Sydney to host urgent antisemitism Q&A with Israel’s envoy and Team Shalva

Sydney’s Jewish community is gearing up for a dramatic and inspiring evening on Thursday, 28 August, when Israel’s Special Envoy  for Combatting Antisemitism, Michal Cotler-Wunsh and Team Shalva come together for a powerful community event.

The event, presented by the Zionist Council of NSW and UIA, is called “Australia, We Need to Talk: A Q&A on Antisemitism,” and will feature Cotler-Wunsh, a former Knesset member who now travels the world urging action against the rise in antisemitic hate. Her Sydney address will focus on Israel’s strategy for combatting antisemitism and how Jewish communities globally can align their efforts.

Cotler-Wunsh, who was appointed Special Envoy in September 2023, has since travelled widely to engage governments, universities and Jewish communities on how to combat what she describes as “an ever-mutating virus.”

She has been at the forefront of promoting international adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which she regards as an essential tool in identifying and countering hate.

A former member of Israel’s 23rd Knesset, she chaired the Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Use and the Subcommittee on Israel–Diaspora Relations and served on committees dealing with foreign affairs, security, law, immigration, children’s rights and the status of women.

She also co-founded an Interparliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism. Born in Israel and raised in Canada, she is the daughter of Irwin Cotler, Canada’s former justice minister and a renowned human rights lawyer who defended Nelson Mandela. Her own career has combined law, politics and global advocacy, giving her a distinctive voice in confronting antisemitism and promoting Jewish identity.

In a climate where difficult conversations are often avoided, this event is a timely reminder that engagement is the first step towards understanding, and this is the first step towards change. “I do think this [is] a critical moment of reminder that we are a people,” Cotler-Wunsh states. “When you see us as a people, what binds us together is far greater than what sets us apart, enabling [us] to overcome challenges we have faced as a people from time immemorial.”

Adding emotional energy to the evening will be Team Shalva, a passionate group of 50 runners from Israel tied to Shalva, the award-winning organisation that empowers people with disabilities and supports their families. Team Shalva is in Sydney to take part in the TCS Sydney Marathon, which this year holds the distinction of being the only marathon in the Southern Hemisphere to join the Abbott World Marathon Majors. One of the runners will share his personal story on the night, offering a moving account of resilience and determination.

 

In addition to the public event, Cotler-Wunsh and members of Team Shalva will visit Jewish day schools in Sydney, speaking with students about Jewish identity, the dangers of antisemitism, and the importance of standing together in the face of hate.

Organisers say the event will not shy away from tough conversations. Instead, it aims to spark honest, urgent dialogue while celebrating unity, community resilience and hope.

“Australia, We Need to Talk” begins at 7:00pm on Thursday, 28 August. Register here.