Community message
- Published March 3 2024
- Community Message
Community message from JCCV President, Philip Zajac.
CULTURE AND MULTICULTURALISM
This week, Kadimah’s production of Yentl opened at the Malthouse Theatre. If you have not yet bought tickets, I urge you to do so, click here.
We have such a rich cultural heritage and we should all celebrate it. From the art of Marc Chagall to the comedy of Larry David. From the photos of Annie Leibovitz to the recipes of Claudia Roden. What a history, what a culture!
CAMPUS CATCH UP
As university resumed for the year in the past few weeks, students have been confronted by aggressive pro-Palestinian campaigners, anti-Israel posters plastered across campus and Palestinian flags flying in every courtyard.
It is incredibly important that Jewish students can safely attend university without the threat of harassment.
The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) has been working hard on behalf of Jewish students. They have put together some advice for students and parents, please click the link below.
RESEARCH NOW AVAILABLE
A new report into antisemitism in public schools has been published this week. Teachers across Australia were surveyed to record the prevalence and type of antisemitism taking place in schools.
The report found 12% of teachers had witnessed antisemitism and 20% had been informed by others of antisemitic incidents.
The JCCV continues to work, alongside UJEB and other Jewish organisations, to prevent and address antisemitism in government schools. Antisemitism, like all other forms of discrimination and hate, cannot be allowed to flourish in the school yard.
LOOKING LOCAL
This week, we were pleased that councillors in the City of Manningham voted against a one-sided and misinformed motion on Israel and Gaza.
Ahead of the meeting, the JCCV spoke with Mayor Carli Lange and CEO Andrew Day, who both sought to understand the impact of council motions on the local Jewish community. Cr Lange explained that she had engaged regularly with the North Eastern Jewish Centre in Doncaster since the October 7 atrocities.
We are heartened that we have allies across the state who understand the need to protect multiculturalism and social harmony by rejecting divisive stunts.
Regrettably, this week, Ballarat Council voted in favour of a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire. There is much work for the JCCV to be doing across Victoria.
WITHER MULTICULTURALISM
I am sure that you, like me, were shocked to hear the president of the Islamic Council of Victoria Adel Salman tell an interviewer on ABC Radio that the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7 were a legitimate act of resistance.
Adel is someone the JCCV has engaged with through our interfaith work over many years. We are horrified by his comments, even after he attempted to walk them back.
The Premier has said she “could not disagree more strongly” with the comments and that the comments caused “more division and distress”, but that the Government will continue working with the ICV.
The JCCV is alarmed at the escalating rhetoric of many in our community. Let me be clear, standing up against terrorism is an Australian value. Regardless of your faith or heritage, Australians do not condone terrorism.
The JCCV held a meeting of the Jewish Interfaith Taskforce on Friday to discuss next steps. We have resolved that the focus of our interfaith efforts needs to be on reasonable voices in multicultural communities. It will take a spirit of understanding and compassion to mend bridges.
For media inquiries, please contact the JCCV on +61 3 9272 5566 or email community@jccv.org.au
