Learning about Jews
Zionism Victoria has thanked the Victorian Government for funding its Jakob Frenkiel Connecting Cultures program.
Ingrid Stott
The money, to be spread over three years, is part of a $ 3 million commitment to tackle antisemitism ahead of last year’s election, was announced today by Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt at the Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre.
Zionism Victoria submitted a joint proposal to the Government earlier this year together with the Jewish Community Council of Victoria and the Community Security Group for funding to support a program of evidenced-based activities that combat antisemitism and strengthen the resilience of the Victorian Jewish community.
These initiatives included enhanced local antisemitism data collection, targeted education programs to combat antisemitism and assistance for targeted grassroots activities to address antisemitism, including raising awareness of the Victorian legal framework and existing reporting pathways.
The funding will be split between the joint ZV, JCCV and CSG proposal and The Melbourne Holocaust Museum.
Zionism Victoria President Yossi Goldfarb said, “We are immensely grateful to both the Premier and the Minister for Multiculturalism for following through on the Government’s pledge.
“The funding allotted to Connecting Cultures will enable us to expand the program exponentially, offering an insight into the Jewish community to thousands of young people across the state, promoting respect and understanding, and helping tackle the scourge of antisemitism.
“The past few weeks have shown just how critical this is, and we are truly appreciative of the support we have received from the Victorian Government in what has been a particularly traumatic time for the Jewish community.
The Connecting Cultures program brings hundreds of students from non-Jewish schools and groups from other faith organisations into the Jewish community each year to learn about Jewish history, Jewish life and Jewish traditions.
Tailoring trips to the requirements of the participants, among the activities offered are visits to synagogues, the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, the Jewish Museum of Australia, the Lamm Jewish Library of Australia and Jewish schools. Engaging speakers including rabbis, Holocaust survivors and specialist educators can also be arranged.
Zionism Victoria Executive Director Zeddy Lawrence said, “Many of the participants have never met a Jew before. Connecting Cultures promotes respect and understanding of ‘the other’ that they may not otherwise gain.
“Giving them an insight into Jewish life, history and traditions helps prevent the stereotypes, prejudices and misinformation that are at the root of so much of contemporary antisemitism taking hold.
“While there’s no immediate panacea – no magic wand – to make antisemitism vanish overnight, initiatives such as Connecting Cultures help combat this scourge moving forwards and will prevent a repetition, or even worse, of what we’ve seen in recent weeks and in Caulfield last Friday night.”
