‘Flowers for Shabbat’: Healing our divisions
The world is more divided than it has been at any time in recent history. Across the globe, deep social fissures have been exposed with communities fractured along political, social and religious lines…writes Rabbi Warren Goldstein.
Sukkah: a new meeting-place for Melburnians
Sukkah, a new collaboration between the Jewish Museum of Australia and leading designer Zahava Elenberg, has today been unveiled at Melbourne’s Birrarung Marr. Read more
JHC Betty and Shmuel Rosenkranz Oration on Zoom
At the Jewish Holocaust Centre, we know that education is the key to understanding both the past and the present. Despite COVID-19, we have done our absolute best to continue delivering our education programs. Survivors have been ‘zooming’ into classrooms across Australia. Read more
Brawl erupts at ‘Jews for Trump’ event in NYC
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was attacked by a mob of anti-Trump activists on Sunday during a pro-Trump rally in Manhattan. Read more
More commitments for Queensland Holocaust Museum and Education Centre
The establishment of the Queensland Holocaust Museum and Education Centre took a massive step toward becoming a reality with the announcement by Queensland Minister for Multicultural Affairs Stirling Hinchliffe, that a re-elected Palaszczuk Government will commit $3.5m to the facility. Read more
A virtual protest against funding fossil fuels
Students from Sydney’s Emanuel School participated in a virtual protest against the funding of fossil fuels to stimulate the Australian economy in COVID recovery efforts. Read more
Facebook bans posts denying and distorting the Holocaust
Facebook announced on Monday that it is banning posts that deny or distort the Holocaust. Read more
New initiative helps tackle antisemitic content on entertainment platforms
In this time of social distancing and sheltering in place, people all over the world are spending more time on streaming sites than ever before. Read more
Orthodox Jewish leaders decry NY Governor Cuomo’s ‘draconian’ measures to restrict worship amid virus rise
Professing his “respect and love” for the Orthodox Jewish community, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced major restrictions and closures in parts of the state designated as “COVID clusters,” areas that have an overwhelmingly large Orthodox community. Read more
Beyoncé dons Israeli designers’ creations for mega visual album
Beyoncé has done it again, producing a visual album called Black Is King and sending the world into an absolute frenzy. Read more
Lebanon: What happened?
A few minutes after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, a fire broke out in Hangar 9 of Beirut’s port. Videos from the first moments afterwards show black smoke, indicative of a grease or other material fire. Read more
British Government strongly affirms support for Holocaust-era property restitution in Poland
The British Government has strongly reaffirmed its support for Holocaust-era property restitution in Poland and other countries, in reply to a question asked in the House of Lords by Baroness Ruth Deech. Read more
Expert on international demonisation of Israel praises Australia’s positive role
Professor Gerald Steinberg, the founder and President of NGO Monitor, dotted his presentation at the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council’s (AIJAC’s) latest webinar, on “The campaign to delegitimise Israel within International Institutions” with positive references to Australia’s performance. Read more
Norman Rosenbaum, fighter for justice for his brother, dies in Melbourne
Melbourne rabbinical student Yankel Rosenbaum was killed in the 1991 Crown Heights riots in New York and his barrister brother Norman who fought for justice in Yankel’s case has died in Melbourne at 63. Read more
Jewish entities worldwide institute 48-hour freeze on Twitter over hate speech
International Jewish groups are joining in a 48-hour abstention from Twitter in solidarity with Jews in the United Kingdom after British rap star Wiley, who has hundreds of thousands of followers, went on an hours-long social-media rant against Jews. Read more
Israeli scientists develop hand sanitizer from waste
Hand sanitizers—once the preserve of nurses, mothers and the uber-clean—have now become a ubiquitous accessory found in purses, cars, businesses and offices worldwide. Read more
Erdoğan’s ‘holy wisdom’
Contantinople’s Hagia Sophia Cathedral (the name translates to “holy wisdom”) was built in 537 C.E. by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. It is an architectural marvel with three domes that are not supported by any visible pillars…writes Efrat Aviv. Read more
Iran and Turkey key to Mideast chaos : Jonathan Spyer to AIJAC Webinar
In the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC)’s latest webinar, Middle East analyst and author Dr Jonathan Spyer discussed the “war over the ruins” of a chaotic Middle East and particular regional flashpoints, with several economic and military dynamics exacerbated by the spread of COVID-19. Read more
Assistance for gay Aliyah
The World Zionist Organization is setting up a unit to work with the LGBT Jewish community. Read more
Australia’s oldest operating synagogue approaching its 175th anniversary
Hobart Synagogue, the oldest Jewish place of worship still in use in Australia, is about to turn 175 – and a certain medical crisis hasn’t stopped the anniversary from being turned to good use. Read more
The challenge for Jewish voices among progressives
Antisemitism takes many forms. It can come from the right or the left. It can be found in theology, but also in anti-religious political ideology…writes Suzanne Rutland Andre Oboler. Read more
Israel’s ambassador to UK reflects on global issues, namely Iran, before leaving office
Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom Mark Regev discussed Israel’s relations with Britain and its neighbours during a webinar on Thursday, his last live-streamed event before ending his five-year term as ambassador…writes Shiryn Ghermezian. Read more
The mad, mad, mad world of Roger Waters
So, what does Roger Waters think of music, his critics and the normal life we all want to get back to?…writes Lana Melman. Read more
A British mandate to recognize Israeli sovereignty
The legal right of the Jewish people to reconstitute their historic homeland was recognized at the San Remo Conference of 1920 and by virtue of the Mandate for Palestine that resulted from it…write Richard Kemp, Hugh Kitson and Simon Isaacs. Read more
Annexation vs. sovereignty: Words matter
Words matter. They drive narratives. They influence policy. And they shape people’s perceptions…write Arsen Ostrovsky and Richard Kemp. Read more
Senior Palestinian official: ‘Our only option is to sever ties with Israel and the US’
The Palestinians’ only option now is to “entirely reject” the U.S. peace plan and sever relations with the United States and Israel, according to PLO Secretary General Saeb Erekat. Read more
Jewish pharmacist gets shop opened after looting by Floyd protesters
On Saturday, Jonathan Friedman stood with police officers and watched as protesters looted his store, Syd’s Pharmacy, at 7111 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles. Read more
Netanyahu: ‘The Palestinians have to concede, not Israel’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that applying Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, and in the Jordan Valley in particular, is a historical step. This is nothing new. Read more
Back to the future: making penpals
While many Holocaust survivors are feeling isolated right now, the Sydney Jewish Museum has launched a Pen Pal Project to connect students and Holocaust survivors with one another through letter-writing during these uncertain times. Read more
At War With COVID-19
Despite heightened tensions between countries over the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we face a common enemy incapable of negotiation. Read more
