Community message
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- Community Message
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
JCCV gives evidence to the Royal Commission, and you can hear directly from the Commission on 17 August.
Dear friends,
JCCV gives evidence at the Royal Commission
We are so lucky to live in one of the most vibrant and active Jewish communities in the world. However, we cannot ignore the fact that, unfortunately, security considerations have become a key feature of our local Jewish life.
On Wednesday, Naomi Levin, JCCV CEO, gave evidence at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion to explain what this means in practice.
Watch Naomi’s evidence here:
Naomi’s role was to speak, not just on behalf of the JCCV, but on behalf of our member organisations.
In her evidence, Naomi spoke about the strength and diversity of Victoria’s Jewish community, but highlighted detrimental impact of the significant rise in antisemitic incidents experienced in recent years.
She outlined how concerns about security have come to dominate community discussions since October 2023, placing considerable pressure on communal organisations while also requiring increased engagement with government and Victoria Police to advocate for the safety and wellbeing of Jewish Victorians.
Naomi also emphasised that security alone cannot address all the challenges facing the community. As she told the inquiry:
“Security for us is not just that physical security. It’s also about creating that psychosocial security environment … creating environments where Jewish people feel welcome, feel that they belong.”
She spoke about the importance of long-term support, education, community resilience and meaningful efforts to combat antisemitism, while noting the impact that heightened security measures can have on participation in Jewish communal life.
Throughout her evidence, Naomi reinforced the Jewish community’s enduring commitment to charitable service, community connection and constructive engagement with the broader Victorian community, even during challenging times.
I would like to thank Commissioner Bell, Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission and our legal representation at ABL for the opportunity to represent the views of the Victorian Jewish community at this globally significant inquiry.
Finally, I would like to reflect on the moving and important evidence given this week to the Royal Commission by CSG leadership, Mount Scopus Memorial College principal Dan Sztrajt, Bialik College president Tyson Wodak and Benjamin Klein, from the Adass Israel community. Our community has been represented by some of our finest ambassadors, who have thoughtfully guided the Commission to understand the impact of antisemitism but also to look for meaningful remedies and solutions.
There are many ways to keep up to date with the progress of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
- Watch hearings live or review transcripts – ASC
- Keep-up-to-date during the hearings – AJN
- Watch clips from evidence – @ecajoz on Instagram
- Read summaries of each hearing block – ShareYourStory
Your questions, answered
Over the past few months, many members of our community have participated in the Royal Commission, whether by making a submission, giving evidence or following the hearings closely.
I encourage you to join us on Monday, 17 August, for the next JCCV Plenum, where we will hear directly from Rebecca Carpenter, Head of Engagement for the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
Rebecca will provide an update on the Commission’s work beyond the public hearings and, importantly, there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions directly. If there is something you have been wondering about the Commission’s process, engagement or next steps, I encourage you to submit your question when you register.
We will also share an overview of the key themes emerging from our member organisations’ submissions to the Royal Commission, providing an important snapshot of our community’s experiences and priorities.
As the Royal Commission progresses towards its final report, this is a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the Commission, reflect on what our community has shared, and discuss what comes next for our community.
I hope you will join us.
Make Judaism matter
In just over two weeks, Australians will complete the 2026 Census.
For our community, the Census is much more than a statistical exercise. It provides an important picture of Jewish life in Australia and helps governments plan services, allocate resources and better understand the communities they serve.
When the time comes to complete your Census, I encourage you to answer Question 24 (Religion) by selecting “Other” and writing “Judaism”.
I know some members of our community have questions about privacy and the collection of this information. Those concerns are understandable. At the same time, ensuring our community is accurately counted has never been more important. Every response helps ensure the Jewish community is recognised and represented.
If you would like to learn more about how Census data is collected and protected, I encourage you to join a national webinar hosted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in partnership with Jewish roof bodies across Australia, including the JCCV.
