Touring the Sydney Jewish Museum
Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello has led a tour of NSW Government MPs through the Sydney Jewish Museum.
David Clarke MLC, Peter Phelps MLC, Vic Alhadeff, CEO Jewish Board of Deputies, Matthew Mason-Cox MLC, Norman Seligman, CEO Sydney Jewish Museum, John Williams MP, Victor Dominello, Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Geoff Provest MP, Don Harwin MLC, president of the Legislative Council, and Professor Gus Lehrer, president of Sydney Jewish Museum.
Members of Parliament were invited to a private tour of the Museum to learn more about the history of the Holocaust.
“The tour also gave us an opportunity to be made more aware of the rich history and culture of Australia’s thriving Jewish community,” Mr Dominello said.
“By taking part in this tour the MPs and I became more acutely aware of the importance of spreading the message of racial tolerance.
“NSW is one of the greatest success stories of multiculturalism anywhere in the world and while we recognise our differences we are united by our Australian identity.”
The MPs also met and spoke with Holocaust survivor David Benedikt and were shown around the Museum by CEO Norman Seligman.
In May this year at Parliament House, a large number of NSW MPs signed the London Declaration on Combating Anti-Semitism. The Declaration is designed to draw attention to the resurgence of antisemitism as a potent force in politics, international affairs and society.
“As we have seen today, the Sydney Jewish Museum provides a great opportunity for all people to learn more about Jewish culture and history,” Mr Dominello said.
As well as Mr Dominello, the MP’s on the museum tour were Member for Murray-Darling John Williams and Member for Tweed Geoff Provest.
Four members of the Legislative Council – Don Harwin, Mathew Mason Cox, David Clarke and Peter Phelps – were also on the tour.
A gesture like this should be acknowledged as an important and effective way to show the Jewish contribution to this country to politicians and some idea of the greatest humanitarian crime in history which was perpertrated on the Jewish people. How the world is reeling to witness the effects of gassing of a limited number of innocent citizens today, compared to the free nations turning away from any effective interference to prevent the Nazi crimes.