Community message
- Published
- Community Message
THIS IS THE MOMENT TO BE HEARD
From ANZAC remembrance to Royal Commission submissions, this week is about honouring the past and shaping the future.
Dear friends,
ANZAC Day
We marked Anzac Day yesterday, and this morning, I will lay a wreath on behalf of the Victorian Jewish community at the VAJEX Anzac Day service.
I want to briefly share the story of Melbourne-born Private Maurice Aarons, a young Jewish Australian who served his country in World War I.
Private Aarons was killed in action in August 1915 at Gallipoli. He had signed up only a few months earlier, in May 1915, leaving Fremantle for the Middle East in June.
Private Aarons faced Turkish fire almost immediately upon arrival at Gallipoli. On August 6 1915, a three-day battle began. After that battle, Private Aarons was officially listed as missing, but his friends believed Private Aarons had been struck by a shell in battle. In April 1916, his family was advised that he had been killed in action; his remains have never been found. Private Aarons has no grave but is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial at Anzac Cove.
In 2020, the Australian War Memorial held a short service for Private Aarons, you can watch it here:
Interim Report
On 30 April, the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion will release its first interim report.
The report focuses on the conduct of Australia’s security agencies in the lead-up to and during the Chanukah attack at Bondi.
We know that the release of the interim report will be extremely difficult for our community and will mean revisiting the trauma, pain and loss caused by the events of Bondi.
You may have already seen some media speculation about what could be included in the interim report. This may continue in the lead up to 30 April.
We are here to support you through this as best we can. Please visit www.jccm.org.au to access mental health support within the Jewish community.
Speak now: Submissions
The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion needs to hear directly from Jewish Australians, and the time to speak is now.
Every experience of antisemitism matters. Whether it happened at work, at school, online, in public, or in the quiet moments that left you feeling unsafe or unseen, your story matters. The more individual stories the Commission receives, the stronger the case for meaningful action and lasting change.
To help our community take part, a National Night of Storytelling will be held on Sunday 3 May, bringing Jewish Australians together across the country to write and submit their stories in a supportive environment. People will gather in homes, connect via Zoom, and spend the evening helping ensure that our community’s lived experiences are heard.
This is a rare opportunity to help shape the national response to antisemitism. A short submission can make a real difference. Every story adds weight, every voice adds strength, and every submission helps build a clearer picture of what Jewish Australians are facing.
I encourage you to take part in this important communal effort, whether by hosting, joining others, or making your own submission. Every voice matters, and every story strengthens our call for action.
Out and about
JCCV CEO Naomi Levin and I continue to engage broadly with Members of Parliament, key taskforces and policy makers to champion a vibrant future for Jewish people in Victoria.
In the past few weeks, we have participated in:
- Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Multifaith Advisory Group
- Department of Education’s Combatting Antisemitism with Education Consultative Group
- City of Glen Eira’s Social Cohesion Taskforce
We have also help productive meetings with:
- Victorian Nationals leader Danny O’Brien
- Goldstein MP Tim Wilson
- Kooyong MP Monique Ryan
- Victorian Human Rights Commissioner Ro Allen and staff
These meetings are an important way for the JCCV to share our community’s challenges and to create connections where we can work with allies on shared priorities.
Submission writing workshops
If you are finding it challenging to start or complete your submission, have questions, or would simply like some company and support while you write, there are writing workshops available to help.
Hosted by a range of community organisations, these workshops are facilitated by legal, mental health, and writing professionals who will support you through the process.
