Community message
- Published September 29 2024
- Community Message
Community message from JCCV President, Philip Zajac.
ROSH HASHANAH
Rosh Hashanah last year feels like a lifetime ago. It was only a few days later that our world changed forever with the events of October 7.
Rather than focussing on the negatives, I am choosing to focus on the positives this Rosh Hashanah. Our community has been challenged like never before, but we have risen to the challenge.
We have supported Israel without wavering as the Jewish homeland faces its darkest days. Everyone has stood up in their own way: with a call to talkback radio when the coverage is unbalanced; with a march, an installation or a rally to free the hostages; with a donation to help those suffering in Israel; with a yellow pin on our lapel.
As our local community faced unprecedented antisemitism, we have also stood united together. We have volunteered for CSG in record numbers; we have found solace at Jewish cultural events; we have supported our children at a time of anxiety.
In his Rosh Hashanah message 5761 (2000), Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z’l wrote that “…to be a Jew is never to lose hope.”
We will not lose hope: the hope that Israel will prevail and the hope that Jewish Victorians can continue to live safe and proud Jewish lives. I wish you and your family a Shana Tova.
FRIENDSHIP DINNER
On Monday evening, I had a wonderful time at a friendship dinner attended by Indian, Hindu and Jewish representatives. The dinner, coordinated by Zionism Victoria, was a beautiful reminder of what multiculturalism truly means: celebrating our unique differences while coming together around shared values. Events like these not only strengthen our bonds but also enrich our understanding of one another. Here’s to building bridges and fostering community!
THANK YOU VEDRAN
On behalf of JCCV member organisations, the JCCV thanked Vedran Drakulic OAM at this week’s JCCV Council of Presidents. Vedran has been CEO of the Gandel Foundation for 13 years and is stepping down next week. As I said at the event, Vedran has provided a strategic approach to philanthropy with measurable outcomes, including in the Jewish community. By his own admission, Vedran did not know a lot about the Jewish community before taking the role, but leaves a friend and ally. Thank you Vedran.
COUNCIL UPDATE
The JCCV was contacted by a Jewish candidate for local council elections who had received a petition trying to get candidates to commit to supporting anti-Israel council resolutions.
JCCV staff raised the matter with the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC). The advice we received was that if Jewish candidates feel intimidated or threatened by people behind these campaigns, they can refer them to Victoria Police and the Local Government Inspectorate. However there is no scope for the VEC to intervene in this situation.
In the meantime, if you are keen to check out the list to see who not to vote for at the upcoming council elections, you can do so here.
MYTH BUSTING
I wanted to draw your attention to some very high-quality writing responses from our community to an opinion piece by Louise Adler AM in The Age last weekend. Adler’s piece was a misguided and poorly informed contribution, but I commend the responses from three Jewish women and urge you to read them:
An open letter to Louise Adler by Fiona Kelman, The Jewish Independent
Adler, The Age and “As a Jew…” by Julie Szego, Substack
Louise Adler and Me: Asking Questions and Loving Humanity by Melinda Jones, Substack
