Community group calls for Israeli boycott
March 29, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
An affiliate member of The Jewish Community Council of Victoria has called for the boycott of goods produced in Israel’s disputed settlements. Read more
Walt Secord endorses J-Wire
March 28, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Member of the Legislative Council and Shadow Minister for Water, Shadow Special Minister of State Walt Secord has endorsed J-Wire in the NSW State Parliament. Read more
Danby’s New Role
March 28, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Michael Danby has been sworn in as the new Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts. Read more
Victorian community says “NO” to Homophobia
March 28, 2013 by Jo Silver
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) at the recommendation of the JCCV GLBTI Reference Group is joining the “No to Homophobia Campaign” and will ask its affiliate organisations to sign up. Read more
Pushing the button
March 28, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
A 23-yr-old Israeli backpacker has become the first person to donate funds to a planned Holocaust memorial in Wellington which will feature 1.5 million buttons collected by local schoolchildren. Read more
Auckland farewells ambassador
Israel’s ambassador to New Zealand Shemi Tzur’s posting is drawing to a close. The Auckland Jewish community has bade him farewell. Read more
Israel at work in the South Pacific
March 28, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Israel is coordinating efforts by philanthropists and NGOs to improve life for the inhabitants of many South Seas islanders. Read more
Old news is good news?
March 27, 2013 by Henry Benjamin
J-Wire quizzed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the “latest developments” in the Zygier case…. Read more
Danby becomes Parliamentary Secretary
March 25, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Federal Labor Member of Parliament Michael Danby has been made a Parliamentary Secretary. Read more
Well not quite Good Night…more like Good Evening!
March 25, 2013 by Henry Benjamin
There has been an overwhelming response from our readership requesting that J-Wire stay alive and so it might.
Just because I want to take it easy does not mean that the service should come to an end.
In the hope that there is someone out there willing to take it over, let me say that J-Wire is for sale….to the right person at the right price.
In the meantime, I will keep it going, publishing limited posts during the interim period. It could continue if we could afford staff but for that we would have to substantially increase revenues…so if you know anyone with a few spare hours willing to sell advertising on the site then that just might make the difference needed. You can let me know on [email protected]. There will be remuneration.
I would also appreciate all the organisations we have supported telling their databases about J-Wire. An increase in the number of our subscribers would be a help too.
The door is just slightly ajar…
Once again Chag Sameach and have joyful Seder………
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
Obama’s Visit to Israel: A Turning Point?…asks Isi Leibler
March 23, 2013 by Isi Leibler
Both American and Israeli leaders must have heaved sighs of relief as Air Force One departed from Ben-Gurion Airport with President Obama’s visit culminating on a high note for both parties. Read more
A Muslim, a Christian and a Jew picked up an instrument….
While a Jew, a Christian and a Muslim meeting on the internet to record an album might sound like the start of a joke, these curious beginnings led to the formation of The Bridge Project, and their truly remarkable debut album. Read more
No dramas at the Australian Islamic Peace Conference
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria campaigned to support multiculturalism in order to avoid antisemitism, religious intolerance or racial vilification from speakers at last weekend’s Australian Islamic Peace Conference. Read more
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
Inter-community Seder
March 21, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Over one hundred future leaders from a broad cross-section of faith, ethnic and political communities came together at a unique Passover dinner in Sydney on Wednesday night. Read more
Tzedek slams John Laws
March 21, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Tzedek, an advocacy group for Jewish victims/survivors of child sexual abuse has told J-Wire it is appalled by the comments made by John Laws on 2SM in response to a caller who claimed to have been sexually abused since she was six years old. Read more
Official war artist Holocaust works on display
March 21, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
18 works by the only Australian official war artist to directly capture horrific scenes of the Holocaust in Germany went on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. 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
Tough questions at NSW Board of Deputies plenum
March 20, 2013 by Judy Singer
Professor of Law, Tim McCormack, faced tough questions from members of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies on the recently published Turkel Commission Report commissioned by the Israeli government.
Major honour for Sydney businessman
March 20, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Jeremy Balkin’s Give While You Live initiative has won him a place in the 2013 prestigious Young Global Leaders Class of 2013…a division of the World Economic Forum. Read more
Nesenoff v Thomas
March 20, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Chabad of Melbourne CBD in Melbourne has hosted a function addressed by U.S.-based Dr. David Nesenoff who gained fame challenging antisemitic remarks made by White House journalist, Helen Thomas. Read more
Pesach message from the Premier of Victoria
March 20, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
The Premier of Victoria, Dr Denis Napthine, has a Passover message for the Victorian Jewish community… Read more
JCCV Appeal Underway
March 20, 2013 by David Marlow
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) has launched its annual fundraising appeal at its inaugural campaign. Read more
Rabbi Lawrence to be questioned on ABC about Genesis
March 20, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Sydney’s The Great Synagogue’s Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence will feature on ABC Radio National’sThe Spirit of Things this Sunday in conversation with Archbishop Peter Jensen, who asks the rabbi questions about how Jews understand Genesis. Read more
Israeli rescue unit has plans to operate in Australia
March 19, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Australian Ambassador to Israel Ms. Andrea Faulkner recently visited the Jerusalem headquarters of the ZAKA International Rescue Unit which has plans to expand to Australia. Read more
ZFA Welcomes New Israeli Government
March 19, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Philip Chester, the president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, has welcomed the new Israeli government. Read more
Organ and Tissue Donations
March 19, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Kate Lundy and Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing Catherine King have announced the release of a national community education kit about organ and tissue donation for Australians of diverse faith, cultural and language groups. 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
Community briefs on Sexual Abuse Royal Commission
March 18, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
The Executive Director of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Peter Wertheim and Immediate Past President, Robert Goot, have met with the Chair of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Read more
