Moving tributes mark NAJEX Remembrance Day commemoration
A profound Remembrance Day service hosted by the NSW Association of Jewish Service & Ex-Servicemen & Women (NAJEX) on Sunday brought together veterans, families, students, and community leaders to commemorate Australian Jewish servicemen and women.
Held at NCJW in Woollahra, the 2025 NAJEX Remembrance Day Commemoration drew a 250-strong audience for a morning of solemn reflection, stirring performances, and heartfelt speeches.
From left to right: Jon Green, Honorary Secretary NAJEX; Leon Goltsman, former Waverley Councillor; Queen Dunbar, President of Families of Veterans Guild and guest speaker; Roger Selby, outgoing NAJEX President; Kolya Miller, incoming NAJEX President; Carol Tannous-Sleiman, Hunters Hill Councillor; Peter Nothman; and Darren Bark, Chairman of Faith NSW.
Guest speaker Queen Dunbar, State President of the Families of Veterans Guild, shared a deeply personal address urging those who, like her, have lost loved ones in service to “keep looking ahead and know that even in the midst of pain, there is beauty, grace, and purpose”. Dunbar, who grew up amid Lebanon’s civil war, spoke of resilience and community, drawing an emotional response from those gathered.
NAJEX President Roger Selby, delivering his final address after nine years in the role, reflected on why the annual service continues to resonate so strongly. “WWI’s carnage and scale of death had been previously inconceivable, and no-one was left untouched,” he said. “I still recall my grandmother tearfully telling me that in WWI, she’d lost every male friend she’d had.”
Selby extended special thanks to the students from all Sydney Jewish day schools, the Third Rose Bay Judean Scouts, the Israeli Scouts, Mount Sinai College choir members, and other young participants, saying the event “would be much the poorer without your participation.”
The service included wreath laying, memorial candle lighting, and a reflection by Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin on the importance of active remembrance. Students from Mount Sinai College performed Psalm 23 a cappella in Hebrew, a long-standing tradition that captivated the audience.
Moriah College vice-captain Joseph Shteinman spoke about the bravery and leadership of Major General Paul Cullen, a decorated Jewish Digger and recipient of the Distinguished Service Order, who served in North Africa, Crete, and Kokoda.
Ron Hoenig MP, Minister for Local Government, presented the 2025 NAJEX Youth Leadership Awards, recognising exceptional contributions by students to remembrance and community service. This year’s recipients were Ella Bortz (Emanuel), Layla Vissel and Choni Kavka (Kesser Torah), Zara Duder-Forrai (Masada), Sophia Grynberg (Moriah), and Mika Hammerman (Mount Sinai).
The ensemble of Mount Sinai College a cappella singers (Facebook)
The ceremony began with the arrival of the colour party, led by Commander Paul Koerber RAN, and included prayers led by Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton, Rabbi Rafi Kaiserblueth, and Rabbi Mendel Kastel, as well as readings by Melissa McCurdie, Peter Philippsohn, and Brigadier Allan Murray CSM (Retd).
Outgoing president Roger Selby announced that Kolya Miller will take over as NAJEX president. Miller, born on a kibbutz and specialising in cyber security, has been active on the board for several years and introduced the guest speaker during the service.
The ceremony concluded with the Ode to the Fallen, the Last Post and Reveille, prayers for Israel, and the singing of national anthems, followed by light refreshments.
As Selby stepped down, he said he was “happy to leave the organisation in very capable hands”, confident that NAJEX would continue to commemorate service and sacrifice “in a way that people really seem to appreciate”.
