Community message
- Published February 18 2024
- Community Message
Community message from JCCV President, Philip Zajac.
WHAT WE VALUE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY
Valentine’s Day this week provided the JCCV with an excellent chance to reflect on what we love about our Jewish community.
The office came up with: Glicks bagels, shules on every corner, our grandparents hearing community gossip before we do, and trying to do a quick shop at Coles Elsternwick but meeting someone you know in every aisle!
This may have been a poor attempt at humour, but I urge you to take a moment to reflect, in this difficult time, on what it is that you love and value about our Jewish community.
VICTORIAN MULTICULTURAL COMMISSION
This week, I met with Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt, and our CEO Naomi Levin spoke with the chair of the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) Vivienne Nguyen.
The main topic was the social media activity of VMC Commissioner Mohamed Mohideen during this conflict, including his own role in allegedly doxxing a member of our community.
The Minister and Chair both told us that the social media conduct of Commissioner Mohideen had been investigated by departmental staff and he had removed one post that allegedly doxxed a Jewish man. They also explained that governance at the VMC would be strengthened.
This response was extremely disappointing to me. Commissioner Mohideen, who our community has engaged with over many years, was appointed by the Victorian Government to promote and improve social cohesion. At a time when our multiculturalism is fraying, to have a Commissioner allowed to continue posting divisive and inciting posts on social media, is something I cannot comprehend.
COMMUNITY FORUM FEEDBACK
Following last week’s community forum, we asked participants for their feedback. Two-thirds of respondents said they found the event both interesting and engaging and 50% said their preferred way of staying updated was via community forums.
The JCCV is hoping to host further forums to provide opportunities for our community to receive detailed updates and ask questions on a range of topics. Keep your eyes out for coming invitations.
COUNCIL MATTERS
Councillors from Bayside, Banyule, Boroondara, Glen Eira, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Yarra attended a JCCV Councillors Forum at Melbourne Hebrew Congregation this week. We deeply appreciate the attendance, participation and goodwill of all councillors who attended. In addition, this week, we have been in communication with councillors from the cities of Melbourne and Hobsons Bay.
Our community needs the help of our local leaders to ensure Victoria remains a safe place for Jewish people to live in and a place where we can express our identity without fear. We know that there are many people working hard to make sure this remains a possibility and we thank them.
HOSTAGES
A group of our community’s remarkable grassroots activists invited me to a meeting with the Australian Red Cross. We shared our fears for the hostages who have been imprisoned in Gaza for more than four months. Our fears were listened to and acknowledged by Australian Red Cross officials. They shared with us a statement from the International Committee of the Red Cross from earlier this week, calling for the unconditional release of the Israeli hostages and noting that requests to visit the hostages had been continually refused. I know you all join me in praying for the safety and urgent release of the brave hostages.
LET’S NOT FORGET
I had a privilege of catching up with Yoni Paluch from Melbourne Jewish Charity Fund this week. Yoni reminded me that while our community focusses on Israel and the local shockwaves from the conflict, there are an increasing number of Jewish people doing it tough due to the housing shortage, challenging rental market and high cost of living.
As a community, we cannot afford to choose one challenge over another, they all must be addressed. We are so lucky to have organisations, amazing volunteers and generous donors who look after our vulnerable, but this conversation once again confirmed the need we have in our community for a Strategic Planning Office. The JCCV is committed to making this happen.
For media inquiries, please contact the JCCV on +61 3 9272 5566 or email community@jccv.org.au
