Danby on the DFAT’s claim of no evidence of funds funnelled to Hamas
March 31, 2017 by Michael Danby
ABC correspondent Sophie McNeill has suggested that the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) conducted an internal review that found no evidence that Australian aid funds given to World Vision were diverted to Hamas. Read more
World Vision trial continues
March 31, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
A World Vision employee on trial in Israel for passing Australian funds and charitable donations to Hamas is now expected to be found in guilty despite Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issuing a statement that a review found “nothing to suggest any diversion of government funds”. Read more
…and a Pesach message from Bill Shorten
March 31, 2017 by J-Wire
Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten sends a Pesach message.. Read more
Pesach greetings from Malcolm Turnbull
March 31, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has sent Pesach greetings to the community. Read more
AIPAC time
March 31, 2017 by Ron Weiser
It’s AIPAC time again…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Passover greetings from Ray Williams
March 31, 2017 by J-Wire
Ray Williams is the NSW Minister for Multiculturalism…he sends a Passover message. Read more
No change to Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act
March 31, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
The Australian Senate has sent proposed changes to section 18C of the RDA to the shredder. Read more
Political correctness runs rampant…writes Michael Kuttner
March 31, 2017 by Michael Kuttner
An explanation of political correctness straight out of George Orwell’s novel 1984: “a method of controlling and dictating public speech and thought.”
Read more
The Bible: The Folly of Quote Mining, The Virtue of Fact Finding
March 30, 2017 by Gidon Ben-Zvi
What gets lost in the din of competing narratives between Jewish and Arab claims to the land currently known as Israel is the historicity of the holy books these groups cite as evidence that God is on their side…writes Gidon Ben-Zvi. Read more
WJC: “The State of Israel is not up for negotiation”
March 30, 2017 by Agencies
The World Jewish Congress and Israel’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on Wednesday hosted more than 2,000 dignitaries, public officials, NGO representatives at the UN headquarters for the second Ambassadors Against BDS summit. Read more
Israel offers Trump opportunity for Republican-Democrat reconciliation
March 30, 2017 by David Singer
No amount of Trump tweeting or political posturing can mask the damage done to President Trump’s legendary deal-making ability following his failure to convince all Republican Party members in the House of Representatives to vote for the repeal of Obamacare and its replacement with Trumpcare…writes David Singer. Read more
A night of rich rewards…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
March 30, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
A blend of Johannes Brahms and Richard Strauss provided an uplifting SSO concert last night. I dips me lid to the programmers. Read more
Victoria Police appoint new Jewish VIc Police Chaplain
March 29, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
Rabbinical Council of Victoria committee member Rabbi Shmuel Karnowsky has been appointed as a police chaplain. Read more
Diaspora member to light Jewish People’s Torch in Jerusalem
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jerusalem’s reunification, the Israeli Minister of Culture and Sport Miri Regev has announced that this year one member of the World Jewry will be chosen to light the Jewish People’s Torch at the Independence Day Ceremony on Mt. Herzl. Read more
Magen David Adom’s new CEO behind telethon to fund a 4X4 life support ambulance
March 29, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
Recently appointed CEO of Australian Friends of Magen David Adom, Doron Lazarus will lead a team of volunteers from local schools youth groups in this year’s Red Sunday Pesach Telethon on 2 April. Read more
Trump seeks to resolve Israel-Palestinian conflict…writes Isi Leibler
March 29, 2017 by Isi Leibler
Throughout his election campaign and thereafter, even while fulsomely praising Israel and vowing to treat us as a true ally, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that his former deal making experience would enable him to resolve the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Read more
Pro-Hamas conference in Netherlands could encourage antisemitism, critics warn
March 29, 2017 by Rafael Medoff - JNS.org
The mayor of the second-largest city in the Netherlands is refusing to block a conference by a pro-Hamas group, despite warnings by Dutch Jewish leaders and political figures the event could encourage antisemitism and embolden terrorists. Read more
Cyclone Debbie: no reports of damage from North Queensland community
March 28, 2017 by Henry Benjamin
Rabbi Ari Ruben has told J-Wire he not received any reports of any incidents affecting the community in North Queensland.
Repair the harm to survivors
March 28, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
100 people attending an emotional ‘Night of Healing’ hosted this week in Melbourne by Tzedek, the national advocacy and support organisation for survivors of child sexual abuse in the Jewish community were told the Jewish community must unite in its efforts to repair the harm done to survivors of child sexual abuse. Read more
Cyclone Debbie
March 28, 2017 by J-Wire
If you are visiting the Whitsundays and experiencing the wrath of Cyclone Debbie, please email [email protected]
Denial: J-Wire giveaways
March 28, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
J-Wire has double passes for Denial the riveting drama about the real-life showdown between historian Deborah Lipstadt (Rachel Weisz) and notorious English Holocaust denier David Irving (Timothy Spall). Read more
An open letter to Malcolm Turnbull on 18C
March 28, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
Josie Lacey has sent a letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in her capacity as convenor of Religions for Peace in NSW. Read more
My UJEB journey
March 28, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
A Melbourne student who does not attend a Jewish school has warm words for UJEB. Read more
Students unearth a 2000-year-old Jewish Settlement near Beit Shemesh
March 28, 2017 by Agencies
240 Israeli students are involved in unearthing exciting archaeological finds at a site at which the remains of a Jewish settlement dating to the Second Temple period there have been found including an extensive complex of ritual baths and underground hiding refuges. Read more
Breaking the Silence takes Richard Gere to Hebron
Israeli NGO Breaking the Silence have escorted actor superstar Richard Gere to Hebron…and Israel’s Channel Two filmed the visit. Read more
Rambam returnees address AIJAC in Sydney
March 28, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
Federal Labor MPs Meryl Swanson, Milton Dick and Liberal MP Tony Pasin addressed an Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) luncheon in Sydney on their return from Rambam study visit delegations to Israel. Read more
Israeli Knesset enters recess amid new questions on government’s stability
March 28, 2017 by Alex Traiman - JNS.org
Israel’s 20th Knesset entered a six-week parliamentary recess Sunday with serious questions emerging as to whether the current 67-member governing coalition can stay the course and avoid early elections…writes Alex Traiman/JNS.org. Read more
Buzz: a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip for young adults with special needs
March 28, 2017 by Hayley Hadassin
The Zionist Federation of Australia, its Australian principal supporter, Gandel Philanthropy and its organisational partners, Access Inc, Flying Fox and Friendship Circle have announced the first-ever Australian Taglit-Birthright Israel trip for young adults with special needs (cognitive). Read more
First Cathay flight from Hong Kong arrives in Tel Aviv
March 27, 2017 by Agencies
Cathay Pacific, one of the world’s leading airlines has inaugurated a new route today between Tel Aviv and Hong Kong. Read more
Jewish AFL sponsored by St Kilda
March 27, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
Melbourne AFL side The Jew Crew is now wearing its Magen David guernsies in the red, white and black colours of their new sponsor St Kilda Football Club. Read more