Community message
- Published October 13 2024
- Community Message
Community message from JCCV President, Philip Zajac.
AN EMOTIONAL WEEK
THANK YOU
I would like to start this week’s message with a thank you.
Thank you to Victoria Police and CSG for keeping our community safe over Rosh Hashana, the October 7 anniversary and Yom Kippur. The events of the past week and a half have passed without major incident for our community and this is in no small part due to the hundreds of hours of planning and preparation by dozens of people.
While we finished the Yom Kippur service with “next year in Jerusalem”, if that prayer isn’t to be answered yet, I think it is important that we also pray “next year in safety in Melbourne”.
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Last Sunday afternoon, I had the privilege to attend a 100th birthday: Abram Goldberg OAM, an absolute community treasure, marked 100 years young.
For those of you who don’t know him, Abram is a current director of the Melbourne Holocaust Museum and has been on the board for 35 years! He is a Holocaust survivor who has shared his story of survival with thousands of people, including in his remarkable book.
Abe, may you live to 120.
OCTOBER 7
Like so many of you, I attended the October 7 commemoration in Moorabbin. Thank you to Zionism Victoria and everyone who helped organise the evening. It was an extraordinary experience to be among so many thousands of Jewish Victorians all coming together to mourn with our brothers and sisters in Israel.
Earlier in the day I participated in the commemoration organised by Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council and Jewish Care. It was an honour to light a candle together with Harshad Kale from the Hindu Council of Australia, in memory of the victims of Kibbutz Nachal Oz.
I also want to remind you that Israelis did not have the opportunity to come together in great numbers on this extremely difficult day due to the ongoing threat posed by Iran. We continue to pray for the safety of all Israel and the speedy release of all hostages.
Finally, I want to direct you to some extraordinary contributions on October 7:
