ECAJ considers contempt action over extremist Islamic preacher’s video

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) is exploring contempt of court proceedings against Islamic preacher Wisam Haddad. This follows allegations that he violated a federal injunction regarding antisemitic statements in a recent online video.

Read more

ECAJ calls for compromise on hate speech laws

Australia’s peak Jewish body has warned against a wholesale rejection of the federal government’s proposed hate speech legislation, as both the Coalition and the Greens signal they will not support the bill in its current form.

Read more

Concerns grow that antisemitism bill leaves dangerous loopholes

Representatives of the Jewish community have told a Senate committee the government’s draft antisemitism bill risks missing its mark unless key flaws are fixed. At the same time, support for the legislation is reportedly splintering ahead of a vote next week.

Read more

Government unveils hate speech and gun reform bill after Bondi terror attack

The federal government has released draft legislation aimed at strengthening hate speech laws and tightening gun controls in response to the antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people and injured dozens more.

Read more

Parliament recalled as government moves to tighten hate laws

Federal parliament will reconvene in Canberra on 19 and 20 January to consider new laws targeting antisemitism, hate crimes and extremism in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack, with the government seeking broad bipartisan support.

Read more

Stories of starvation spurs statehood push for Palestine

Australia recognising Palestinian statehood is only a matter of time, the Australian treasurer says, as an expert warns starvation has reached a tipping point in Gaza. Read more

Islamist preacher unable to ‘bury’ antiSemitism ruling

An Islamist preacher who used harmful racial stereotypes about Jewish people in sermons will be forced to tell the world of his antisemitism through prominent online posts. Read more

 Segal’s antisemitism report urges bold reforms across education, media and migration

In response to a 300% surge in antisemitic incidents across Australia,  a landmark action report was today launched with the support of the government, aimed at combating anti-Jewish hatred.

Read more

ECAJ lodges complaints with the Australian Human Rights Commission against hate preachers

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has formally lodged complaints with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) against two Islamic preachers in western Sydney over speeches that were made late last year, recordings of which were uploaded online. Read more

The Voice: Albanese addresses faith leaders

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has addressed the Faith Leaders Roundtable in Glebe on the upcoming The Voice referendum. Read more

Leifer: Who is saying what…and the timeline of a gruelling experience

Sisters sexually molested by their ultra-Orthodox Jewish principal Malka Leifer felt a wave of relief and validation as they learned their abuser would spend years behind bars. Read more

New $40 million program to improve security in faith-based locations

The Albanese Government will help protect faith-based places with a new $40 million grants program to improve security and safety. Read more

Leaders object to sales of Nazi memorabilia

An auctioneer specialising in military memorabilia has been criticised by Jewish organisations ahead of a sale of Nazi artefacts. Read more

L’Chaim – to Life: Peter Wertheim

Maurice Klein talks with Peter Wertheim, Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), about the recent National Tertiary Education Union’s (NTEU) virulently anti-Israel, anti-Semitic resolution, along with the Albanese Labor Government, not recognising West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  PODCAST Read more

Neo-Nazi slogans deface ACT Senate candidate’s signs

Signs for Independent ACT candidate for the senate Kim Rubenstein have been defaced with antisemitic slogans. Read more

Deves accepts invite to Jewish Museum

Controversial Liberal candidate Katherine Deves has accepted an offer to visit the Sydney Jewish Museum following comments she made comparing her anti-transgender lobbying to opponents of the Holocaust. Read more

Australian Catholic University to introduce Ancient Israel Program

Australia’s only academic program dedicated to the archaeology, history and languages of Ancient Israel will be introduced at Australian Catholic University (ACU), offering units on Archaeology of Ancient Israel in Arts, Education and Biblical Studies degrees from 2022. Read more

The ECAJ condemns Taliban takeover

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has deplored the forcible take-over of Afghanistan by the Taliban. Read more

Report from Bucharest

Senior professionals representing Jewish communities from more than 50 countries at the forum convened each year by the World Jewish Congress (WJC). Read more

Facebook plans external board to decide on questionable spots on its site

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s co-CEO Peter Wertheim travelled to Singapore to participate in a two-day consultation on the establishment of an independent External Oversight Board proposed to empower to make final decisions about contested content appearing on Facebook. Read more

$2.2 million government grant for NSW security

The Liberal candidate for Wentworth in the upcoming by-election Dave Sharma visited the Community Security Group where he announced the federal government’s $2.2 million grant for The Council for Jewish Community Security in NSW.  Read more

Top Jewish professionals from more than 50 countries join WJC in solidarity mission to southern Israel

A World Jewish Congress delegation comprising senior professionals from more than 50 countries visited Kibbutz Nahal Oz in southern Israel on Tuesday on a solidarity mission with residents whose community has been terrorized by Hamas militants. Read more

Australian, British and South African leaders get together

During a break in the opening session of the National Directors Forum of the World Jewish Congress being held in Herzliya in Israel some leaders created a mini-conference over coffee. Read more

Australia not happy with US decision to quit UNHRC

Australia is disappointed by the decision of the United States to resign from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Read more

ECAJ makes landmark submission to parliamentary committee on freedom of religion

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has sent a landmark 31-page submission, with 14 recommendations, to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the status of the human right to freedom of religion or belief in Australia and other countries currently being conducted by the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. Read more

World’s Jewish leaders send condolences to France

Top Jewish community professionals from 40 countries world-wide have met in Lisbon  for a two-day conference organized by the World Jewish Congress (WJC) and sent a combined message of condolence to the France’s Prime Minister. Read more

Community welcomes Malcolm

Australia’s new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is no stranger to the country’s Jewish community given that his federal seat of Wentworth is home to the majority of Jews living in Sydney. Read more

Malcolm Fraser: Community messages

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry and The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council have issued statements following the death of former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. Read more

ECAJ AGM: Carr gets a mention

President of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry Robert Goot made reference to Foreign Minister Bob Carr  in Julia Gillard’s former Labor Australian government. Read more

The case the ECAJ did not want to know about

The case brought by Israeli advocacy group Shurat Hadin against University of Sydney associate Professor Jake Lynch has been dropped…a case involving BDS from which The Executive Council of Australian Jewry distanced itself. Read more

Next Page »