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- Community Message
HONOURING SERVICE, ADVANCING SAFETY
Celebrating community achievers, engaging with the Royal Commission, and advocating for community safety in Victoria.
Dear friends,
HONOURING THOSE WHO GIVE SO MUCH
What a joy this week to see some of our community’s most dedicated volunteers honoured in the Australia Day Honours.
While all are deserving recipients, I would like to draw attention to a couple of stalwarts who you have likely seen at many community events over the years.
Alex Dafner OAM has contributed so much to keeping the Yiddish language a living language here in Melbourne. A Yiddish educator and broadcaster, but also president of the Kadimah for 25 years and a board director for a remarkable 52 years, until his retirement in 2022. A hearty shkoyach to Alex and a sheinem dank for all you have done for our community.
Robert Bontschek OAM, who is a familiar face at so many community events, established J-AIR community radio in 2014 from his home. Today, J-AIR is Australia’s only Jewish community radio station offering both live radio via 88FM in Melbourne, internet radio via its website and podcasts. Through Robert’s hard work, Jewish stories are told, issues are debated and our community is kept informed. I must confess, I have a soft spot for the work Robert does, as a board member at J-AIR.
I would also like to send a hearty mazal tov to all local Jewish recipients of Australia Day Honours. Our community is richer because of your contributions.
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Norman Faifer z’l
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg
Dr David Forbes
MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Robert Bontschek
Steven Curtis
Alex Dafner
George Ermer
Debra Korman
Danny Lustig
Judi Schiff
John Slutzkin
ROYAL COMMISSION UPDATE
As you are no doubt aware, a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has been established and Commissioner, Virginia Bell, has been appointed.
This week, the JCCV participated in early information gathering for the Royal Commission. I met with Dennis Richardson and his team. They have been tasked with delivering an interim report to the Royal Commission on the role played by Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the lead up to the Bondi attack in December. We provided feedback on our interactions with police and intelligence agencies.
We have also been consulting with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), which is putting together a small team to respond to the Royal Commission. As a constituent member of ECAJ, the JCCV will be working closely with our national roof body, and with other representative organisations, to ensure we present a full and consistent picture to the Royal Commission on the situation here in Victoria.
Learn more about the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in this explainer prepared by ECAJ.
VICTORIAN UPDATE
Victorian Parliament resumes for the year this week. The Premier made a series of announcement in the immediate aftermath of the Bondi attack, including stronger protest laws after a terrorist event, appointing a commissioner to address violent extremism, and further reforming anti-vilification laws in Victoria. I urge Premier Jacinta Allan to move ahead on these important measures with the highest priority.
The JCCV is also preparing to participate in Victoria’s Rapid Review of Victoria’s Firearms Laws, led by former police chief commissioner Ken Lay. This review was also announced by the Premier in late December.
Tomorrow, I will represent the JCCV in a consultation. I will forcefully make the case that community safety must be paramount. We need stronger measures in place to prevent those who are known to pose risks, including the two men behind the massacre, from accessing high powered guns. Our lives depend on it.
This week, I also had the opportunity to meet with US Chargé d’Affaires Erika Olson at St Kilda Hebrew Congregation. Together with Rabbi Yaakov Glasman and shule president Sylviu Itescu, we spoke with Ms Olson about the rise in antisemitism and how our community continues to show strength and resilience in the aftermath of the Bondi attack.
TU B'SHVAT
This Tu B’Shvat, we reflect on renewal and resilience, and on the idea that what we nurture today shapes the world we pass on tomorrow.
Together with our partners at ECAJ, we are inviting the community to plant trees in memory of the 15 victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack. As these trees take root in Australian soil, they symbolise our commitment to life, growth and the enduring place of our community within the broader Australian story.
Wishing everyone a meaningful and flourishing Tu B’Shvat Same’ach.
