Community message
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- Community Message
A WEEK OF REFLECTION, SOLIDARITY AND HOPE
How our community and wider Australia came together, and where we go from here.
Dear friends,
STATE VIGIL
Victorians of every background, in robes and turbans, in hijabs and kippot, all came together for the State Vigil for the victims of the Bondi terrorist attacks on Thursday.
While it is our Jewish community that has been so directly impacted, this attack has truly reverberated across Australia.
The Very Reverand Dr Andreas Loewe, Anglican Dean of Melbourne, told those gathered “We stand side by side with members of the Jewish community here in Melbourne and throughout Australia.” Kaddish later sounded out across the vigil. It was a dignified, solemn and meaningful way to mark this most terrible of attacks.
A small group of community leaders were also hosted by the Governor of Victoria, Margaret Gardner, on the National Day of Mourning.
In the evening, I joined hundreds of community members at Temple Beth Israel for a vigil to coincide with the minute of silence at 7:01pm.
I have been heartened to hear of so many workplaces and organisations that paused on Thursday to remember the 15 innocent people killed, to give Jewish employees a chance to share their thoughts and feelings, and to reflect on how they can build a safer and more welcoming community.
EDUCATE 10,000
I firmly believe that education is a key to addressing antisemitism. This week, I have heard about an increase in groups of decision makers, influential figures and thought-leaders visiting the Jewish Museum of Australia and the Melbourne Holocaust Museum. These groups will come away with a connection and a deeper understanding of who we are.
The JCCV met with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and other senior leaders from the City of Banyule – centred around Greensborough – this week. We had meaningful conversations about the role that this local council can play to address antisemitism.
SCHOOL'S BACK
Our children and grandchildren return to school in coming days. The JCCV wishes all of our students, and the many teachers in our community, a year filled with knowledge, Yiddishkeit and, of course, safety.
AUSTRALIA DAY
Tomorrow, we mark Australia Day. The past year has been a time when many of us have seriously questioned whether Australia is truly a welcoming nation for Jewish people, I remain optimistic that things will improve. This Australia Day, the JCCV calls on all Australians to ensure that we, their Jewish neighbours, remain welcome, safe and included.
