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A WEEK THAT MATTERS: THE JCCV IN ACTION
From President Herzog’s upcoming visit to education, advocacy and parliamentary engagement, it has been a week of meaningful action.
Dear friends,
WELCOMING PRESIDENT HERZOG TO MELBOURNE
I am looking forward to welcoming Israel’s President Isaac Herzog to Melbourne next week.
His visit follows a lovely tradition of Israeli Presidents visiting Australia to strengthen the relationship between our two countries and to address the local Jewish community. In 2020, President Reuven Rivlin visited, in 2005 President Moshe Katsav was here, and in 1986, President Herzog’s father President Chaim Herzog was the first sitting Israeli President on Australian shores.
I know there has been a lot of noise and public debate around President Herzog’s visit. But I note that our Premier Jacinta Allan has said she will welcome President Herzog travelling to Melbourne and supports local police providing necessary security for the visit.
I hope that protesters, who are planning to use this visit as an opportunity to cause disunity and spread hate, will respect Jewish community members attending events with President Herzog. Victoria’s Jewish people deserve to feel safe, and be safe, at all times.
REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY ACROSS THE WEEK
The JCCV – as the representative voice of the Jewish community in Victoria – has engaged in another big week of consultations on a diverse range of topics.
- On Monday, we participated in a roundtable on the Rapid Review into Firearms.
- On Tuesday we provided input to the Commonwealth Government on the path to recovery for the Victorian Jewish community from a mental health point of view.
- On Wednesday, we met with Victoria Police to learn more about the implementation of stronger new anti-vilification laws.
- On Thursday, we participated in an update on antisemitism education led by Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal.
In between, we spoke with and listened to a diverse range of JCCV member organisations and other community partners to ensure we are speaking clearly and accurately on their behalf.
PROGRESS THROUGH EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING
On education, the Gonski Antisemitism Education Taskforce met for the second time this week. You can read the communique from that taskforce here:
The communique notes progress is being made on:
- A focused review of the national curriculum;
- The delivery of a Social Cohesion Hub for early childhood educators with an initial focus on antisemitism;
- A pilot program on introducing more antisemitism resources in Australian schools;
- Report cards on how universities are addressing antisemitism.
I am pleased to hear of so much good work happening in the education space. The JCCV is also committed to education those beyond formal education via our Educate 10,000 initiative
PARLIAMENTARY VOICES STANDING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
