Israel balancing its ties with Kyiv, Moscow

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett convened the Cabinet on Sunday evening and led a two-hour discussion on the implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the situation for Israel, including the diplomatic and economic aspects, the absorption of immigrants, and other issues. Read more

Israel dispatches ambassador to Warsaw, transfers Ukraine embassy staff to Poland

Amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid announced on Saturday that he had instructed ambassador-designate to Poland Yacov Livne to leave for Warsaw ahead of schedule. Read more

Jewish Agency opens six ‘aliyah’-processing complexes on Ukraine borders

The Jewish Agency for Israel has opened six aliyah-processing stations at Ukrainian borders, the agency said on Saturday night. Read more

What Israel must learn from Ukraine’s war

The first lesson to be learned (or relearned) from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is that the absence of deterrence can be fatal for any nation. Read more

Israel sending 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine

Israel will send 100 tons of humanitarian equipment to civilians affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced. Read more

Russia’s President Putin and PM Bennett discuss war in Ukraine, Bennett offers to mediate

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday and updated him about “the course of the special military operation to protect Donbass,” the Kremlin press service reported. Read more

NZJC calls for help for Ukraine’s Jews

The New Zealand Jewish Council has launched a funds drive to finance help for Ukraine’s Jewish community. Read more

Feintooner

This week’s cartoon…Maintaining Balance. Read more

Why do we need the Seven Laws of the Sons of Noah when we already have the Ten Commandments?

Ask the rabbi… Read more

Swastika daubed on Josh Burns poster

Federal Labor MP Josh Burns took to Twitter to react to a photograph of him on a poster being daubed with a Hitleresque moustache and a swastika on his forehead. Read more

Israeli and Jewish organisations across the world rally in support of Ukraine’s Jews

Israeli and Jewish organizations from around the world have dispatched teams and aid to Ukraine and the countries surrounding it to assist the Israelis trapped in the country and help Jews who wish to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel) following the Russian invasion of the country. Read more

Israel steps up operations to assist Israelis and Jews in Ukraine

Israel’s Foreign Ministry took several steps over the weekend to assist Israelis trapped in Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. Read more

Ukrainian ambassador appeals for military aid, stronger sanctions amid Russian onslaught

As Russian military forces bore down on Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv on Friday, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova spoke to over a hundred supporters and leadership of the National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry (NCSEJ) on Friday, calling for stronger sanctions and military aid to help Ukrainians repel the invasion. Read more

Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know

A current briefing from Associated Australian Press.

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On Putin, the Jews and the Future of the World

Jews and dictators normally don’t get along. History is replete with examples of strongmen who reviled the Jewish communities in their midst. Read more

Boycotting art? There must be another way

Philip Feinstein from Music for Refugees introduces Ben Adler, a Sydney-based Jewish Australian violinist and the son of an Egyptian refugee, and Nawfel Alfaris, an Iraqi-born Australian Mandaean who arrived here as a refugee in 2005. Read more

L’Chaim to Life: Archbishop Tutu was anti-Semitic

Morry Frenkel speaks with David Hersch, Chairperson of the South African Israel Public Affairs Committee, about the anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist nature of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Make no mistake Tutu was anti-Semitic ….. Read more

A general’s perspective on peace: a conversation with MK Yair Golan

NIF Australia is to host Meretz Knesset Member Yair Golan who will discuss his career trajectory as the former Deputy Chief of Staff for the Israel Defense Forces to a parliamentarian speaking out against settler violence and the threats to Israel’s democracy. Read more

On the other hand

If COVID has kept you from visiting Israel for the last two or more years be prepared for major surprises when you eventually do make it here. Read more

Fox, Delfour crowned Aust kayak champions

Olympic gold medallist Jessica Fox and dual Olympian Lucien Delfour have been crowned champions in the kayak finals at the Canoe Slalom Australian Open at Penrith Whitewater Stadium. Read more

UN should use Israel-bashing model to oust Russia from Ukraine

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly needs to stop its pious bleating and move to immediately set up a network of Ukrainian-dedicated agencies to try and force Russia to end its invasion and occupation of Ukraine – adopting the same model it has established in trying to force Israel’s withdrawal from Judea and Samaria (West Bank) over the last 50 years. Read more

Kyiv’s Jewish community watches with apprehension as Russia attacks Ukraine

Chief Rabbi of Kyiv Jonathan Markovitch and his wife Inna are hoping for the best as Russian forces bombard Ukrainian cities. Hunkered down in Kyiv, where they run the Kyiv Jewish Center, the Markovitchs said they decided to stay in the city “because we have a flourishing community of 2,500 here that depend on us.” Read more

How Biden has empowered evil in both Russia and Iran

The contrast could scarcely be more glaring. America’s strategy to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression against Ukraine is to impose sanctions. But its strategy to deter aggression by the Iranian regime is to lift sanctions. Read more

New Zealand Foreign Ministry briefing misinforms

New Zealand claims to have a balanced and even-handed approach to the Israel Palestinian conflict. However, New Zealand’s voting record at the UN does not support this view and we are increasingly out of step with traditional allies. Read more

Israel’s Chief Rabbi to Ukraine Jews: We Stand With You

Israel’s Chief Rabbi David Lau spoke on Thursday with Rabbi Moshe Asman and Rabbi Yaakov Bleich of Ukraine after Russia invaded the country  and told them that “the people of Israel are by your side.” Read more

Israel’s FM Lapid: Russian attack on Ukraine ‘a serious violation of international order’ 

The Russian attack on Ukraine “is a serious violation of the international order,” and Israel “condemns the attack, and is ready and prepared to provide humanitarian assistance to the citizens of Ukraine,” Foreign Minister Yair Lapid stated on Thursday, about seven hours after the Russian invasion of Ukraine commenced. Read more

Perilous omens

Quote: “There is something coming this way and I don’t want to be here when it arrives.” Read more

Russians, Ukrainians and Israelis protest invasion of Ukraine at Russian embassy in Tel Aviv

Both Russians and Ukrainians living in Israel took to the streets of Tel Aviv Thursday night to protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Read more

Controversy swirls around UN Commission of Inquiry

The controversial UN Commission of Inquiry set up by the UN Human Rights Council following the Hamas-Israel Conflict in April 2021, has just got more controversial. Read more

Jewish Care appoints new Chief Medical Officer

Jewish Care Victoria has announced the appointment of Dr Simon Grof as its inaugural Chief Medical Officer. Read more

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