Written by Emily Gian. Media and Advocacy Director, Zionist Federation of Australia. As Israel enters the fourth day of “Operation Protective Edge”, there is one simple question I would like to ask of Israel’s detractors. How many? What I mean by this question is how many rockets would you tolerate …

Written by Emily Gian. Media and Advocacy Director, Zionist Federation of Australia.. 3 July 2014 I have been running my fingertips over my keyboard for hours upon hours desperately trying to find the adequate words to describe the events in Israel in a way that would do justice to what …

June 2014. MEDIA RELEASE. Through the Zionist Federation of Australia, Gandel Philanthropy gifts 160 young adults with the trip of a lifetime. Taglit-Birthright Israel is a visionary program that provides a gift of a 10-day educational tour of Israel for young Jewish adults aged 18-26. The Zionist Federation of Australia …

Written by Emily Gian. Media and Advocacy Director, Zionist Federation of Australia.. It has now been twelve days since three Israeli teens, Eyal Yifrah, Gil-Ad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel were kidnapped in Gush Etzion while making their way home from their respective Yeshivot. The search, being coordinated by the IDF is …

  ZFA Zionist Seminar. Youth leaders from Israel facilitate seminars in Melbourne and Sydney. The Zionist Seminars Program is one of the leading projects of the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Jewish Agency for Israel in Australia, bringing talented and committed young shlichim to work intensively with students in …

Edward Lichtig and Sara Krishtul have returned from the International Bible Quiz. Edward Lichtig, 15, from Leibler Yavneh College in Melbourne and Sara Krishtul 15, from Beth Rivkah Ladies College have just returned from the World Bible Quiz. Sara ranked 17th and Edward ranked 18th in the world and 13th …

ZFA Statement on the three kidnapped Israeli youths by Palestinian terrorists. For Immediate Release, 15 June 2014.   The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) strongly condemns the kidnapping of three Israeli youths as they were making their way home on Thursday evening.  The three missing students are Eyal Yifrach, Gilad …

Israel Advocacy Update. Written by Emily Gian. Media and Advocacy Director, Zionist Federation of Australia..   THE JOKE OF PALESTINIAN UNITY … IS ANYBODY LAUGHING? On Monday, the Fatah-Hamas unity government was sworn in. The reconciliation between the two warring factions came seven years after Hamas took over Gaza in …

PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY FOR ZFA JEWISH EDUCATORS’ CONFERENCE. The role of Israel in Jewish education is a key theme to be explored in this year’s Zionist Federation of Australia’s Jewish Educators’ Conference and we are delighted that Israel’s Minister for Education, Rav Shai Piron will be coming to the conference …

Weekly Israel Advocacy Update. Written by Emily Gian. There has long been a tendency for some commentators to claim they are afraid to speak out about matters relating to Israel for fear that any negative comment might be construed as being antisemitic. Whilst it is true that this might sometimes …

The biggest Israel Programs Fair ever held in Australia will be coming to Sydney and Melbourne. ‘The Shuk’ will showcase a wide range of gap year, study abroad, post-university and volunteer experiences for young adults aged 18-30. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet program organisers and alumni as well …

  Weekly Israel Advocacy Update. Written by Emily Gian. Media and Advocacy Director, Zionist Federation of Australia..   Dear Tamar, Remember me? We first met in late December 1996 when my parents took me to Israel for the first time as part of a UIA family mission. My family and …

Weekly Israel Advocacy Update. Written by Emily Gian. Media and Advocacy Director, Zionist Federation of Australia..   Some weeks ago I wrote about the peace negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians, which had then been meandering along with little progress for eight months. From the outset of the talks, …

  ANZAC Day is one of the most important days in the calendar of Australians and New Zealanders, marking the anniversary of the fateful dawn landing on the beaches of Gallipoli by Australian and New Zealand troops in 1915. It was the first major action by the Australian and New …

A terrific must read piece written by Jack Chrapot and very kindly submitted to ‘Jews Down Under’ by Emily Gian. Media and Advocacy Director, Zionist Federation of Australia.. This Monday night, we sit down to read about the liberation of the Jews from slavery back in the days of the …

Written by Emily Gian. Media and Advocacy Director, Zionist Federation of Australia..   Over the years, I have received some fantastic “good news” stories across my desk that come from Israel and that really needed to be shouted about from the rooftops.   Whether it has been some technological advancement or …

                                                   2 APRIL 2014   180 delegates, including large contingents of young adults from the Australian Zionist Youth Council and AUJS, gathered in Melbourne on Sunday 30 March for the ZFA’s Biennial Conference. With keynote addresses from the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Leader of the Opposition, Yariv Levin MK and …

Weekly Israel Advocacy Update. Written by Emily Gian. Media and Advocacy Director, Zionist Federation of Australia.. Some years ago, whilst researching an assignment for University, I came across an interview with Israeli author Amos Oz. He was asked if it is true what they say about a writer writing the …

Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency will be a guest of the ZFA in Sydney and Melbourne together with the ZCNSW, ZCV and UIA. He will arrive in Sydney on the 26th March and events will be held over three days including a large communal event on Thursday evening …

Weekly Israel Advocacy Update. Written by Emily Gian. Media and Advocacy Director, Zionist Federation of Australia.. Welcome back to Emily Gian after her maternity leave.We look forward to her weekly reports, as we have these past months from Gabrielle Debinski. She writes: Returning last week to my work desk after …