WJC condemns UNESCO decision to deem Old City of Hebron site in danger
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder on Friday condemned the decision of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee to deem the Old City of Hebron, including the Tomb of the Patriarchs within its parameters, as a ‘site in danger’ through emergency procedure. Read more
Amb. Dennis Ross: Premature Palestinian state recognition should be discouraged
July 9, 2017 by Ahron Shapiro
At an exclusive AIJAC press briefing in Melbourne, Anti-Defamation Commission guest and veteran former US Middle East peace envoy and Ambassador Dennis Ross spoke out against calls for the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, saying such gestures place ‘symbols over substance’ and makes peacemaking harder. Read more
On the other hand…writes Michael Kuttner
July 9, 2017 by Michael Kuttner
Amazing as it seems there is never a shortage of good news about Israel. Here are three of this week’s which may have escaped the attention of your local media. Read more
Kiwi teen drives awareness around sustainability
July 7, 2017 by Keren Cook
An Auckland teenager has been a proactive environmental campaigner and has some ambitious plans to raise awareness around the environmental movement through local festivals. Read more
Fay Zwicky: B: July 4, 1933 D: July 2, 2017
July 7, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
Jewish Australian poet Fay Zwicky best known for her work “Kaddish”, has passed away in Perth two days before her 84th birthday. Read more
Changing the world
July 7, 2017 by Agencies
Three young Australians are among the 150 participants in the 2017 ROI Summit in Jerusalem. Read more
ZFA to send 160 young Australians to Israel
July 7, 2017 by Hayley Hadassin
160 young Jewish adults have left Australia on the Taglit-Birthright Israel visionary program that provides a gift of a 10-day educational tour of Israel, Read more
20th Maccabiah opening ceremony
Team Australia had the honour of leading 80 countries in the parade of nations into Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium into the Opening Ceremony of the 20th Maccabiah Games. Read more
Friends and neighbours…writes Michael Kuttner
July 7, 2017 by Michael Kuttner
New friendships consolidated, other “friends” lecturing us and our neighbours up to their usual tricks – all part of this week’s nonstop action. Read more
Indigenous Friends of Israel
July 6, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
The Indigenous Friends of Israel has been established to counter Bob Carr’s anti-Israel comments and to maintain Australia’s bipartisan support for Israel. Read more
New study reveals Europe’s rising antisemitism forces Jews to leave or hide
July 6, 2017 by Abraham M. Miller - JNS.org
Why do half of French Jews want to leave France? The rise of violent antisemitism beginning around the turn of the century has made French Jews justifiably concerned about their personal safety…writes Abraham M. Miller/JNS.org Read more
20th commemoration of the Maccabiah bridge collapse
July 6, 2017 by Agencies
In 1997, Amanda Montag was nine weeks pregnant with daughter Jemima when she fell into the Yarkon River following the collapse a makeshift bridge carrying the Australian contingent. Four athletes lost their lives. Read more
Magen David Adom providing medical facilities for the Maccabiah
July 6, 2017 by Agencies
For the past few weeks MDA has been preparing to medically secure the 20th Maccabiah events that will begin with a festive ceremony at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. Among other things, MDA, as Israel’s national rescue organisation, will medically secure all attendants and participants of the Maccabiah. Read more
Come to India, Moshe
July 6, 2017 by Agencies
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have met with Moshe Holtzberg, whose parents were murdered in the 26 November 2008 terrorist attack on the Mumbai Chabad House. Read more
The ECAJ writes to Senator Lisa Singh
July 5, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has written to Labor Senator Lisa Singh referring to her speech in the Senate last month in which said of her visit to the West Bank “I certainly learnt something of what it is like to be a Palestinian.” Read more
Adass rabbi calls for discussion following principal’s appointment
July 5, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
A senior rabbi in Melbourne’s ultra-orthodox Adass community is calling on every member to widen consultations on the appointment of Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant as principal of its school. Read more
British royals to tour Holocaust sites in Poland and Germany
July 5, 2017 by Agencies
British royals Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will tour several sites memorialising victims of the Holocaust during a visit to Germany and Poland later this month. Read more
WJC decries UNESCO vote challenging Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem
July 5, 2017 by Agencies
The World Jewish Congress has denounced a UNESCO World Heritage Committee vote in favour of a motion challenging Israel’s sovereignty in Jerusalem, and urged member states convening in Krakow to vote against a Palestinian request denying Jewish historical ties to the Old City of Hebron. Read more
Magen David Adom launches the e-tzedakah box
July 5, 2017 by Community newsdesk
No spare change? No problem, as the traditional tzedakah box or pushka has now entered the 21st century. Read more
Out of the Shadows: rediscovering Jewish music and theatre
July 4, 2017 by Community newsdesk
Music and theatrical works of Jewish refugee artists fleeing fascist persecution in the 1930s and 1940s will be rediscovered in a one-off festival staged by the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Seymour Centre next month. Read more
A bit of Bach and a bunch of Brahms…a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing
July 4, 2017 by Fraser Beath McEwing
A hearty main meal had been prepared for Brahms lovers, but not before Israeli/American pianist, Orli Shaham, had served up a substantial starter of Bach. Read more
Penny Wong questioned Palestinian statehood
July 4, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
Labor Senator Penny Wong is Australia’s Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs has been interviewed on ABC radio about NSW Labor proposed motion to recognise Palestine. Read more
Hebrew Uni gets its report card…and a new president
July 4, 2017 by Dov Smith
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is the 11th best university in the world for Mathematics, according to the new “Global Ranking of Academic Subjects” for 2017, released by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy, which rates universities worldwide. Read more
Palestinian Authority rebuilds memorial for Palestinian terrorist demolished by IDF
July 4, 2017 by Agencies
After IDF soldiers last Friday demolished a memorial in Jenin erected in honor of Palestinian terrorist Khalid Nazzal, Palestinian Authority (PA) activists built a new memorial stone at the same site the next day and constructed a second memorial for Nazzal in Ramallah. Read more
UNESCO’s Cave of the Patriarchs measure is latest ‘narrative warfare’ against Israel
July 4, 2017 by Alex Traiman - JNS.org
An upcoming vote by the United Nations cultural body UNESCO on whether to declare Hebron’s Cave of the Patriarchs as an endangered Palestinian heritage site is the latest example of “narrative warfare” against Israel and Jews, legal experts say…writes Alex Traiman/JNS.org. Read more
Jewish foster carers needed for Jewish children
July 4, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
Every child has a right to a safe, happy and permanent home and usually the best place for them is with their family..but this isn’t always possible. Read more
A Memoir – Background of an Indian prime minister’s visit
July 3, 2017 by Isi Leibler
This week’s historic visit to Israel by India’s prime minister revived memories of my previous associations with Indian leaders and the Indian Jewish community in the 1980s. Read more
Three times – no Palestine
July 3, 2017 by Michael Danby
Three times the Palestinians have been offered a state, three times they’ve run away…writes Michael Danby. Read more
Labor setting the stage to recognise Palestinian state
July 3, 2017 by J-Wire Staff
The NSW branch of the Labor Party is expected to pass a resolution recognising a Palestinian state at its conference later this month. Read more
Forbidden Music: Composers banned by the Third Reich
July 3, 2017 by Stevie Whitmont
The last of a series by Stevie Whitmont of music banned by the Nazis…this month features Erwin Schulhoff [1894-1942]. Read more