The Victorian Jewish Community COVID-19 Taskforce
The Victorian Jewish community has set up a COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Taskforce to assist communal organisations in navigating the nuances of maintaining a Jewish way of life during this pandemic.
The Taskforce will provide Synagogues, Jewish day-schools, and a number of other Jewish community organisations with context on information being shared by the Victorian Government and Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and give communal leaders access to a range of expert advice.
Today’s announcement of a State of Emergency by Victoria Premier Dan Andrews only reinforces the need for communal leadership to coordinate their decision making, particularly in relation to matters that will impact the Jewish and wider community as a whole, to avoid creating unnecessary panic.
Community Security Group (CSG) CEO Justin Kagan said that the community’s ability to come together quickly and establish the Taskforce in response to the pandemic reflects the “strong and unified commitment and approach to supporting our organisations and community during this challenging time.”
Jewish Community Council of Victoria President Jennifer Huppert said that “while the pandemic posed new challenges, by working together we will ensure that the Victorian Jewish community’s way of life can continue during this unprecedented period.”
General Manager of Chevra Hatzolah Melbourne Leon Landau agreed saying that “the health and well-being of our community remains our highest priority.”
Coordinated by the CSG and Jewish Community Crisis Management (JCCM), together with representatives from the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, the Rabbinical Council of Victoria, Chevra Hatzolah Melbourne, Progressive Judaism Victoria and the Council of Orthodox Synagogues Victoria; the Taskforce is comprised of Rabbinical leaders, elected community representatives, those with public health pandemic expertise and crisis and emergency management experts.
