Pesach message from Bill Shorten
The Leader of the Opposition in Australia has sent a Peach message to the Jewish community.
It gives me great pleasure to send the Australian Jewish community my best wishes for the festival of Pesach.
This is a time to reflect on the Jewish people’s liberation from slavery in Egypt. The story, told around the Seder table, is summarised by the adage, “for once we were slaves, now we are free.”
The rituals of Passover reflect this adage – drinking four cups of wine, reclining, eating matzah to recall the Jewish peoples’ inability to eat leavened bread as they fled Pharaoh.
It is fitting therefore that, during the week of Passover, we will also commemorate ANZAC Day. We are all lucky to be free, and we know that our freedom has not come without cost and sacrifice. We celebrate those whose bravery and sacrifice has allowed us to be free as Australians.
The Jewish community of Australia pays keen attention to the history of its ancestors and this is reflected in its continuing commitment to so many positive values that have helped shape Australia.
Your commitment to equality, multiculturalism, tolerance and respect, and steadfast opposition to bigotry and intolerance shows how crucial your contribution to the betterment of Australia has been.
