Community message
- Published
GEN26 LAUNCHES, ROYAL COMMISSION UPDATE
Gen26 launches, the Royal Commission begins, and our community strengthens, prepares and embraces joy.
Dear friends,
INFORMING THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY
This week, with presidents of nearly 50 Jewish organisations in the virtual room, we launched the Gen26 survey.
Gen26 is a national survey examining Jewish identity and life in Australia. Building on Gen08 and Gen17, the research will provide a contemporary picture of who we are as a Jewish community, how we live, and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The findings will play a critical role to inform communal planning, advocacy, funding decisions, and service delivery for years to come.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- The online survey is expected to open in mid-April.
- Gen26 is a true communal partnership project designed by demographer Dr David Graham and contemporary Jewish life scholar Dr Adina Bankier-Karp.
- The survey is powered Monash University’s Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation at Monash University and Jewish Community Appeal in NSW.
- The JCCV will be the key project lead in Victoria.
- Gen26 is supported by major philanthropic foundations.
- We need you! Every Jewish person – young or old, secular or religious, herring or smoked salmon loving, should participate.
HOW IS THE DATA USED?
- To plan communal infrastructure.
- To better understand the needs of Jewish Australians.
- To find out what programming and services community wants.
- To answer questions around Jewish identity and connection to Israel.
- To determine feelings around antisemitism.
In coming months, the survey will go live. We look forward to hearing from you.
ROYAL COMMISSION UPDATE
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion will open with its first public hearing on Tuesday, February 24 at 10.30am.
During this Commissioner Virginia Bell AC SC will provide clarity around how the inquiry will proceed and how she will approach the matters to be investigated. It is expected that Richard Lancaster SC, senior counsel assisting, will also make a short statement.
I have heard from many of our member organisations and others in the community that they hope to make submissions to the Royal Commission. The Royal Commission website has not yet provided information on how submissions can be made, but we expect those details to become available in due course.
The website also notes that the Royal Commission may contact individuals or organisations who have made submissions to then appear as a witness at the hearing.
We will do our best to keep all of our member organisations – and the broader community – informed as the Royal Commission progresses. You can also sign up to receive updates directly from the Royal Commission.
CRISIS PREPAREDNESS
The Victorian Jewish community has a crisis management plan via Jewish Community Crisis Management, auspiced by CSG in partnership with JCCV.
JCCM has been implemented a number of times over recent years. Our community has also hosted crisis preparedness workshops and conferences, most recently in November 2025. These workshops and conferences have brought together dozens of Victorian community leaders for learning and training with global crisis experts. JCCV CEO Naomi Levin also led a series of crisis roundtables at the Australian Jewish Funders and Dor Foundation conference on December 2, 2025.
But the Bondi attack has forced us all to review our crisis preparedness, and also to consider whether we have done enough to develop recovery plans for after a crisis. Last Sunday, JCCV and CSG board member Rachel Flitman travelled to Sydney as an observer at a crisis recovery debrief. Led by JReady, an Israel-based platform for Jewish community preparedness and resilience, Rachel learnt a lot about Sydney’s unique experience and how we can apply those lessons to our crisis and recovery planning here in Melbourne.
JOY IN THE MONTH OF ADAR
Finally, a reminder, if you haven’t already, to seek out a costume and download your favourite hamantaschen recipe, Purim is just over a week away! During this month, Adar, we are all reminded to add joy.
Our member organisation, UJEB, suggests that some easy ways to add joy include to smile more, play music you love, send a message to a friend and try and lighten the mood. What great advice.
