Rosh Hashanah: Walt Secord
As the Shadow Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism and the deputy chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel, once again, it is my pleasure to extend my warmest wishes for a happy, healthy and sweet New Year ahead to the NSW Jewish community.
Walt Secord
While this is the second High Holy Days under COVID-19 in Israel and in the Diaspora, I am certain that families will still find ways to celebrate, pray and connect in a responsible and socially distanced manner. For some, religious services will be on zoom and Facebook again.
Regardless, for NSW’s 40,000 strong Jewish community it will still be a time to reflect on the previous year, look forward and recommit to building a better future for our society.
While we are all pulling together to meet the new challenges of the Delta variant of COVID, sadly, we have seen the steady rise of antisemitism around the world. In Australia, we have seen it rear its ugly head at anti-lockdown rallies – but the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and other communal organisations have been vigilant in countering, combating and monitoring this ugly activity.
On a positive note, I wish to congratulate the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies on their campaign to encourage vaccinations within the community so that the State Government can ease restrictions.
Finally, from the point of view of the State Labor Opposition, we will continue to be bipartisan on the health response to COVID – so that next year, we will be able to celebrate Rosh Hashanah face-to-face.
So it is with great honour and pleasure that I say to all: “L’Shana Tova u’Metukha” – may you and your family have a good and sweet year.
Honourable Walt Secord
Shadow Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism
Deputy Chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel
