Community message
- Published
CHAG SAMEACH: A TIME FOR REFLECTION, UNITY & HOPE
REFLECTING ON FREEDOM
Just hours away from the start of Pesach, I wish all community members a chag sameach.
Whatever your family’s traditions and practices, I hope that this is a time for you to reflect on our collective freedom, as Jews and as Australians. We also must remember those who are not yet free, including the 59 hostages still held in Gaza, and pray for their liberation.
GOOD NEWS!
The JCCV was approached earlier this year with an amazing idea from some community members – to try and break the world record for the world’s largest Shabbat!
The idea is to restore Jewish pride, celebrate our culture and hopefully make history.
We received some great news this week when Labor’s Josh Burns MP, Michelle Ananda-Rajah MP and candidate Nildhara Gadani announced a $167,000 commitment to support the world’s largest Shabbat. Zoe Daniel MP is also a key supporter of this initiative.
Currently, Berlin holds the record, with 2322 people participating in Shabbat dinner at the 2015 European Maccabi Games. Our aim, 3000 Melburnians, all together for Shabbat.
MACNAMARA MENSCHS
The audience was clearly divided, but we think everyone agreed that the two major party candidates, Josh Burns MP and Benson Saulo, debated like menschs at the Macnamara Jewish community forum on Wednesday night.
They faced tough questioning, but both spoke passionately and openly about the challenges facing the local Jewish community.
Benson recounted his upbringing as an Indigenous man, but also his connections to Papua New Guinea and his deep Christian faith. He shared insights from his experience as a diplomat, and spoke of visiting Israel in 2023 with his family.
Josh recalled recent challenges for the Macnamara community, including the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue and his role in securing funding for the rebuild to demonstrate the Government’s clear view toward attacks on places of worship.
Thank you to our co-hosts, especially Temple Beth Israel, which was a marvellous venue for this important event.
If you missed the debate and would like to watch it, a video recording is now available below.
ADVOCACY CONTINUES
This week, the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet hosted the first meeting of the Local Escalation and Help (LEAH) committee. This is an initiative of the Premier Jacinta Allan, at the instigation of the JCCV, to improve communication and coordination between the Jewish community and the State Government.
As well as Government representatives, Victoria Police, local council leadership and a small group of Jewish community leaders all participated in the first LEAH meeting. Discussion was robust and forthright, and we will work to ensure this group gets results for our Jewish community.
Naomi Levin, JCCV CEO, also met this week with Australia’s Combating Antisemitism Envoy Jillian Segal AM to discuss progress on a range of issues, including law reform, conduct at universities and antisemitism in schools.
YOM HASHOAH
Yom Hashoah will take place shortly after Pesach—book your tickets now to join the community in remembrance and reflection.
