More than 620 guests representing the whos’s who of NSW society’s including diplomats, MPs, government ministers, faith, civic and business leaders were treated to two outstanding addresses at the Yom Ha’azmaut function last night…one from Premier Barry O’Farrell and the other from Israel’s ambassador Yuval Rotem.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell presented Ambassador Rotem, whose term of duty will be completed in September, with n effigy of himself bearing the name Baruch O’Farrell. The Premier announced the launch of the NSW Human Rights Awards and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies Vic Alhadeff has been selected as a member of the three person panel.
Ambassador Rotem spoke about the Israel he will be going homt in September as being vastly different to the one he left six years ago citing among other the things the effect that the Arab Spring had had on the area. He also commented on the commonalities which exist within Israel and Australia. He said that the size of a country was irrelevant. What counted are its values.
He praised Premier O’Farrell calling him a good friend of the NSW Jewish community and of the State of Israel.
The function was hosted by the The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies , The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the Zionist Federation of Australia and the State Zionist Council of NSW.