Community message
- Published August 4 2024
- Community Message
Community message from JCCV President, Philip Zajac.
AN ENDURING LEGACY
This week I sadly attended the funeral of Irma Hanner, a dear friend of my late mother. Both Irma and my mother were Holocaust survivors.
At the funeral, I was reminded of what the survivors have brought to Melbourne: A vibrant community built on strength and resilience.
At the age of 12, Irma was imprisoned in Theresienstadt. Two years later she was liberated, but as an orphan. In 1949, Irma migrated to Australia. She was a treasured volunteer at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum for more than 20 years. You can read more about Irma here.
We must never forget how Irma, and many like her, endured. It is our duty to build on the legacy they left behind.
On my last visit with her she opined that seeing Melbourne today as a Jew was something she never thought possible.
We are strong and united and we will survive.
VALUABLE RESEARCH
The JCCV, together with CSG, has published the latest Victorian Antisemitism Report. This report looks in-depth at the reports of antisemitism received by CSG in 2023. It zooms in on important case studies and will help us better understand the nature of the challenge we are facing.
This report will be provided to key decision makers and law enforcement across Victoria. It is important research that merits a serious response.
I invite you to download and read the short report.
Importantly, I want to remind you to continue reporting each and every incident of antisemitism to CSG. You can do so via the JEAP app and the CSG website.
The report was capably written by Zak Ben-Moshe and was supported by the Victorian Government to help better understand and address antisemitism.
The report will be presented to the Jewish community at the JCCV Plenum on Monday, 26 August, 2024. We invite you to join us to hear analysis and insights into the report.
Registration essential.
ANTISEMITISM SPECIAL ENVOY IN MELBOURNE
Don’t forget to RSVP to a special event on August 15. Jillian Segal AO, the recently appointed Australian Special Envoy to Antisemitism, will address the Victorian Jewish community for the first time in her new role.
MAZEL TOV!
Mazel tov to 20 km race walker and Bronze medalist – Jemima Montag!
Jemima is part of our very own Victorian Jewish community. She paid tribute to her late grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, after the race. Jemima wore her bracelet and credited it as her source of inspiration.
We are proud of you Jemima! You are our source of inspiration!
Also a big Mazel tov to NSW Jewish community’s Jess Fox! 2 gold medals in the Paris Games – an incredible achievement!
