I was privileged to be able to welcome Jillian Segal AO, Australia’s first Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, to give her first public address since her appointment.

The JCCV hosted Jillian at the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, together with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ).

Jillian explained her plans for the role. One of her first projects will be surveying non-Jewish Australians on their perceptions of Jewish people and antisemitism in order to establish a baseline to measure future activity.
 
She also explained that she wants to strongly encourage Jewish people to reach out to their non-Jewish friends and colleagues to break down barriers and talk to them about Jewish heritage, faith and the current challenges we face. 
 
Jillian has hit the ground running and her office has already conducted dozens of interviews with university students and staff to inform her submission to the Senate’s inquiry into the Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024.
 
Jillian has also invited any community members with information or ideas to contact her office on aseca@homeaffairs.gov.au.

On the same evening, ECAJ co-CEO Alex Ryvchin presented his book The Seven Deadly Myths: Antisemitism from the time of Christ to Kanye West, putting the current situation in its historical context.
 
Alex gave a remarkable presentation and, while it was at times alarming, he reminded us that we come from a long line of brave and courageous Jewish people who have faced great challenges but always pulled through.

The JCCV has a limited number of books available for purchase, please email community@jccv.org.au if you would like a copy.