our local Jewish community look like in the next 20 or 30 years? Will it continue to provide the same sense of belonging and connection we enjoy today? Read more
Netanyahu shortens Russia trip in advance of upcoming indictment announcement
February 27, 2019 by JNS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shortened his trip to Russia, where he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Iran’s activates in Syria, despite fraying relations between Jerusalem and Moscow. Read more
New rabbi for the ARK Centre
February 27, 2019 by David Marlow
Rabbi Shneur Reti-Waks has announced his retirement as the Rabbi of the ARK Centre in Melbourne’s East Hawthorn. Read more
A hiccup for Beresheet
February 27, 2019 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Corbyn approves Labour to avoid voting for Hezbollah as an official terrorist group
February 27, 2019 by JNS
U.K. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has given the go-ahead to party members to avoid voting in favour of the United Kingdom’s official designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist group. Read more
Dutch Green Left Party votes to support boycotting Israel
February 27, 2019 by JNS
GroenLinks, a green political party in the Netherlands, became Holland’s first mainstream political party to endorse the anti-Israel BDS movement. Read more
Jewish Agency calls for global effort against antisemitism: ‘No keeping heads down’
February 27, 2019 by JNS
The heads of hundreds of Jewish organizations in Israel and abroad discussed the rise of antisemitism around the world at a meeting of the Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors in Jerusalem on Monday. Read more
Rambam tour an “eyeopener”
February 27, 2019 by J-Wire Newsdesk
“I’d recommend it to anyone else to be part of this particular study tour,” said MP Steve Georganas, the Federal Labor Member for Hindmarsh, South Australia, about his Rambam program trip to Israel in the first Sydney briefing of 2019. “I think it’s a real eye-opener.” Read more
Hebrew back at Glen Eira College
February 27, 2019 by David Marlow
The United Jewish Education Board (UJEB) and Glen Eira College (GEC) have announced that the teaching of Hebrew will resume at GEC in 2020. Read more
A special evening in Melbourne for UIA
February 27, 2019 by David Marlow
The former Prime Minister of the UK David Cameron was the keynote speaker at the UIA Gala Dinner in Melbourne last night. Read more
AI at at the AICC
February 27, 2019 by David Marlow
Artificial Intelligence was the hot topic at a business lunch co-hosted by the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) and iAngels, an innovative Israel-based venture capital company. Read more
Polls show Gantz won’t be Israel’s next prime minister
A poll conducted at the beginning of the week after several right-wing parties joined into a block and after Benny Gantz’s Israel Resilience and Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid merged into the Blue and White party shows that Gantz will not be Israel’s next prime minister. Read more
David Cameron in Sydney for UIA
February 26, 2019 by Roz Tarszisz
Over 1500, including politicians and former prime minister Tony Abbott, gathered to support Keren Hayesod-UIA’s annual fundraiser in Sydney. Keynote speaker, former British prime minister David Cameron did not disappoint while Israeli Nataly Zagaya gave a most moving presentation. Read more
Argentinian Chief Rabbi attacked in his home
February 26, 2019 by J-Wire Newsdesk
The Chief Rabbi of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina, Gabriel Davidovich has been savagely beaten by robbers inside his own home in Buenos Aries. Read more
UK to ban Hezbollah in its entirety
February 26, 2019 by J-Wire Newsdesk
The World Jewish Congress has welcomed the announcement by British Home Secretary Sajid Javid confirming that the political wing of Hezbollah would be banned in the United Kingdom. Read more
Pittsburgh’s mayor visit KKL-JNF Jerusalem plaque to honour Tree of Life victims
February 25, 2019 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto has visited KKL-JNF-established memorial plaque in honour of synagogue shooting victims Read more
Beresheet: progress report
February 25, 2019 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Australian organisations raise concern ahead of Israel’s elections
February 25, 2019 by J-Wire
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the Zionist Federation of Australia and The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council have expressed deep concern of two mainstream political parties in Israel bonding with the Otzma Yehudit, a party known for its racist links. Read more
Thanks, Julie
February 25, 2019 by J-Wire
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) has expressed its deep gratitude to former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop who will retire at the next federal election. Read more
Facebook plans external board to decide on questionable spots on its site
February 25, 2019 by J-Wire
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s co-CEO Peter Wertheim travelled to Singapore to participate in a two-day consultation on the establishment of an independent External Oversight Board proposed to empower to make final decisions about contested content appearing on Facebook. Read more
Celebrating 25 years of Stand Up’s Impact
Social justice organisation Stand Up, started out 25 years ago as an Australian Jewish community idea to raise money for international disasters, has today grown into so much more. Read more
Israeli TV: British intel chief makes secret Israel visit amid Iran nuclear activity
February 24, 2019 by JNS
Great Britain’s MI6 intelligence chief covertly visited Israel this week for discussions with Israeli counterparts regarding Iran possibly violating the 2015 nuclear deal and attempting to proliferate towards a nuclear bomb, reported Israeli television on Friday. Read more
Egypt cleans and removes slums near 1,200-year-old Jewish cemetery
In response to requests from the international Jewish community, Egypt has started eliminating slums near Bassatine Cemetery, in the eastern part of the second-oldest Jewish cemetery on earth, according to those in Cairo and others familiar with the situation. Read more
Abbas rejects tax money from Israel, insists its funds go to terrorists and their families
February 24, 2019 by JNS
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has rejected tax revenues collected by Israel following the Jewish state’s decision on Sunday to reduce 5% of what it gives to the P.A. due to the latter’s support for paying terrorists and their families. Read more
