The Merchant of Menace
May 31, 2011 by Agencies
Sydney-based comedy star Sandy Gutman, popularly known as his alter ego Austen Tayshus, has launched his biography…”The Merchant of Menace” Read more
Masada students meet Living Historians
May 30, 2011 by J-Wire Staff
Sydney’s Masada College has held its Year 10 Living Historian Presentation… Read more
Australia ups the sanctions against Syria
May 29, 2011 by Agencies
Australia’s Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd, has announced an increase in sanctions against Syria. Read more
Limmud-Oz Clarified
May 29, 2011 by Michael Misrachi
Michael Misrachi clarifies the position of Limmud-Oz following the withdrawal of speakers… Read more
CJF spreads its wings – but the clippers are out
May 29, 2011 by Henry Benjamin
Manny Waks, the Executive Director of the Canberra-based Capital Jewish Forum has insisted that the inaugural Melbourne Capital Jewish Forum event at which the guest speaker will be Izzat Abdulhadi, Palestinian Authority Head of Delegation to Australia will take place in spite of objections to the event. Read more
JCA Campaign – week 1
May 29, 2011 by Ian Sandler
Ian Sandler, Chief Executive Officer of the JCA reflects on our first week of Campaign and people who are out there making a difference in the world. Read more
Palestine – Jordan Land Grants: Not Israeli Land Swaps
May 28, 2011 by David Singer
President Obama has been widely praised since his speech to the State Department on 19 May when he stated: “We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states.“ Read more
Slezak and Limmud-Oz
May 28, 2011 by Peter Slezak
Limmud-Oz organizers have sought to explain their actions in banning presenters from their festival. Read more
It’s a Mirror
May 27, 2011 by Rabbi Michoel Gourarie
We can all think of a few people that we would describe as being ‘impossible’. These are individuals who push the wrong buttons, irritate us to no end and annoy us whenever we talk to them. These are the people that we find arrogant, critical, and negative or possess some other character deficit. How do we handle impossible people? Read more
Tourism to Israel at an all time high
Figures released by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics for the 2010 incoming Tourism sector show an impressive increase in the number of incoming tourists to Israel, making it a record year with a total of 3.45 Million tourists, a 26% annual growth compared to 2009…and a similar trend was reflected in the Australian market, as the number of Australians who chose Israel as their holiday destination increased by 32% compared to last year. This makes Australia the third largest market for Israel from the Asia-Pacific region (following India & Korea). Read more
Improving Australia-Israel Relations
May 27, 2011 by Agencies
Prime Minister Julia Gillard was handed three key recommendations for improving bilateral relations with Israel from the Australia Israel Leadership Forum (AILF) at a function at Parliament House on Tuesday night. Read more
Israeli Embassy releases Netanyahu’s speech
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered his speech to the U.S. Congress on May 24. The Israeli Embassy in Canberra has released the full text. J-Wire publishes it. Read more
Lag Ba’Omer
May 26, 2011 by Jan Lurie
Sydney’s KTC Primary School students celebrated Lag Ba’Omer with a picnic and nature walk in beautiful Cooper Park, where they learned about Lag Ba’Omer in a traditional and tangible way. On a gorgeous autumn day, the students played team-building games, learned about the environment and explored the Jewish significance of the day.
Pictured: Sara Chana Straiton, Isaak Giyos, Dov Sarzin and in the background Eliyahu Hatzvi
Shira Shines
May 26, 2011 by Community Editor
Shira Lawrence, a Year 11 student at Sydney’s Kesser Torah College Girls High School, was named as one of 16 finalists in the annual international Bible Quiz (Chidon HaTanach), which took place in Jerusalem this month. Read more
Hipster Hitler clothing – an update
May 26, 2011 by J-Wire Staff
J-Wire has learned that representatives of Redbubble the on line marketing company behind the Hipster Hitler clothing range are currently discussing the issue with the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission in Melbourne. Read more
Alhadeff at AIPAC
May 26, 2011 by Vic Alhadeff
Vic Alhadeff, the CEO of the NSW JewishBoard of Deputies, attended the AIPAC Washington meeting addresseed by US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He reports… Read more
The New Israel Fund and the Coalition of Women for Peace
The reported support of the NIF for the CWP which advocates boycotts against Israel is an issue demanding clarification. J-Wire has received the following statement from the New Israel Fund…. Read more
A message to the NIF from CWP
May 25, 2011 by Agencies
CWP to New Israel Fund: ’our most important asset is the solidarity and commitment to shared values of freedom of expression and association’ Read more
Limmud withdrawals
May 25, 2011 by Agencies
Two presenters have withdrawn from Limmud-Oz in protest at the executive’s decision to ban any presenters who support the Israel boycott. Read more
Law firm drops Hitler t-shirt client
May 24, 2011 by Agencies
Arnold Bloch Leibler, the well-known Australian legal firm, has ceased to act for Melbourne-based Red Bubble, an online arts community, after it was revealed that the company is selling T-shirts glorifying Hitler. Read more
Willie Gets His Day in Court
Willie the Wizard and the Lawyer from Wagga was published by J-Wire last year outlining how high-profile publicist Max Markson was spearheading a court action in the UK against J.K. Rowling, the originator of fictional giant Harry Potter. The action makes claims that Rowling’s work could have been sourced from a character Willie the Wizard written by a Markson family friend Adrian Jacobs….and now Willie will get his day in court. Read more
Palestine – Obama Continues to Fudge on America’s Commitment to Israel
May 23, 2011 by David Singer
Limmud-Oz – What’s on the Menu
May 23, 2011 by Community Editor
Limmud-Oz is a unique, community-wide event that celebrates Jewish learning and creativity. This “festival of the Jewish mind and spirit” is being held from June 11-13 over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend at Sydney’s University of New South Wales. Read more
The New Israel Fund – further clarification re the current debate
May 23, 2011 by Ron Weiser
The current debate took off around a story in the press that asserted that the communal leadership supported the establishment of NIF in Australia. Read more
NGO Monitor – “Strengthen Israel’s Democracy”
May 23, 2011 by Agencies
NGO Monitor has called for focus to be placed on assisting groups whose goal is a positive vision for Israel.
Jason Edelstein, the communications director for NGO mintor writes to J-Wire: Read more
Palestine – Obama Sinks America’s Integrity and Reputation
May 22, 2011 by David Singer
Remarks made by President Obama at the State Department in Washington on 19 May indicate he is prepared to honour some – but not all – commitments made to Israel by former American President George W Bush in his letter to Israeli Prime Minister Sharon on 14 April 2004 (the Bush Letter). Read more
The Bow and Arrow
May 20, 2011 by Rabbi Michoel Gourarie
This coming Sunday is a special day in the Jewish calendar. It is known as Lag Ba’omer, the day that marks the passing of the great Talmudic sage and mystic, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. This second century Rabbi and Kabbalist requested that the day of his passing should be marked with happiness and celebration. Read more
Dear Robin, Dear Jason
May 20, 2011 by J-Wire Staff
Jason Edelstein, NGO Monitor’s Communications Director wrote a letter to J-Wire on the newly-founded New Israel Fund Australia. Today we publish a response from NIFA head Robin Margo…. Read more
Zentai: Answers from the family
May 20, 2011 by J-Wire Staff
J-Wire asked Ernie Steiner, the son of 89-yt-old Perth man Charles Zentai whose extradition to Hungary has been sought by authorities in connection with the 1944 brutal murder of Jewish youth Peter Balazs for a comment following the decision of three Federal Court judges to reserve their decision. Zentai’s extradition had been over-ruled by an earlier appeal…one now challenged by the Federal Government. Read more
No place for BDS at Limmud-Oz
May 19, 2011 by J-Wire Staff
Speakers critical of current Israeli policies and actions will have a platform at which to air their views at next month’s Limmud-Oz in Sydney…but Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions against the Jewish State will have no voice. Read more
