A new Shaliach for AUJS
The Zionist Federation of Australia and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) has welcomed Tobias Siegal, who began his work as the Australasian Union of Jewish Students’ (AUJS) shaliach last week.
Tobias Siegal
Tobias is the first shaliach to arrive since the beginning of COVID-19 and will be taking on this role for the next two years.
As the AUJS shaliach, Tobias expects to support AUJS initiatives and serve as a connecting link between Israel and the Jewish young adult community in Australia.
“For me the connection between diaspora Jews and the state of Israel is more crucial today than ever. I think people forget that Israel was established through and thanks to the Jewish diaspora. There’s a prevailing notion that [Israelis] are independent, and we know ourselves best, but we owe it to ourselves and to diaspora Jews to maintain that connection.” he said.
“I still need to learn about AUJS and about its unique audience and challenges. I think this phase in life, being a student, being exposed to so many different and opposing ideas regarding Israel and your place in society can be very challenging and disorienting. I want to show these students that not only do we need you, but we want your voice, and we want you to be involved.”
Tobias Siegal will be based in Melbourne.
The ZFA together with JAFI look forward to bringing more shlichim from Israel to the Australian Jewish community.
ZFA CEO Ginette Searle said it was wonderful that Jewish Agency shlichim are coming back to our community, after a significant hiatus brought on by the pandemic.
“We are excited to welcome such an enthusiastic shaliach with a breadth of skills and experience. Tobias will add tremendous value to AUJS and more broadly to the Jewish community. We are certain that Tobias will make a lasting impact and wish him every success as he assumes his new role.”
JAFI representative, Orit Elkayam-Cohen, said the students and the community are excited to work with Tobias, as part of JAFI’s global mission in placing Israeli emissaries on university campuses around the world.
“The Jewish Agency has hundreds of campus shlichim around the world and Tobi will be able to use this network to connect the Australian students with their colleagues in the world. He is the first of many shlichim who will come to work in the Jewish community in Australia and we look forward to seeing them all in action.”
