UPJ backs call for multicultural values
The Union for Progressive Judaism has endorsed the statement issued by the Faith Communities Council of Victoria (FCCV) in calling for all Australians to renew their support for the multicultural values that have brought so much benefit to our country, and to the world.
“We must not allow groups such as Reclaim Australia and the United Patriots Front to introduce divisiveness and hatred by attacking minorities and generally disturbing the peace of our society,” said Stephen Freeman, President of the Union for Progressive Judaism. “And we are surely doomed to repeat the errors of history if we don’t learn from them and realise that such groups actively use fear and violence to undermine the invaluable fabric of our civil society.”
“The members of the Council of Progressive Rabbis of Australia, Asia and New Zealand (the Moetzah) fully support the action of FCCV and belief that the leaders of the Faith Communities must speak out against efforts to undo the work of decades in bringing together people of different cultures and religions in harmony in this wonderful country,” said Rabbi Adi Cohen, Chairman of the Moetzah. “Although often used, the quote from Pastor Martin Niemoller should guide the actions of all religious leaders: ‘First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.’”
The UPJ will be calling on all of its affiliated congregations and communities to support local initiatives that emphasise multiculturalism; help develop respect between different cultural and religious groups; and promote harmony throughout Australian society.
As a long time member of North Shore Temple Emanuel, I deplore the posturing of the UPJ. Sure we don’t want to ally ourselves with neo-Nazis, but at the same time we should not remain quiet in the face of jihadis in our community. Prof Kessler just a few weeks ago wrote an article in the Australian, that the mainstream of mohammedans support their cohort gaining supremacy.
Like the UPJ, I support multiculturalism, but the mohammedans don’t. Multiculturalism works for all groups apart from the mohammedans; they are killing it just like they killed the two-state solution.
And talk about Pastor Niemoller! The UPJ hasn’t a clue about what the good pastor meant, if it fails to speak out against the evil of jihadism festering in our midst by a group unique among immigrants to Australia by its refusal to assimilate and contribute to our society.
Barry, You are spot on.
I think a rainbow coloured burka has decended on the Union of Progressive Judiasm and obscured their view of reality. Their misguided hypocracy is astounding and dangerous.
The only groups who “actively use fear and violence to undermine the invaluable fabric of our civil society” Mr. Freeman, are the Islamic fundamentalists who take hostages in a Cafe in Sydney, or who plot to blow up the MCG and against whom the CSG protect our Jewish Schools and Synagogues.
It is that group against whom Reclaim Australia are protesting, and more power to them.
I was born here 66 years ago, and I have lived through Jewish Immigration following WW 2 and have seen Jews make a tremendous and above all peaceful contribution to this Country.
I have watched Italian and Greek Communities grow and flourish in this Country and make wonderful contributions to our way of life. Chinese, and Vietnamese have brought their culture here.
Have there been issues with some of these cultures, of course there have. The Italian Mafia infiltrated our Fruit and vegetable market, and Vietnamese crime gangs were a problem 30 years ago.
However none of these groups actually threatened the very fabric of our existence.
The Jewish Community NEVER required security to protect our Institutions.
Australia did not need special Federal Police and State Police Task forces to monitor and keep watch over possible terrorist attacks by Italians, or Greeks, or Chinese or Vietnamese and certainly not by Jews.
However, such task forces have been set up to monitor the activities of ONE group in our Communities. Muslims.
So if the UPJ wants to live in a Utopian fairyland, good luck to them.
I, and other intelligent people, will continue to live in the real world where there is no tooth fairy and where Muslim fundamentalism is an ever growing threat to this Country.