melbourne Archives – J-Wire

Victorian Labor condemned over anti-Israel motions

Rob Klein — Sun, 24 May 2026 08:07:25 +0000

Victorian Labor has been criticised after delegates at its state conference backed motions condemning Israel. They also called for the release of jailed Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti, while declining to criticise Iran’s regime. Delegates at the Melbourne conference voted for motions accusing Israel of apartheid and unlawful detention of Palestinians and calling for Barghouti’s release. […]

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Young Jewish leaders chart a path forward after October 7 and Bondi

Rob Klein — Sun, 24 May 2026 06:50:04 +0000

Young Jewish leaders from more than 30 organisations recently gathered in Sydney for a unique national summit. The meeting focused on strengthening leadership pathways, improving collaboration and confronting the new realities facing the community after October 7 and the Bondi Beach terror attack. The summit was the initiative of Zionist Federation of Australia NextGen Director […]

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Art exhibition shines light on Jewish ritual and memory

Rob Klein — Sun, 24 May 2026 01:33:09 +0000

Four contemporary Jewish artists are sharing Goldstone Gallery’s Collingwood space in a program that moves between ritual objects, light sculpture, cut-paper work and ceramics. The exhibitions bring together Ilan El, Chaya Joffe, Ryan Abramowitz and Deborah Wargon, each working in a different medium but circling similar questions: how objects carry memory, how ritual lives in […]

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Educate 10,000 opens doors to understanding Judaism

J-Wire News Service — Wed, 20 May 2026 06:38:34 +0000

More than 40 organisations and hundreds of individuals have pledged to learn more about Victoria’s Jewish community through the JCCV’s Educate 10,000 campaign. The statewide initiative was launched after the Bondi Beach terror attack to encourage Victorians from all backgrounds to learn about Jewish culture, identity and community life. The program includes facilitated sessions, synagogue […]

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Pianist knew he was “overstepping the mark” on Gaza

AAP — Mon, 18 May 2026 22:41:29 +0000

Concert pianist Jayson Gillham has denied he deliberately misled the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra about performing a piece dedicated to journalists killed in Gaza. It has been almost two years since Gillham played Witness by composer Connor D’Netto at an MSO concert, preceded by onstage comments about Israel killing journalists. The pianist is suing the orchestra […]

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The West is “sleepwalking” into catastrophe on antisemitism

J-Wire News Service — Mon, 18 May 2026 06:17:57 +0000

David Harris was once described by the late former Israeli president and prime minister Shimon Peres as “the foreign minister of the Jewish people”. He came to Sydney with a stark warning: the West is failing to confront the forces targeting Israel and Jewish communities abroad. The former CEO of the American Jewish Committee and […]

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Pianist’s Gaza remarks spark Federal Court fight

AAP — Mon, 18 May 2026 05:13:28 +0000

A court has heard the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra was thrown into turmoil after pianist Jayson Gillham made comments about the war in Gaza during a concert. Gillham is suing the orchestra in the Federal Court, alleging discrimination on the basis of political opinion after a 2024 performance in which he performed a solo piece dedicated […]

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Girl accused of antisemitic crime spree has 109 charges withdrawn

AAP — Thu, 14 May 2026 08:54:20 +0000

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has defended her government’s youth crime laws after 109 charges against a 14-year-old girl accused of targeting Melbourne’s Jewish community were withdrawn. The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was facing charges including reckless conduct endangering serious injury, theft, motor vehicle theft and burglary. Victoria Police confirmed the charges […]

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Teen walks free after sharing IS propaganda online and threatening shul

AAP J-Wire — Thu, 14 May 2026 06:13:39 +0000

A teenager who published Islamic State propaganda online and threatened a Jewish congregation has been released from detention but will remain under strict supervision. A teenager who published Islamic State propaganda online and threatened a Jewish congregation has been released from detention but will remain under strict supervision. The 18-year-old, who cannot be named for […]

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The antisemitism driving Jewish musicians off Australian stages

Rob Klein — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:51:42 +0000

Australian performer Deborah Conway has told the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion that Jewish musicians are being targeted, cancelled and professionally punished because of their Jewish identity and connection to Israel. The singer-songwriter gave evidence during the commission’s Sydney hearings alongside Melbourne saxophonist and composer Joshua Moshe. The inquiry heard that Jewish artists […]

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