Flag raising ceremony
Zionism Victoria, Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, and the Zionist Federation of Australia, in partnership with Stand Up, held a flag-raising ceremony today.
Alon Cassuto (ZFA), Michael McDonogh, Nova Peris, three unnamed speakers and Prof Melissa Castan at the flag raising ceremony Photo: David Marlow
The flag-raising ceremony was to acknowledge and pay respects to the Boon Wurrung/Bunurong and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and Custodians, and pay respect to their Elders, past and present.
Community leaders, Rabbonim, members of parliament, and Liberal party candidates Tim Wilson and Benson Saulo joined together to hear Aunty Caroline Martin – Boonwurrung Custodian, Michael McDonogh (The Great-Great Grandson of William Cooper 1860-1941), Nova Peris and Professor Melissa Castan speak about working together against racism and antisemitism. The speakers discussed the historic partnership between the Indigenous and Jewish communities in working for human rights, from Kristallnacht to Mabo. They expressed their concerns about the rise in antisemitism since the horrors of the 7 October terrorist attacks.
Michael McDonagh raising the indigenous flag at Beth Weizmann
The indigenous flag will fly beside the Israeli flag as a permanent fixture at the Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre. ZV said the flying of the flag signified “our respect and pays tribute to their people and to their enduring connection to the land on which we live and work.
“The date of 6 December has been chosen to raise the flag to coincide with the legacy of William Cooper, as the ceremony falls on the anniversary of his historic walk to the German consulate in Melbourne to protest the Kristallnacht pogroms.”
Zeddy Lawrence, Executive Director of ZV said regarding the attack on Adass Israel on the same morning, “Now we see where empty words and lack of action has led. Eighty-six years ago today, reading reports of synagogues being torched on the other side of the world during Kristallnacht, one man in Australia decided he would not be a bystander.
“Aboriginal leader William Cooper marched from his home in Footscray to the German consulate demanding that the cruel and inhumane treatment of Germany’s Jews cease.
“At the same time, we lament the actions of our federal government, rewarding terrorism on the international stage and turning its back on bipartisan support for Israel.
“It is truly gratifying to know we can count on our First Nations leaders when we feel so let down by our current nation’s leaders.”
