Community message
- Published
- Community Message
A PESACH OF REFLECTION, RESPONSIBILITY AND CONNECTION
A look at Pesach preparation, rising antisemitism in Victoria and how our community can respond with strength.
Dear friends,
PESACH
We are just days away from the first Pesach seder. Many will be spending these last few days cleaning, shopping and cooking to prepare for this major festival.
But we urge you to also carve out some time to prepare spiritually, here are some ideas of Pesach preparation you can do that does not involve vacuuming, shopping or baking:
- Read Rabbi Ralph Genende’s Pesach reflection “A celebration of chutzpah, from Moses to modern times”
- Print these discussion cards from The Rabbi Sacks Legacy to provoke conversation at your seder.
- Invite a non-Jewish friend, neighbour or colleague to your seder and share with them one of our oldest traditions of recounting the exodus from Egypt and our journey to Israel.
We wish all in our community a chag Pesach kasher v’sameach.
PROUD JEWISH LIVES
The JCCV and CSG this week launched the Victorian Antisemitism Report 2025.
Key findings from this year’s report:
- There was an incident of antisemitism every day in Victorian in 2025, with 564 recorded incidents – the highest annual total ever documented in Victoria;
- Incidents reached their widest geographic spread, recorded across 30 local government areas and 89 localities;
- Verbal abuse and intimidation increased, particularly targeting identifiably Jewish individuals in public spaces;
- Synagogues, schools, Jewish institutions, universities and public transport all featured prominently as sites of incidents;
- Global events continued to trigger local spikes, reinforcing the link between overseas flashpoints and antisemitism in Victoria;
- The scale and persistence of incidents are contributing to a growing sense of fear, caution and diminished belonging within the Jewish community.
We were pleased to see a good turnout for the report’s launch, including Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert and Superintendent Martin Bourke from Victoria Police, representatives from the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet, Glen Eira councillors Simone Zmood and Arabella Daniel (pictured), and leaders of many Jewish community organisations.
ROYAL COMMISSION UPDATE
If you have experienced antisemitism, the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion wants to hear from you.
ShareYourStory, an initiative to support Jewish people to interact with the Royal Commission, has produced a Pesach Conversation Guide to prompt reflection and encourage those who feel ready to make a submission to the Royal Commission.
The JCCV continues to work closely with other Jewish community organisations and our legal counsel to ensure that we are engaging productively and proactively with Commissioner Virginia Bell and Counsel Assisting as they work towards production of their interim report in April.
YOM HASHOAH COMMEMORATION 2026
Join us for this year’s Yom Hashoah commemoration, a deeply moving and meaningful community gathering. Our host will be acclaimed author and journalist Rachelle Unreich, whose 2023 book A Brilliant Life shares the extraordinary Holocaust survival story of her mother, Mira. With her powerful voice and deep personal connection, Rachelle will guide the evening with sensitivity and insight.
This year’s program brings together remembrance and the strength of living testimony. You’ll hear first‑person reflections from a Holocaust survivor, experience inspiring contributions from young leaders, and be lifted by live musical performances in Yiddish and Hebrew that honour our heritage and resilience.
This is a rare opportunity to come together as a community, reflect, remember, and ensure these stories continue to be heard.
We invite you to be part of this important and unforgettable event on Monday April 13.
