Community message
- Published
- Community Message
LOOKING BACK< LOOKING AHEAD
Dear friends,
As we approach Rosh Hashana, I find myself reflecting not only on the year that has passed, but also on the resilience and spirit of Melbourne’s Jewish community.
This has been a year of both challenge and strength.
- We have united against fire, fury and falsehoods;
- We’ve supported one another through difficult times;
- We have made sure our community’s voice has been heard where it matters most.
This year has also been a year where:
- We have seen growth in our cultural life, with new organisations joining the JCCV family;
- We have welcomed new Jewish families living on the outskirts of Melbourne who are building vibrant centres of Jewish life and worked hard to ensure all Jews – wherever they live in Victoria – feel they belong to our community;
- We have seen progress on two monumental Jewish projects – the Jewish Arts Quarter and plans to move Mount Scopus College to Caulfield.
We cannot mark these High Holy Days without reflecting on the families whose loved ones are still captive in Gaza. Our community is not whole until they are home.
As we enter the High Holy Days, we should be able to celebrate our traditions with confidence and safety.
I thank, in advance, Victoria Police and CSG for the effort they will put in over the next month to help keep our community safe. Their support allows us to gather in our synagogues and community centres with peace of mind.
I also want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported the JCCV’s annual appeal. Your generosity ensures that we can continue to be at the heart of the community’s response to antisemitism, to strengthen connections across our diverse organisations, and to speak out proudly on behalf of Victorian Jewry.
Rosh Hashana is not just a time of reflection, but of renewal. Together, let’s step into 5786 with hope, determination, and the knowledge that we are stronger when we stand as one.
Shana Tova to you and your families.
