Rabbi Gabi talks with the Governor-General
Melbourne’s ARK Centres’ Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann has had a personal zoom with Governor-General David Hurley and his wife Linda.
Mrs Linda Hurley and Governor-General David Hurley
The meeting was part of the Governor-General’s program of engagement with leaders and members of multicultural communities around Australia and was arranged by the Department of Home Affairs.
Rabbi Gabi shared his experiences during the pandemic and discussed current issues that the Jewish community is facing including the rise of antisemitism.
Issues dealt with included the large spike this year due to three things: anti-Jewish conspiracies online related to Covid-19, the recent May conflict in Israel and the media coverage of COVID-19 breaches within the Jewish community.
Rabbi Gabi also briefed the Governor-General and Her Excellency on the ARK Centres Pay it Forward program which has delivered over 1500 meals to the community in a range of
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann
circumstances. They include families who have lost loved ones, people affected by COVID, those who have lost their jobs and are increasingly unsure where the next opportunity will present, community members with mental health issues as most support cannot be accessed and seniors who live on their own having trouble navigating online shopping.
He also told the Governor-General of young couples who are bringing their first child into the world without the assistance of friends and family.
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann told J-Wire: “It was a honour to meet with the Governor-General of Australia, David Hurley and his wife Mrs Linda Hurley.
As well as discussing the rise in antisemitism, we talked about the government’s adopting the IHRA definition, commonwealth funding for Holocaust museums, and ARK Centre’s successful Pay it Forward program.”
