Antisemitism is a form of delirium, especially in France

The latest shocking development in the scandal over a horrific antisemitic murder in France not only trains a harsh light on that country’s attitude to Jew-hatred. It also illuminates a deeply problematic and wider inability to deal with antisemitism in the West. Read more

NZ’s Jewish Museum launches its online presence 

It’s been a long time coming but the first stage of New Zealand’s new Jewish museum is now up and running online – and it’s just the beginning of what will be a dynamic and evolving resource. Read more

Litzman may be charged

Israeli media is reporting Israel’s Attorney General, Mr Avichai Mandelblit, plans to prosecute former Israeli Health Minister, Rabbi Yaakov Litzman, for interfering in the Malka Leifer case by trying to prevent Leifer from being extradited to Australia to face justice. Read more

Anzac Day: NAJEX commemorates with annual ceremony

At last Sunday’s annual communal Anzac Day ceremony organized by NAJEX, its Patron, the Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley presented meritorious service awards to two young Jewish volunteers with Rural Fire Service NSW for their exemplary and dangerous work in fighting the bushfires that ravaged large parts of NSW in the summer of 2019/2020. Read more

What’s wrong with us?

Israel’s 73rd Independence Day was an annual reminder of as close to a miracle as it gets. Read more

A blueprint for ethnic social cohesion

The Federal Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs  Alex Hawke. has chaired a roundtable consultation with leaders of ethnic communities, academics and migrant representative bodies to assist in formulating a government statement to be used as a blueprint for the government’s social cohesion strategy. Read more

No way to go, Joe

It was always a given that the Biden Administration would revert to Obama’s failed foreign policies. Read more

Iranian media: ‘Missile to Dimona is message to Israel: the sensitive areas are not immune’

Iranian and Arab media and commentators claimed on Thursday following the surface-to-air missile that was fired from Syria to Israel’s southern Negev that “what happened near the Dimona reactor is a message to Israel that the sensitive areas, including the Dimona site, are not immune.” Read more

Tear drops and wrecking balls: a music review by Fraser Beath McEwing

While most of my reviews cover the SSO Masters Series (the substantial concerts that are sponsored by Abercrombie & Kent) every so often I am tugged by the heartstrings to an SSO Symphony Hour performance supported by Credit Suisse. Read more

Jordan transfers to PA docs on alleged proof of ownership of Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi paid a surprise visit to Ramallah yesterday related to Jordan’s decision to provide the Palestinian Authority (PA) with documents that allegedly indicate Palestinian ownership of property in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in Jerusalem. Read more

It’s Tomer time again

Tomer Hemed is the first Israeli footballer to play in Australia’s A-League and considers himself as an ambassador for his nation and his religion. Read more

73rd birthday and 73% of Israel’s population is Jewish

Israel at 73 years, an amazing feat. Read more

Syrian surface-to-air missile hits Israel, IAF strikes back

A surface-to-air missile was fired from Syria to Israel’s southern Negev on Wednesday night, exploding in an open area. Read more

Queensland to review vilification and hate laws

The Queensland Government’s referral of the state’s vilification and hate crime laws to a parliamentary committee for review has been welcomed by the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies. Read more

A New Zealand welcome for Israel’s ambassador

Israel’s ambassador to New Zealand Ran Yaakoby and his family were officially welcomed in a historic Powhiri at Te Tii Marae. Read more

Two-state solution sinks as Biden tries to resurrect it

Postponement of the upcoming Palestinian elections on 22 May for the 132-member Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) seems virtually assured with the report from an “unnamed US source” that Washington would not object to any such postponement. Read more

Fearing defeat, Fatah promotes direct elections to presidency

Fearing defeat in the upcoming elections in the Palestinian Authority (PA) at the end of May, the Fatah Palestinian Prisoners’ Initiative is now proposing to postpone the PA elections, to appoint Marwan Barghouti as vice president, under PA head Mahmoud Abbas, to return Nasser Kidwa to the Fatah leadership and to hold direct elections for president, like in the US. Read more

Coherent Judaism: Constructive theology, Creation & Halakhah: A book review by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen

I am sure that a number of my colleagues (and friends) would question whether Judaism could ever be coherent, especially with the words Halakhah as well as theology in its title. Read more

Israel secures COVID-19 vaccines through 2022

Israel signed on Monday an agreement with Pfizer for the acquisition of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses for 2022. Read more

Macron asks for change in law after French court won’t prosecute Halimi’s killer

France’s President Emmanuel Macron urged an immediate change to French law after a court ruled that a man who murdered a Jewish woman in 2017 was not responsible for his actions because he was high on cannabis at the time of the crime. Read more

Three resign from Auschwitz museum council after politician appointed

Three members of an advisory council for Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland have resigned in protest after a senior politician from the ruling party was appointed to the group by the government. Read more

Dutch soccer fans shout ‘Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas’ prior to match

Police in the Netherlands are investigating footage from a fan rally prior to a soccer game last week between two Dutch teams where fans chanted “Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas.” Read more

Alex Boyarsky: 1943-2021

Builder, developer and philanthropist Alex Boyarsky passed away in Sydney last week following an illness spanning over a decade. Read more

Dr Ruth headline speaker for UIA Victorian and WA Women’s Division campaigns

UIA Women’s Division Victoria and WA have announced their 2021 Campaign event on Sunday 2 May featuring guest speaker Dr Ruth Westheimer (‘Dr. Ruth’), with the discussion to be moderated by media legend Jackie Frank. Read more

From Australia’s Jewish Past: Fearless nurse, Jewish adventuress – Rose Shappere in the Boer War

With the approach of ANZAC Day, it is an opportune time to take a step back to 1899 which was the start of the Anglo-Boer War. Australia not only sent soldiers but a small group of nurses to the South African battlefields. Read more

Arnold Zable receives the 2021 Australia Council Award

Melbourne-based author Arnold Zable is one of the eight recipients of the 2021 Australia Council Awards. Read more

The legacy of Isi Leibler

A fearless and uncompromising leader, dedicated to freeing Soviet Jewry and safeguarding their Jewish identities, Isi Leibler AO, of blessed memory, was an outspoken ambassador of the Jewish people and has now left behind an important legacy. Read more

How can it be right to perpetrate violence in the name of religion?

Ask the rabbi. Read more

Feintooner

This week’s cartoon…Intersecting Streets. Read more

Israel’s protracted political crisis harms national security

Israel’s March 2021 election (its fourth election within two years!) again failed to yield a clear result. Read more

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