Australia & NZ.

Leslie Cannold’s decision to stand for Julian Assange’s Wikileaks Party was always questionable, given her feminist ideals; after all, he’s been accused of raping two women. Moreover, his link with anti-Semites and alleged anti-Semitic pronouncements were an unlikely pairing for a secular Jew like Cannold. See: http://jewsdownunder.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/does-wikileaks-have-a-problem-with-jews-2/ She vigorously defended …

By Rabbi Dr Shimon Cowen The electorate of Melbourne Ports, which houses several strong traditional religious populations – Jewish, Catholic and Greek Orthodox, amongst others – is in this election year in an unprecedented situation. The candidates of both major parties have emerged explicitly supporting same sex marriage. Kevin Ekendahl, …

“All [Jews]*on “Palestinian land” are illegal under international law … that is the position, of Kevin Rudd, the position of the Federal Labor Government, and we don’t make apologies for it.” [*offensive weasel word deleted] Make no mistake he wants this argument. He seriously can not expect the Government to …

Australia has a large and diverse community that offers much choice when it comes to synagogues and Jewish education. From Orthodox to Reform and most things in between; there is something for everyone. With a significant proportion of Holocaust survivors and their progeny, a very strong Chabad presence which spurred …

Muslim protestors marched through our fair City of Sydney at the weekend. AND we were stopped having a peaceful rally during Operation Pillar of Smoke. We had to hide like frightened rabbits on the Mizrachi synagogue………… Video originally posted at Daphne Anson: Here

Written by David Singer who is an Australian Lawyer, Foundation Member of the International Analyst Network and Convenor of Jordan is Palestine International .………….. Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr’s announcement in the heat of an election campaign that Labor Party policy does not recognize the legal right of Jews to …

From the Facebook page of Palestine Action Group Sydney “As part of the ongoing campaign for solidarity with Palestine, Palestine Action Group will be holding a peaceful protest against Max Brenner at Parramatta Westfield on Saturday, 17 August to show solidarity with Palestine and boycott Israeli apartheid. Max Brenner is …

Who doesn’t love going to Max Brenner, with their delicious hot chocolate and yummy ice cream confections. There’s a wonderful ambience in their cafes: the city venues are fun places to go, constantly packed with people, whereas the suburban ones are quieter, the perfect place to relax and drink chocolate …

I thought is was an April Fools Joke. Our own JCCV, which is funded by the Jewish Community is using their resources their know all, to work with the Islamic Community to complete an Islamic Museum. I’m not sure that’s how I would like my donations to a Jewish organisation …

On Friday, August 9 , AIJAC put out a statement responding to controversial remarks on Israeli settlements by Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr at Lakemba the previous day. Video on the SBS website shows Carr saying the following: We in our government, and the members of the government behind me, …

Written by Julie Nathan, Research Officer, Executive Council of Australian Jewry………. Melbourne held its first Al-Quds Day rally this year. The short video of the rally and march shows about fifty people gathered on the steps of the State Library, with speakers giving speeches, and protestors waving anti-Israel banners. The …

Written by Julie Nathan, Research Officer, Executive Council of Australian Jewry………… Around 150 people attended, plus a police contingent of over a dozen officers. An Israeli flag at the rally had the words “Delete Zionists” painted on the blue stripes, and the Star of David was circled and crossed out. …

The Union for Progressive Judaism (UPJ)’s Australian website is very professional and is regularly updated. There is a special organisation devoted to social justice, called ‘The Jewish Religious Action & Advocacy Centre‘ (JRAAC) whose mission is: …to pursue the principles of justice, equality and integrity as outlined in Jewish texts …

Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister – Senator Bob Carr – has made the long running Jewish-Arab conflict an issue in the forthcoming elections on 7 September. Speaking at the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney on 8 August at celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan – Carr reportedly committed the Labor Government …

LINK ……….. It was disappointing to hear the remarks made by Foreign Minister Bob Carr outside Lakemba Mosque at the celebrations to mark Eid al-Fitr on Thursday. While we commend Senator Carr for recognising that Palestinian statehood aspirations require “respect for the right of Israel to exist”, it is unfortunate that …

Barney Zwartz writes in The Age that Tim Fischer, the former Australian Deputy PM, claimed the New York Jewish lobby had unfairly blackened the name of WWII Pope Pius XII “in the interests of a modern political agenda”. “Pius has been criticised for not doing enough to protect Jews during …

The Australian Palestinian Lobby are gathering the troops in their attempt to further influence our politicians, mainly the ALP, The Greens and  GetUp to follow the party line, which is the Palestinian party line. A questionnaire has been prepared by the Palestinian Lobby for their constituents and followers to send …

This week’s Torah reading – Shoftim – contains the well-known phrase ‘Tzedek tzedek tirdof’ (Devarim 16:20) – the injunction to pursue righteousness. This comes at the conclusion of verses which mandate the establishment of ‘law and order’ in society, which are built upon a judicial system, and police to enforce …

 What is the Sydney Alliance? This, according to their very expensive web site, is what they are. Sydney Alliance: “The Sydney Alliance is a citizens’ coalition whose vision is to provide the community with a voice to express common values and aspirations for a fair and just Sydney. Sydney Alliance …

Dr Leslie Cannold has announced she is standing as running mate for Julian Assange’s Wikileaks Party. Described as “an author, commentator, ethicist and activist”, she writes extensively about gender issues, and is listed as one of Australia’s top 20 public intellectuals. About Given her feminist credentials, her support for Wikileaks …