JNF Australia is committed to 23 individual projects to heal Israel’s south. They include mental health support, rehabilitation trauma therapy and resilience programs.
The organisation’s vision is to ensure a strong, secure and prosperous future for the land and people of Israel. This vision is the driving force behind every project JNF undertakes.
For decades, it has directly supported life-changing projects for communities on Israel’s borders, helping them thrive, despite ongoing challenges.
In previous years, JNF Australia has deployed the funding to several projects. However, with the scale of the devastation following October 7, 2023, it identified multiple needs on the ground, with a core focus on healing Israel’s south.
True impact isn’t just about responding to crises. It’s about rebuilding for the future. It means restoring homes, schools and vital services, and creating safe, thriving spaces for families and children.
The JNF Australia funded projects contribute to strengthening Israel’s pioneering spirit, ensuring it can return and flourish.
They focus on wellness, education, restoration, trauma therapy, protective building reinforcement and agriculture. They support hundreds of thousands of Israelis in the southern communities.
Every project JNF undertakes is in close collaboration with those on the ground, to ensure they address the most urgent priorities. JNF is also committed to its donors who receive full visibility into the impact they create.
JNF Australia confirms major investment in Israel’s future
Together, and with the community’s support, JNF Australia is not just rebuilding what was lost, rather creating something stronger.
JNF Australia National President Steven Salamon praised the generosity of the community in helping the organisation achieve such impact.
“For decades, JNF Australia has been dedicated to the development of Israel’s peripheral communities. This has been crucial for the agricultural, economic and technological growth of the country, whilst, at the same, being vital in Israel’s security and defence interests,” Mr Salamon said.
As JNF Australia continues to fundraise for Israel, this month it starts its 2025 Pesach Blue Box campaign, which will support two vital projects: the restoration of a communal music centre in Kibbutz Yad Mordechai in southern Israel and the creation of emotional therapy spaces in Kiryat Shmona in the north. These initiatives are crucial for the whole community, including children and youth who have suffered displacement, insecurity and the trauma of the 18 months.
Looking ahead, JNF Australia’s annual campaign 2025 will continue to address projects that impact Israel’s north and south. The campaign will be launched in coming months, culminating in annual events across the country in the first week of September.
To donate to JNF Australia, go to www.jnf. org.au or call 1300 563 563.
Holit playground
Nir Am wheat sower
Rishpon Healing Village
Be'eri maintenance program
Emek Hefer Healing Place
JNF Australia Impact Announcement 2024 Healing Israel’s South
Our deepest thanks and gratitude to our loyal supporters, whose trust enabled JNF Australia to fund vital projects which directly impacted the lives of families in Israel’s border communities.
JNF projects & partner communities 2024
• Nir Am Multi-purpose Building
• Nir Am Wheat Sower
• Rishpon Healing Village
• Nahal Oz Multi-Use Sports Complex
• Emek Hefer Trauma Treatment Program
• Nirim Diagnosis and Therapy Centre
• Be'eri Maintenance Program
• Magen Resilience Centre
• Ein HaBesor Sports Complex & Community Club
• Yad Mordechai Shikma Educational Institute
• Beit Nova Village
• Nir Yitzchak Children's Education Facility
• Nir Oz Combine Harvester
• Holit Children's Playground
• Kfar Aza Medical Clinic
• Be'eri Sculpture Garden
• Kfar Aza Home for Adults with Autism
• Kfar Aza Children's Therapy Program
• Sderot Meitar Centre for at Risk Youth
• Ofakim Hagivah School ImagineBox
• Sderot Alomin School ImagineBox
• Sdot Negev Therapy Clinic in Nature
• Be’eri Forest Replanting and Renewal and other vital projects…
Your impact in numbers
23 major impact projects funded
Over
20,000 families received assistance
18 communities directly supported
500 wellbeing and resilience activities More than
+80,000 hours therapy and counselling
ANNE-MARIE ELIAS CONSIDERED OPINION
What is belonging? The American Psychological Association Dictionary of Psychology defines it as the feeling of being accepted and approved by a group or by society as a whole. The term relates to a yearning for connection with others, the need for positive regard and the desire for interpersonal connection.
Whilst Seder is all about the retelling of the freedom of Jews from slavery and their journey to the promised land, it is also a time to reflect on our sense of community and where we belong. The slaves were a community that banded together and left Egypt as a collective.
In modern times, psychologists have known about the need for individuals to be accepted by a community, to have meaningful attachments and essentially to ‘belong’ in all the environments that we inhabit, be it family, friendship groups, work, sport and so on.
In 1995, US psychology researchers Baumeister and Leary’s landmark paper “The need to belong: desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation” identified belonging as a universal human need, ingrained in our motivation as a species, stemming from our ancestral roots.
From the moment we are born, we strive to connect to our primary caregivers.
CROSSWORD
Belonging
Biologically this makes sense, as they are the same people that ensure our wellbeing and provide food, safety and shelter. Therefore, belonging and being accepted is critical to our survival.
Most people need frequent, non-aversive interactions within an ongoing relational bond. We form social attachments readily under most conditions and resist the dissolution of existing bonds. This can result in people staying in damaging relationships too long, as we often fear rejection and loneliness more than remaining in harmful relationships.
Belongingness appears to have multiple and strong effects on emotional patterns and on thought processes. Lack of attachment is linked to a variety of ill
Multigrains
effects on health, adjustment and wellbeing. The need to belong is a powerful and fundamental. However, our personal level of the need to belong shapes how motivated we are to join groups, catch up with family and friends, and to engage with others in general. Belonging is important throughout our lives, irrespective of culture, race or geography.
In certain circumstances, especially in older age, people do think of belonging as something that they can be at risk of losing, due to reduced physical and cognitive capacities or the death of peers. Also, the older we get, the more we, understandably, turn our gaze to the past, nostalgically reflecting on experiences of belonging long gone.
Belonging comes from a perception of quality, meaning and satisfaction with social connections. Belonging may also relate to a sense of belonging to a place or even an event. It is therefore a complex and dynamic process unique to each person.
It is the feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion and identity. It results in gains and stimulates motivation. We can often produce better results when we have the support of a group rather than going it alone.
Medical and psychological professionals recognise this and endorse the concept of rehabilitation, including cardiac rehab, drug and alcohol recovery, in a group setting. A positive outcome for improved health in these settings is well documented.
US professor, clinical social worker and author Brene Brown says “belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than us.
Because this yearning is so primal, we often try to acquire it by fitting in and by seeking approval, which are not only hollow substitutes for belonging but often barriers to it. Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”
Anne-Marie Elias is a psychologist in clinical practice for 25 years.
7. Aviary sound
8. Broke into, in a way
9. Citrus cooler ending
10. Alternative to Captain Morgan
11. Delighted in
12. "Open wide" letters
17. It means "Irish" in Irish
20. Onset
21. Home of the Seminoles, for short
22. Linemen, for short
24. You can build the Beit Hamikdash with it...in your living room
25. Sets for med. dramas
27. Creature of comfort
Stroud and Uzomah of the NFL 19. Completely crazy 20. "Paulo" start 21. Egyptian woe, once 23. Sounded out P-A-S-S-O-V-E-R like a brit?/It can be Jewish
26. The greatest actress, possibly 28. Less lively, as a party
29. Ship letters
30. Have some matzah, e.g.
33. Crosswords have them
34. Half of 16-Across enjoyed by some on Passover
37. Apportioned, as cards 40. Tishby of note
41. Victrola company
44. Open with a key 46. An athlete's might be exercised 49. Pareve milk/Part of a biblical dream 52. Ms. Morgenstern of TV
Many yrs.
His poetry inspired "Cats"
8 1/2 x 11, for short
31. Cape in Massachusetts
32. Spanish relative
34. Herschel Shmoikel Pinchas Yerucham Krustofsky is one
35. Allergic reaction, maybe
36. Giant Ming
37. Shimon and Levi, in a sense
38. Put into law
39. Made some changes
41. Reprimander's "reading"
42. Cape in Massachusetts
43. You may get it for effort
45. Mother of Midian
47. Arrogant, superior sort
48. Prickly items
50. Liam Neeson voices him in the "Narnia" films
51. "Four" before a word
55. Schreiber of "Defiance"
56. Big Apple airport code
57. Issue on a stand, informally
58. Rose-rose link
59. MetLife Stadium team, on scoreboards
YONI GLATT KOSHER
Attention young artists in Years 6 to 12. The annual B'nai B'rith Jewish Youth Art Competition is celebrating three decades of creative expression, offering a platform for participants to share their unique artistic perspective. This milestone edition continues the longstanding tradition of exploring talent – through painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and more –showcasing the rich tapestry of the community’s cultural identity.
This year will see an increased prize pool, recognising creative ambition and rewarding daring, innovative vision. Every artwork submitted will be exhibited at the Glen Eira Town Hall Gallery, where the combined efforts of young creators will form a vibrant display of talent and tradition.
B’nai B’rith Victoria CEO Ellana Aarons said that “for both seasoned artists and those just beginning to explore creative boundaries, this competition is a call to challenge
Unleash your creativity: B’nai B’rith Jewish Youth Art Competition turns 30
limits and bring fresh perspectives to life.” She has this shout out to young artists: “Soak off your brushes, sharpen your pencils, clean your camera lenses and update those digital canvases.
Now is the moment to transform your ideas into works of art.”
Registrations close on 10th June, with artwork due on 20th June.
The exhibition will open on Friday 27 June, with the closing ceremony and prize giving taking place in the Glen Eira Town Hall Gallery on Sunday, 20th July.
For further details about entry requirements or to discover volunteer opportunities that help support this long-standing tradition, please visit www.bnaibrith.org.au/victoria, email artcomp@bbvic.org.au or call 03 9523 0888.
B’NAI B’RITH
Elian Harel, winner of the Morrie Gold Memorial Prize for Overall Winner of the B’nai B’rith Jewish Youth Art Competition 2024
Leah Spivak, winner of the Jewish Theme Prize for Overall Best of Jewish Themed Art 2024
Milena Hain
CONSIDERED OPINION
DR YVETTE ALT MILLER COURTESY: AISH.COM
The new film explores the proliferation of antisemitism and support for Hamas after the October 7 massacre.
On October 7, 2023, veteran film producer Wendy Sachs was visiting her daughter Lexi at the University of Wisconsin-Madison when news began pouring in about Hamas’ massive attack on Israel. Together, they sat glued to their phones, watching images of thousands of Hamas soldiers rampaging through dozens of towns and villages in southern Israel.
They heard shocking reports that Hamas terrorists were going door to door in villages and shooting entire families and burning houses down with their residents still inside.
Over 1,200 people had been murdered and 250 kidnapped and taken into Gaza.
“We saw the images coming out of Israel, children, babies, grandparents, young people being kidnapped, being livestreamed and murdered,” Wendy recalled.
“And then it was October 8 when I saw the protests in Times Square, the protests against Israel, supporting Hamas as freedom fighters, rather than as terrorists.” She could scarcely believe what she was seeing as college campuses erupted into hate, celebrating Hamas’ attack and blaming Israel for the massacre and kidnapping of its own citizens.
“I saw what was happening the next day on October 9 and at Harvard, where more than 30 student groups signed onto a letter blaming Israel for the attack on itself. And then we saw the same thing happen from campus after campus, from Columbia to NYU, to Tulane, to MIT, Cornell, Penn. It just felt like the world had lost its mind. The silence, the dismissal, the denial.” Wendy realised she was seeing something different from anything she’d previously witnessed in the US. This sort of raw hatred of Israel felt new – and terrifying. Wendy knew she had to do something. She decided to use her filmmaking skills to fight back and began working on a documentary about the tsunami of Jew hatred that followed the October 7, 2023 attack.
October 8 is the masterful result, showing how students, human rights agencies, politicians and celebrities have all embraced Hamas talking points over the past year and a half. It is a must-see for anyone who cares about the global spike in antisemitism and in the future of Jewish life in the United States and elsewhere around the world.
Documenting Hamas’ attacks
The film opens with footage from the October 7, 2023 attack, including scenes that were filmed by Hamas terrorists. We meet Irit Lahav, a resident of Nir Oz, who shows us around her ruined town. (Over a hundred Nir Oz residents were murdered and kidnapped by Hamas.) Irit no longer lives in the village, she explains, and is still terrified of terrorists every time she goes back.
She describes the terror of October 7, as she hid in her home’s safe room, in the dark with her daughter for over 12 hours, making no noise, while she heard her neighbours being massacred outside. Safe rooms were meant to protect residents from bombs and missiles, so most did not have locks. Irit survived by rigging a door lock out of her vacuum cleaner and barricading herself inside.
This footage reminds us just how deadly October 7 was. Hamas videos show terrorists confidently walking and driving through the streets of Israeli towns, shooting down everyone they come across. After showing these atrocities, the film abruptly shifts to scenes of wild celebration in the West.
Campus protests
In Times Square, over a thousand people attended a rally organised by the Democratic Socialists of America New York chapter on October 8, 2023; participants defended Hamas’ ongoing massacre with slogans including “resistance is justified”, “by any means necessary” and “resistance is not a metaphor.”
“It was October 8; there were still Hamas terrorists in communities in southern Israel”, author and podcast host Dan Senor explains in the film. “There was still fighting going on. Israel was still counting the numbers of the
October 8: a must-see documentary
dead and the mutilated and the raped and the kidnapped. And there’s a protest against Israel in Times Square. Rather than the outrage being directed against those slaughtering the Jews, the outrage was being directed against the Jews for objecting to being slaughtered.”
The film shows how this glorification of Hamas spread to college campuses and includes footage of students defending Hamas’ massacre at myriad schools, including Harvard, Tufts, MIT, University of California Los Angeles, University of California Santa Barbara, Cornell, Columbia, Cooper Union, City College of New York and many others.
We watch footage of students announcing that parts of campuses are “Zionist-free zones”, yelling in Arabic “from the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Muslim” and calling for attacks on their American Jewish Zionist students peers. The film details the tent cities that sprang up on campuses across the world, dedicated to being “anti-Zionist” spaces and fomenting yet more anti-Israel activity.
Hamas links
“We are seeing protests glorifying the actions of the ‘resistance’, which is sort of a code word for Hamas”, Lorenzo Vidino, Director of the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University, explains in the film. “It became apparent … from the get-go that there was a core of individuals nationwide that were pushing a pro-Hamas narrative.”
He explains that many campus groups are using Hamas words and imagery in their protests, either unwittingly or not. Calls to “flood” campus with anti-Israel protests, for instance, echo the language Hamas used for its October 7 attack, which it named the “Al Aqsa (Arabic for Jerusalem) Flood.” The film shows footage of countless student protestors holding posters with an inverted red triangle, a symbol that Hamas uses in its propaganda videos to denote a Jewish target they are about to bomb or shoot.
This is no accident, Dr Vidino explains. He points to Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) as the source of much of the language and organisation behind seemingly spontaneous campus demonstrations. He and other experts note that SJP operates in the shadows, never disclosing its funding sources and obscuring its links with student groups. Despite widespread perception that it operates as a 501(c)3
videos are outnumbered by anti-Israel videos on Tik Tok by a whopping 1 to 54.
Rep. Richie Torres, the young Democrat from New York’s 15th Congressional District and a staunchly pro-Israel voice in the US Congress, wonders aloud if most Americans would mind if many of our major outlets, from The New York Times to the Associated Press, were controlled by China. Well, for young people, TikTok is as important as those other august news organisations, Rep. Torres points out – and it's controlled by China, a country that is openly hostile to the USA and often publicly aligned with Israel’s enemies, such as Iran.
Feeling “completely betrayed”
Actress Debra Messing co-produced October 8 and appears in the film describing a petition she tried to launch after October 7, 2023, condemning Hamas’ vicious assault. Despite the fact that Hollywood stars are no strangers to political statements and often speak out on issues such as Ukraine, Nepal, Black Lives Matter, Me Too, and other topics, nobody wanted to go on the record of condemning Hamas and standing with Israel. “I felt completely betrayed by Hollywood”, Messing says in the film. “I thought the entire globe would be in mourning. And not only was it silent, there was jubilation.” Actor and comedian Michael Rappaport appears in the film too, reminiscing about appearing at the massive pro-Israel rally held on the National Mall in Washington DC on November 14, 2023. He notes that he and Debra Messing were the only two Hollywood stars there and says that it’s shocking no other actors or famous entertainers were willing to appear.
Human rights organisations
charity, it is not incorporated as a nonprofit and does not post its finances. No one can prove that SJP has any links at all with Hamas or any other group designated as a terrorist organization – yet the chants, iconography and toolkit for organising against Israel do happen to echo Hamas talking points.
In one of October 8’s most fascinating sections, Dr Vidino shares a secret FBI recording of a 1993 meeting that 25 Hamas leaders held in Philadelphia. The Hamas officials outlined a plan of “infiltrating American media outlets, universities and research centres. The main goal they discussed was how to present what Hamas was doing and make it palatable to Americans.” Over 30 years ago these Hamas officials realised that they could best sway Americans by couching their struggle to eliminate Israel and kill Jews in the language of human rights. Today, by framing Hamas’ desire to kill Israelis and destroy the Jewish state as “liberation”, Hamas’ goal has come to fruition.
Media bias
October 8 also examines the fact that news outlets have been eager to cast Israel as the aggressor in its war with Hamas. Take the massive explosion in the courtyard of the alAhli Arab Hospital in Gaza City on October 17, 2023, in which it was reported that 500 people were killed. Newspapers and media outlets around the world immediately reported that Israel had targeted the hospital deliberately. Yet as the hours passed, it became obvious that initial media reports were completely wrong.
The death toll was, luckily, much lower than 500 and more notably, it turned out that Israel had not bombed the hospital at all. A rocket launched by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a terrorist group affiliated with Hamas, had tried to send a bomb into Israel – targeted at civilians – but accidentally hit the Gaza hospital instead. October 8 documents how journalists and human rights activists seized on this hospital bombing as “proof” of Israeli malfeasance, revealing their underlying hostility to the Jewish state.
One of the more chilling segments in the film is about how most young people get their news from TikTok, which is extremely antagonistic to Israel. The app’s algorithms steer users to anti-Israel content; pro-Israel
Danielle Haas, the only Jewish Israeli employee of the group Human Rights Watch (HRW), describes how the human rights community has become willing to side with Hamas and reflexively view Israel as the enemy. After watching HRW fail to extend empathy to Israeli victims after Hamas’ attack, she resigned a week later, wiring a scathing resignation letter: “Following the Hamas massacres in Israel on October 7, years of institutional creep culminated in organisational responses that shattered professionalism, abandoned principles of accuracy and fairness and surrendered its duty to stand for the human rights of all. HRW’s initial reactions to the Hamas attacks failed to condemn outright the murder, torture, and kidnapping of Israeli men, women, and children …”
Personal toll
Perhaps the saddest aspect of October 8 is the way it gives voice to Jewish students whose faith in the goodness and impartiality of their friends and community has been shattered. Take the case of Tessa Veksler, who was Student Body President at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in October 2023. A proud Zionist, Tessa was vilified by anti-Israel protestors who covered the campus with graffiti and flyers denouncing her by name. She eventually faced – and barely survived –a recall vote. She speaks movingly of the way her faith in her fellow students was broken. Her parents fled the Soviet Union because of antisemitism, Tessa explains; she can’t imagine how painful it must be for them to watch their daughter subjected to antisemitism as well. That’s a sentiment echoed by Cornell student Talia Dror, whose parents fled antisemitism in Iran, only to watch their daughter be yelled at and threatened by anonymous posts on Cornell social media, threatening to kill Jews after October 7. She describes Cornell’s Jewish students hiding in their rooms after the threats.
Another perspective is offered by Barnard student Noa Fay. A proud Black Jew, Noa describes her pain at being asked to justify her feelings of being threatened by antisemitic rhetoric on campus. No one would question her identity or feelings as a Black woman, she notes, yet when it comes to her Jewish identity, anti-Israel activists seem comfortable demanding that she not be so sensitive to their hateful anti-Jewish chants.
October 8 is also warning the world where support for Hamas will lead. It’s an urgent film that is required viewing for anyone who cares about Israel, the United States, and the essential battle of good against evil.
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Remembering Amit Mann
In the middle of last month, the dental clinic in Kibbutz Be'eri was demolished.
That was where Amit Mann, of blessed memory, a dedicated Magen David Adom paramedic and course instructor, fought for the lives of her wounded patients until she could no more.
She was brutally murdered on October 7, 2023.
Magen David Adom Director General Eli Bin shared his thoughts as the clinic was turned to rubble.
“Today, I write on a personal note as someone who carries the pain of loss in his heart and holds infinite gratitude for the heroes who risked everything to save lives.
The farewell to the dental clinic in Kibbutz Be’eri is not merely the closing of a physical chapter. It is a painful and chilling reminder of the tragedy of October 7th and the bravery of those who acted on that day.
“If the walls could speak, they would tell us of the heroism of MDA paramedic Amit Mann … just 22 years old, who treated the injured until her last breath. They would recount the dedication of Dr Daniel Ludmir Levy, of blessed memory. Both were brutally murdered by merciless terrorists while caring for
the injured. “If these walls could speak, they would tell of the moments when they risked their own lives to save others, of the unimaginable strength of spirit that filled that place during its darkest hours.
letter written there carries a promise –that we will never forget.
“Above all, today we remember their faces, their light, the dreams that will never be fulfilled, all that they could have given to the world. But we also remember their legacy – to do everything in our power to save lives.
“And we, at Magen David Adom, will continue to uphold this legacy, remaining at the forefront of life-saving efforts, wherever and whenever we are needed.
“May their memory be a blessing.”
It is certainly not only MDA Director General Eli Bin that had Amit Mann front of mind.
So, too, her young niece during Purim dress-up.
While some in Israel – like young Jews throughout the world – chose superhero costumes, eight-year-old Halleli Cohen from Netivot didn't need a cape, makeup or any special equipment.
She donned a Magen David Adom uniform with orange paramedic stripes on the sleeves and a large heart pendant bearing the name Amit Mann.
“Since that day, thousands of visitors have come to the clinic, covering its walls with words of love, pain, remembrance and gratitude. Every
“We also remember the wounded who were subsequently murdered in defiance of every moral principle and the members of the emergency security response team who bravely defended the clinic.
To support the vital, life-saving work of Magen David Adom, go to www.magendavidadom.com.au/ donate-now/
MAGEN DAVID ADOM
The dental clinic in Kibbutz Be'eri before its demolition
SARAH PACHTER COURTESY: AISH.COM CONSIDERED OPINION
Lieutenant Colonel Itai Naamat, a brave and humble leader, says his wife Shimrit is the real hero.
As reserve commander of the Operational Support Battalion of the 460th Armor School Brigade, Itai Naamat is responsible for transporting crucial supplies to the combat forces fighting inside Gaza.
“It’s our responsibility to supply them with much needed weapons, gas, water and food”, Itai said in an interview with Aish. “Not only is this necessary for their survival, but it also boosts their morale.”
Itai retired from active duty more than 20 years ago and serves as a reservist. After October 7, he felt he had to fight again.
“On October 7, no one understood what was happening. I had to bring 350 soldiers to the base in the South. All my soldiers were looking to me for answers and I didn’t have any.”
On Friday, October 27, 2023, Itai led his 350 soldiers into battle. They sang Hatikvah, made Kiddush and entered Gaza.
Even though at his age Itai is not required to serve, he feels a responsibility to his country. “This is my country. If I won’t do it, no one will do it. Consider this: If I had told my great-grandfather from Afghanistan 80 years ago that I would be an officer in the Israeli Army, he would have said, ‘You are out of your mind!’ It is incredible that today the Jewish people have an army and can protect themselves. I am one in the chain of the Jewish people. If I don’t do it, then in 20 or 30 years the Jews will be forced to go back to where they came from – Afghanistan, Morocco, Lebanon … They won’t take us and we won't have a place to live. The Jewish people do not have any country. We have no choice but to fight.”
Fear in battle
While Itai puts on a brave face, it hasn’t always been easy. “My scariest moment was when I lost three soldiers during a Hamas ambush. They put explosives near the road on which we were travelling and they were shooting at us. I lost one officer and two soldiers, Uri Moshe Bornstein, Netanel Hershowitz and Zvi Matitiyahu Maranz. It was devastating.”
The real heroes of the IDF: the wives of Israeli soldiers
After that tragedy, Itai needed to go back to the same area to bring supplies to the troops that were inside.
“You know you need to be the first Hummer on the road. You have about 20 soldiers behind you and a lot of trucks with food and fuel and supplies. As I was in the car approaching, I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when I thought about what happened just earlier that day in the same spot. This was my most frightening moment.”
Itai describes the gamut of emotions he experiences when fighting. “We have high hopes, devastation and fear. I know that if I don’t arrive, my brigade won’t complete their mission. You can literally feel the eyes of your soldiers on your back. All of us are afraid, some more and some less. We all have to get over it and perform our mission. As a Commander, I have a lot of people trusting that I will do the job in the best way possible.”
My wife is the brave one
Itai maintains that the real hero of his story is his wife, Shimrit. “I’m a reservist, it’s my job. But my wife is the brave one. She works crazy hours as an attorney in a large Israeli law firm. She also takes care of our young kids. In the recent 18 months she does it all alone. She is the bravest woman ever.”
On Wednesday October 4, a few days before the massacre, Shimrit was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
“On October 7, the day of the horrible attack, I was called to fight”, Itai explained. “It was such a huge surprise and shock that I almost forgot about my wife’s cancer. I knew she would eventually need to have surgery, but we didn’t know when it would be.”
Itai had to handle the imminent danger in front of him first. “I have a lot of soldiers. I have to take care of them and keep them safe.”
Two weeks after the war began, when Itai went back to his jeep, the driver told him to call his wife. When Itai spoke to her, he heard that something was not right in her voice.
Shimrit told him, “I wanted to let you know that ten hours ago I had my surgery”.
Itai couldn’t believe it. He had no idea that she had undergone the operation, all by herself. He gained permission to go to the hospital and see her. “I arrived at midnight to give her a hug and comforted her.”
Shimrit insisted that Itai immediately go back to his soldiers, despite his concern for her health. “This is my wife. She is the brave one between the two of us.”
Focus on the war, not me
Shimrit explained that after Itai left on October 7, she didn’t inform him of anything regarding her illness. She wanted him to be focused on the battle and the safety of his soldiers.
Shimrit’s friend, Anat, was a top surgeon at the same hospital where she was receiving her cancer treatments. Anat arranged an appointment for Shimrit to meet with a cancer surgeon. The doctor was supposed to fly to Poland the week after October 7 but because of the war his flight was cancelled, leaving him a last-minute slot for Shimrit’s surgery. He asked her if she wanted to take it.
Shimrit hesitated because she knew her husband would probably be in Gaza at that time. She thought it over and realised, I have to do it, and I have to
do it now. Otherwise, the surgeon won’t be available later and my health could decline. “I wanted Itai to focus on the war and the soldiers. After all, he is not the one undergoing the surgery. He won’t be a big help to the Jewish people if he’s sitting next to me.”
Shimrit wasn’t afraid about going into surgery. “I didn’t have the time to be afraid. Plus, the doctor told me it was relatively mild type of cancer.” Shimrit also made the difficult choice to hold off telling her children about the cancer. She didn’t want to worry them, since they already had a father fighting in Gaza.
On October 17 Shmirit went into the hospital with her sister and had the surgery. “I was saying my usual morning prayers and hoping for the best. My sister and I were joking to keep our morale high.” The surgery was successful and she called her husband’s driver afterward to inform him. “I told him, ‘Tell Itai I’m looking for him, but it’s not that urgent.’ That same night when Itai came to visit me at the hospital, he was crying. Don’t tell anyone – commanders don’t usually cry.” Shimrit’s journey to recovery did not end with the surgery. “The real fear came when I had to do the CT scan afterwards. The surgery wasn’t scary to me – it was the aftermath.”
Shimrit and Itai recently found out that she has been completely healed. Before learning she was in remission, Shimrit didn’t have time to dwell on her health status. She and her girls were busy volunteering, preparing and packing food for soldiers, as well as packages for the families of the battalion. Shimrit organised a special day for the families of Itai’s soldiers. There was food and activities for both the mothers and their children.
Itai proudly shared, “It was a great day for my soldiers and their families. There was a moon bounce, air hockey table, video games, cotton candy and popcorn. While the kids were entertained, the women were able to enjoy a concert. All the children and mothers were given prizes and gifts. Shimrit arranged everything.”
The wives graciously told Itai, “This event gives us the assurance that you are taking care of our husbands, because if you remember the kids and us, and remember there is a family behind each soldier, we know our husbands are in good hands.”
There are many Israeli women who are carrying a huge burden at home while their husbands are fighting. Itai believes they are the real heroines of Israel and the beacons of light for the Jewish people at this challenging time. “We have to remind ourselves why we are here and how the State of Israel is a miracle.”
Shimrit and Itai are among the quiet heroes that are holding up the Israeli Army and the Jewish people today.
Itai and Shimrit Naamat
THE COMMUNITY
DR PHILIP BLISS OAM PJV AROUND
Over the last 18 months, since the outrageous events of October 7, we Jews have been shocked by the response of some people we have known and worked with.
So, how do we now respond and discuss the events in Israel and Gaza with friends and acquaintances who have hinted or overtly uttered anti-Israel comments?
When October 7 first occurred, most of us were in shock as to the extent of the attack and how helpless the victims were. I don’t think any of us could have predicted the extent of anti-Israel, antiJewish sentiment that subsequently came crashing down on our community here and around the world.
Our first responses were based on what we knew then and have been modified by what we now know. So, when anyone now asks, “how are you feeling about what’s happening in Gaza?”, I tell them exactly how I’m feeling.
I describe what happened to the victims who were massacred on that fateful day and I don’t spare details: rape, torture, murder and hostage taking. I describe the conditions most of the hostages had to endure and many still do. I mention the bravery of so many Israelis who were under attack before any help arrived, many dying in the process of trying to save others. And then I ask, ‘why do so many take the word of known terrorists as opposed to 1,200 dead Jews?” Why
Talking to our non-Jewish friends
do so many believe the propaganda of Hamas supporters on the steps of the Sydney Opera House immediately after the massacre? Why are so few listening to Jewish voices?
While it has been nice to receive support from some local politicians, community and religious leaders and friends, it didn’t take long for Palestinian and Hamas supporters to start a campaign of denial. Exhortations like the massacre never happened and the horrendous event was merely Zionist propaganda.
Some of the catch cries, such as “this was a revolt against ‘White Colonialists’ ” are just plain ridiculous. The fact that Jews can trace their heritage back 3,500 years and, for white Christians, the fact that Jesus was a Jew in Israel more than 2,000 years ago appear to have escaped historical logic. I point that out and explain that Israel in the modern era was the building block of the United Nations for many homeless Jews after the Shoah. In fact, truth be told, for hundreds of years Jews have been moving back to their homeland.
I also point out that Palestinian numbers in Israel have increased from 600,000 to nearly three million. So, so much for trying to wipe them off the face of the Earth.
I emphasise that the goal of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah is to destroy Israel and eliminate Jews around the world. October 7 illustrated just how intent they are in doing so. If they question what I am saying, I implore them to read their own literature.
“ The wound of grief is the price we pay for love ”
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Dr Philip Bliss OAM
CONSIDERED
I joined J-AIR 88FM in May 2024 because I needed my Jewish voice to be heard. Before I ever thought to start a show interviewing Jewish and Israeli activists, as I do now (The Dignity of Difference, Sundays 5pm), my first instinct was to combine my two greatest passions in life: music and Judaism. In the months between October 7th, 2023 and May 2024, I had noticed an increasingly disturbing trend of Jewish and Israeli exclusion taking place in the local Melbourne music scene. For me, it started in December 2023 when a number of Australian venues signed an open letter calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, with no mention of October 7th or the release of the hostages. After that, local bands began writing in their gig descriptions “no Zionists allowed”, followed by “Jews welcome”. What they failed, or perhaps neglected, to recognise was that to the Jews in the room, Zionist and Jew were synonymous. It wasn’t long before I started receiving messages from Jewish musician friends that had stopped going to gigs after seeing one too many multicoloured keffiyehs being sported on stage by a guitarist who was the furthest thing from middle eastern that you could get. At that point, I too stopped going to gigs.
Enter: Personality Crisis: The Jewish Rebels of Rock ‘N’ Roll (J-AIR, Wednesdays 7pm)
My intention for Personality Crisis was to explore the history of Jewish musicians in (mostly) Western music and the juxtaposition between their Jewish upbringing and the music they went on to create. And of course, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to find out which members of my favourite bands were Jewish. We’ve all been to jewornotjew.com a few too many times. What I’d noticed with some of my Jewish heroes like Lou Reed, Bob Dylan or Randy Newman was that they always seemed to have a foot in both the Jewish and the non-Jewish worlds, yet never quite fitted in to either of them. That’s how Newman could go from writing a satirical song about short people to an introspective song questioning the existence of God. It was this mess of influences, this personality crisis if you will, that I most identified with having myself grown up with a foot in each door. I’ve discovered over the past months that this personality crisis is often a result of growing up in an incredibly traumatising environment, which follows you even as you venture outside the Jewish world. Many Jewish musicians in the west in the 1960s and ‘70s were the children of Holocaust survivors or the descendants of immigrants who fled persecution.
Personality Crisis: Part I
This was true for people like Tommy Ramone, who founded the punk band The Ramones. As a child, he fled Hungary with his parents after the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. And for Mick Jones of The Clash, whose mother and maternal grandparents fled pogroms in Russia and ended up in the United Kingdom. Having grown up with stories of persecution and survival, many ran from their family traumas and the antisemitism they experienced growing up, towards the supposedly liberal world of rock and roll, where they thought they would finally belong, only to find that, even
there, they were outsiders, forever the “Jews” of the industry.
This dichotomy of both belonging and not belonging is an experience that Jewish artists in the diaspora have understood for centuries. Jewish identity is so deeply rooted that even if you try to escape it, you never truly do. Bob Dylan’s journey with religion is a testament to this.
Dylan grew up in a tight-knit Jewish community, attending Hebrew school and Jewish summer camps. In the late 1970s, to everyone’s surprise, he publicly “embraced” Christianity and released several Gospel albums, yet not long after, by the early 1980s, he was celebrating his son’s Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel in Jerusalem.
While Personality Crisis was a great excuse for me to spend an hour a week sharing my favourite music with the J-AIR community, it was not simply an exercise in nostalgia, but a way of creating a safe space for both identities to exist, at least in Australia. When it became clear that anyone who was proudly Jewish or a Zionist was being excluded from local music spaces, I made it my mission to seek out the local Jewish musicians and bring them together. In the coming months in this series, I will be sharing with you the experiences of Jewish Australian musicians because it’s
essential that their stories be told and that the Jewish community understands our experiences during these difficult times. While you may well be aware of Debra Conway’s reality, understanding the experiences of local Jewish musicians that are only starting their careers or trying to build them, are just as important, for they illustrate what is happening today.
My fear is that Jewish musicians will succumb to the peer pressure of the local scene and feel the need to suppress their Jewish identities. What I hope to instil with this series is the idea that you don’t have to compromise one world for the other in order to create your art. If I’ve learnt anything from the Jewish rebels of rock and roll, it’s that often the space between those two worlds is where you find a place for your art to exist. And yes, it may feel uncomfortable or isolating at times, but as Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera once said, ‘they call us lonely, when we’re really just alone’. And the artist knows the difference.
If you’re a Jew in a local Australian music scene and would like to share your experiences since October 7th in a future segment of Personality Crisis, please reach out on Instagram @ personalitycrisis.rad
DAHLIA D’ONGHIA
Dahlia D’Onghia hosts The Dignity of Difference and Personality Crisis on J-AIR 88FM
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
JDC (THE JOINT) AUSTRALIA
As the global Jewish community contends with ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine and increasing antisemitism, The Joint is working to ensure that Jews across the world can gather and celebrate Passover. It is orchestrating classes and craft events on holiday traditions, hosting Seders and distributing matzah and food packages to vulnerable Jews.
Larisa Domanskaya, 74, is among the tens of thousands of Jews in Ukraine whom The Joint is helping to find hope this Passover. Living alone on a monthly pension of $153, The Joint provides her with essential food, medicine for multiple illnesses and community engagement through its Hesed Besht social service centre. For Pesach, Domanskaya will receive a box of matzah – which she loves with jam and a glass of milk – and will participate in holiday activities.
“Instead of being alone, I look forward to celebrating Passover at Hesed with the community. It makes me feel better and helps me look forward,” she says.
Throughout Ukraine, The Joint will distribute more than 39,000 boxes of matzah to the most vulnerable – the elderly, children, internally displaced and other community members. In addition, more than 10,000 people of
Celebrating Passover
all generations will participate in inperson and online Passover programs that include more than 100 Seders at The Joint’s Jewish community centres and Hesed social service centres, which continue to be a source of humanitarian aid and Jewish life during the ongoing, devastating conflict.
In Israel, The Joint is helping hundreds of thousands of the hardest-hit to recover
Blue Box campaign
families and seniors, was devastated on October 7, 2023. Music has the power to heal and with your help JNF will restore this vital centre, providing comfort and joy to the community.
and rebuild in the wake of October 7, 2023 and the continuing war.
At the House on Mishor, a community centre in Ofakim, in southern Israel, established by The Joint, that offers programming to help the neighbourhood heal, holiday activities will be provided for children.
In Kazakhstan’s local chapters of The Joint’s Active Jewish Teens, a program in
partnership with BBYO, young Jews are engaged in intergenerational activities that will enable their communities to celebrate Passover.
Matzah is being delivered to the homebound elderly, while The Joint helps seniors sell their hametz and will host a Seder.
In India, dozens of Jewish families will receive support, so they can celebrate the eight days of Passover at home.
Mumbai’s JDC holiday programming includes online classes about the Festival of Light’s history and traditions and, for women, a special Rosh Chodesh Nissan session with a Pesach focus.
Cuba’s Jewish community can participate in a Seder, while holiday food packages will be provided to more than 300 vulnerable Jewish families in Venezuela.
The Joint’s Passover activities – including distribution of matzah by its Hesed social service centres and Jewish volunteer corps in Ukraine – are supported by the organisation’s partnerships with the Claims Conference, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, the Jewish Federations of North America and the UJA-Federation of New York.
To donate to JDC (The Joint) Australia, go to https://thejoint.org.au
The story of Exodus is a journey of struggle, perseverance and renewal. This year, JNF Australia’s Blue Box Pesach campaign embraces these themes, supporting communities in Israel’s North and South as they rebuild their lives.
For more than a century, JNF Australia has strengthened Israel by tending to the land, planting forests, building infrastructure and empowering vulnerable communities. After 18 months of ongoing conflict, Israeli border communities are slowly starting their recovery journey. To assist these brave communities, JNF’s Blue Box Pesach Campaign supports two critical projects:
Restoration of the communal music centre in Kibbutz Yad Mordechai
On the border with Gaza, Kibbutz Yad Mordechai has long symbolised resilience. Its music centre, a cherished space for children,
Creating therapy spaces in Kiryat Shmona
In Kiryat Shmona, on the border with Lebanon, ongoing security threats have left children and families displaced for more than a year.
Now, as they prepare to return home, JNF is providing essential mental health support by establishing dedicated therapy spaces in each of the five neighbourhoods.
By joining this campaign, you confirm your commitment to Israel’s resilience and growth. Let’s make this Pesach a time of renewal and help heal hearts and restore hope.
To support the JNF Australia Blue Box campaign, visit https://jnf.org.au or call 1300 563 563.
Larisa Domanskaya in Lutsk, Ukraine with a Joint volunteer
Children at Kibbutz Yad Mordechai
NOMI KALTMANN COURTESY: HA’ARETZ
When Velvel Lederman steps off the plane in Tel Aviv this June, it will mark the realisation of his lifelong dream of making Aliyah.
The retired schoolteacher and Orthodox father of eight – three of whom live in Israel – will be leaving behind the comforts of life in Sydney to spend his retirement in a new country, still shaken by the worst disaster in its history. A son of Holocaust survivors, Lederman, 71, says he always planned on doing so. But it was the recent and unprecedented rise in antisemitism in Australia that convinced him this was the time.
Like many young Australians, Elishevah – who asked that her last name not be published – has been shocked at the recent calls for violence against Jewish people on Australian campuses and the slow response from law enforcement officials.
“The fact that people in Australia can say ‘resistance by any means necessary’ and mean it – there needs to be action taken against that,” she says. “To watch a whole generation turn into Hamas, Hezbollah and jihad supporters, all because they don’t like Jewish people –that has to stop for me to stay.”
She first opened a request to emigrate back in 2022, but says that since the October 7 Hamas attack, her desire to leave Australia has taken on greater urgency. Referring to her Gen Z peers, Elisheva says: “For Australia to be safe, they need to change their behaviour, as they are the generation who will lead us. If this is how they think, it will only get worse from here.”
Over the past year and a half, Australian Jews have been shocked by the unprecedented and troubling rise in antisemitism. This has included arson attacks against synagogues, the doxing of hundreds of Jewish creatives, attacks on Jewish businesses and schools, and an arson attempt on the former home
The desire to make Aliyah now
of the co-chair of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (the country’s top Jewish body).
This tight-knit community of some 120,000 Jews had never before experienced significant antisemitism in this country. But since the Hamas attack and ensuing war in Gaza, incidents of Jew-hatred have skyrocketed, even spreading to isolated communities in Queensland and Adelaide.
Hearts set on Aliyah
Retired schoolteacher Lederman holds little optimism for the future of Jewish life in Australia. “I believe antisemitism here is being fuelled by overseas influences, with people being paid to spread fear and intimidation,” he says.
Although he is fully aware that Israel, with the ongoing war, is still potentially far less safe a place for Jews today, he says: “I do not think you will see ‘F**k the Jews’ graffitied on houses while walking down a street in Tel Aviv.”
Jews have always felt welcome and appreciated in Australia, being home to one of the largest concentrations of Holocaust survivors in the world. However, over the past year and a half the ground has shifted.
Indeed, a quick scroll through Jewish Australian Facebook groups reveals a noticeable rise in posts about leaving Australia since October 7. And these people are not just toying with the idea.
According to Jewish Agency figures, 193 Australians emigrated to Israel in 2024 – up 45 percent on the previous year. However, Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto cautions against seeing this trend as a direct result of antisemitism.
“We do not want to fuel a false narrative that Australian Jews are making Aliyah to flee antisemitism, as this is not the motivation for the vast majority,” he says.
“Anecdotally, the vast majority would object strongly to their Aliyah being characterised as being driven by antisemitism.”
It is quite likely, in fact, that most of these Australian Jews who are making Aliyah had their hearts set on doing just that before the explosion of antisemitism that followed the October 7 attacks.
Still, Paul Baram, a 65-year-old lawyer from Sydney, was born in Australia to grandparents who fled the Russian pogroms more than a century ago. While he says he is not yet ready to move to Israel, rising antisemitism in Australia has prompted him to reconsider his family’s future in the country.
“My wife and I discussed for the first time in our lives the possibility of having to leave Australia because of the extent of antisemitism, which in my view is now entrenched,” he says. Among other options, he is considering a move to Britain – where his daughter lives –although he notes that “the antisemitism is just as bad there.”
Liana Levin finds herself in a similar position. “I have been worried and I am abundantly aware of history repeating itself,” says the 62-year-old, Canberrabased public policy adviser, who was born in Israel to parents who fled Europe. She says she is watching the situation closely, noting that at her age, relocation can be challenging.
“It’s not something I want to do,” says Levin. “I have a very comfortable life in Canberra: a beautiful home, career opportunities and the advantage of language. My Hebrew is at a child’s level – the age I left.”
Still, if she were to pick up and leave, Levin says she knows where she would go. “Although I’m not in any way, shape or form religious, I have a profound and very real connection to Israel – as a Zionist and as someone who deeply, profoundly believes in Israel as the saviour of the Jewish world.”
‘Plan B for a lot of people’ Eva Hussain is the founder of Polaron, a company that helps citizens with roots in Europe – like many Australian Jews –obtain citizenship there. “The interest in having a second passport has stayed
steadily high as it gives people freedom to access 27 EU member states with no restrictions,” says Hussain, who is Jewish and serves as Austria’s honorary consul general in Victoria.
Demand for European passports among her clients, many of them Jewish, has increased more than 50 percent in the past six months, she says. “Many of them left Europe, or their ancestors left Europe, because of antisemitism, so it’s really quite tragic that they are seeking citizenship outside of America and Australia,” she says.
Hussain says her relatives, some of whom are Holocaust survivors, never imagined that a time would come when Australian Jews would be considering returning to the countries where they suffered terrible persecution. “It’s a plan B for a lot of people, but it’s also a safety net,” she says.
“You never know what’s going to happen in this world, so better to have it.”
She also adds that “Poland and Germany are making a big effort to make Jews feel safer.” Patrick works as a community service manager and lives in Melbourne. (He also asked that his full name not be published.)
He moved to Australia from Poland in the 1980s, after the fall of communism in that country.
Through Polaron, this 37-yearold Jewish man reclaimed his Polish citizenship about 18 months ago.
“With the way that things are unfolding in Australia, I found it critical not just to safeguard a future for myself but, more importantly, for my children who are very young,” he says. “I’m not packing up and leaving tomorrow, but it certainly gives me a greater level of comfort.”
Since the initial Hamas attack, Patrick says he has felt strengthened by his decision to keep his options open. “When I think back on it now, when I think about the environment and what has transpired since October 7, I feel even more comfortable that I have done my bit.”
In every generation they try to destroy us, so what makes this generation different?
If there is one theme that has characterised the Pesach tradition since Temple times, it’s questions. “Mah Nishtanah?”, the youngest member of the family sings, “why is this night different from all other nights?”, “Why do we lean?”, “Why do we drink four cups of wine?” Inevitably, “when can we eat?” is asked by at least one member of every household. Yet, even though the same traditions and customs that have been followed for thousands of years will again be followed by Jews around the world, this Pesach feels different.
This year, Israel is in a state of emergency. Thousands of people have been displaced, injured and killed. Jewish people feel threatened, frightened and insecure about our future. This year, the words in the Haggadah seem even more poignant – “not only one arose and tried to destroy us, rather in every generation they try to destroy us”. We know that
What makes this year different?
are unfortunately all too familiar. While the enemy may have different names, their aim is always the same.
There is, however, something else that is different – we are. More than ever, we have a strong and united diaspora to which the People of Israel can turn. Today, we are a united
clearer. These require long-term, national solutions to rebuild lives and strengthen communities. Our role in the diaspora is also becoming clearer – to respond to this crisis and continue creating a stronger, more resilient Israel for the future. Every initiative that UIA supports operates at a national scale,
and Aliyah. The UIA-supported Youth Futures project is the official national program to support youth at risk across all Israel. Shavim, a newly created UIA-supported project, provides critical mental health support and PTSD prevention to the 40,000 Israelis transitioning back into civilian life. Aliyah also remains a national priority, with more than 300,000 new immigrants (Olim) expected to arrive in Israel over the next three to five years. At the same time, the Victims of Terror Fund, which has doubled its support in just 18 months, remains committed to standing with families for the long haul.
This Pesach, in lieu of gifts, we ask you to consider sending a UIA e-card to your family and friends. Funds from these e-cards ensure that UIA can continue assisting with these initiatives, ensuring lasting impact across the country. The responsibility is vast but knowing that we have each other to turn to will get us through. Am Yisrael
UIA
11-year-old Haim Barbibai, from Ofakim, a participant in the UIA-supported Youth Futures program, and his mentor
YOASH DVIR CEO TECHNION AUSTRALIA AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Artificial Intelligence is no longer the stuff of science fiction. It has quietly embedded itself into our everyday lives. For instance, think about the navigation apps we rely upon to avoid traffic or the smart assistants in our phones that respond to our voices. Yet, despite its growing presence, many people remain uncertain about what AI truly is and what it means for the future.
At its core, AI is simply a tool that helps us process vast amounts of information and make better decisions. It does not think or feel like a human, nor does it have independent desires. Instead, it learns from data and follows patterns to generate results. AI comes in different forms, including rule-based systems that operate on strict logic, machine learning models that adapt based on experience and generative AI, which can create entirely new content, such as text, music and images.
Generative AI, in particular, has captured the world's imagination. Tools like ChatGPT can write essays, AIpowered software can generate original artwork and advanced models can compose music indistinguishable from that created by humans. But how does it work? These AI systems are trained on massive datasets, learning the structures and relationships within the data, so they can produce realistic and creative
The rise of AI: a tool for progress, not a threat
outputs. While they don’t possess human intuition, they can mimic patterns and generate innovative content in ways that were once thought impossible.
Nowhere is the promise of AI more apparent than in the field of medicine.
At Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, researchers are pioneering AI-driven innovations that are reshaping healthcare. One groundbreaking development is the AI-powered "NaNose", a device created by Professor Hossam Haick, that can detect diseases through breath analysis. Another initiative, the Technion-Rambam Medical AI collaboration, is harnessing AI to assist
doctors in real-time decision-making, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and personalised treatments. AI is also revolutionising medical imaging, with the Technion’s AIMLab developing patternrecognition algorithms that enhance the accuracy of scans, reducing the risk of human error.
The impact of AI in healthcare extends beyond research labs. AI-driven diagnostics are already improving patient outcomes worldwide. In drug discovery, AI helps scientists identify potential treatments faster, cutting down years of traditional research. In hospitals, AI assists in streamlining administrative
tasks, ensuring that doctors and nurses spend more time focusing on patients. Despite these advancements, misconceptions about AI persist. Some fear that AI will replace human jobs, while others worry about machines becoming too powerful. However, AI is not an autonomous entity seeking control – it is a tool designed to augment human capabilities. AI will never replace the expertise of doctors, but it will provide them with better insights. It won’t replace artists, but it will offer new ways to create. The future of AI lies in collaboration between humans and machines, where technology enhances rather than replaces human ingenuity.
Technion’s role in AI research extends beyond medicine. It has been ranked as the top institution in Europe for AI research and is globally recognised for its contributions to the field. As AI continues to evolve, institutions like the Technion will remain at the forefront, ensuring that innovation serves humanity rather than replacing it.
Ultimately, AI should not be feared – it should be understood. With responsible development and ethical application, AI has the potential to improve our lives in ways we are only beginning to imagine.
To learn more about Technion and its use of AI, please visit Austechnion.com.
DAVID SOLOMON, CEO AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
In a remarkable achievement for space research and education, Tel Aviv University (TAU) has played a central role in launching Israel’s largest-ever satellite constellation – designed and built by high school students. The Tevel 2 project, a collaboration between Tel Aviv University, the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, and nine municipalities across Israel, has successfully sent nine nanosatellites into space.
Each satellite, measures just 10 x 10 x11.3 cms. They were developed by students under the guidance of TAU’s Faculty of Engineering and launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California last month. The satellites reached an altitude of 500 kilometres in low Earth orbit.
Pioneering education through space
Tevel 2 is more than a space mission
– it is an educational breakthrough that provides hands-on scientific and engineering experience to high school students. Tel Aviv University established research and development centres in nine municipalities, bringing together students from Jewish, Arab and Druze communities.
"This project is a testament to the power of education and innovation,"
Tel Aviv University leads record breaking student satellite launch
said Professor Meir Ariel, Head of the Space Engineering Centre at TAU. "By guiding these students through the process of building satellites, we are not just teaching them about space; we are shaping the future of Israeli science and technology."
The initiative was funded by the Israel Space Agency and aims to promote equal opportunities in STEM education, inspiring students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in science and engineering.
Advancing space science
While Tevel 2 is a powerful learning tool, it also carries an important scientific mission. The satellites will measure cosmic radiation, which consists of high-energy particles from the Sun and deep space events like supernovae. Understanding this radiation is critical for protecting astronauts and spacecraft.
"The constellation will provide a detailed radiation map of Earth’s orbit," said Professor Ariel. "The students will analyse this data alongside our
researchers, allowing them to contribute to real-world space science."
A tribute in space
Beyond science, the project carries deep emotional significance. One of the satellites, launched by students from Sha’ar HaNegev, will transmit the names of Israeli civilians and soldiers lost from October 7, 2023 to December 2024. This unique commemoration will be visible via the Israel Space Agency’s website.
Shaping Israel’s future in space
The Tevel 2 satellites will remain in orbit for approximately three years, gathering vital scientific data and inspiring future space scientists. Brigadier General (Res.)
Uri Oron, Director General of the Israel Space Agency, emphasised the impact of the project. "This mission proves that when young minds are empowered with knowledge, they can achieve extraordinary things. Tel Aviv University and its partners are shaping the next generation of Israeli space pioneers." With this historic launch, Tel Aviv University continues to lead the way in education, innovation and space research, proving that the future truly belongs to those who dare to reach for the stars.
The gift of a lifetime.
No matter your stage in life, now is the perfect time to plan for your values to be represented long after you are gone. What do you want your legacy to be?
The things we care about don’t stop when we do.
Supporting Israel’s greatest natural resource - its people - and contributing to the education of future generations, is one of the most inspiring gifts you can give. It’s a promise today for Israel’s tomorrow.
ensure your legacy lives on with Israel, forever.
Making a gift in your will to Tel Aviv University will ensure your legacy lives on with Israel, forever.
Tevel2 students testing environmental conditions at the satellite laboratory at Tel Aviv University (photo courtesy Ronen Horesh)
CONSIDERED OPINION
RAMONA FREEDMAN
ALIYAH
ADVENTURES
In Israel now you are never far away from the reality of war on several fronts. Yet, if I step away from the macro madness and zoom in a little, there is something I see when I am out and about that just makes me so happy: the Australian eucalyptus tree.
No, it is not a mirage; no it is not a daydream – those trees do exist here. I smile and tell whoever is within earshot that the towering tree we are walking or driving by is from Down Under. I am always so proud to share. After all, as a born and bred Aussie, I feel that each is my friend and each makes me happy.
Varieties of eucalypts were originally brought to Israel to assist with drying out swamp regions, which were dangerous breeding grounds for mosquitoes spreading malaria. They are champions.
One day I was dropping off my daughter to Herzliya train station and, of course, I was admiring a cluster of Aussie trees to my left. To my right was a large highway and just adjacent to that was an Australian native red bottlebrush tree – birds were dipping and diving around it and yes, I was the only person surprised to see it so far from our Great Southern Land.
If I could personify that prolific plant, I would ask it what its Aliyah origin was. It somehow seems that we all have a tale to tell upon arriving in Israel, whoever and whatever we are.
Back in my university days I just loved sociology and now I love observing and sharing what I discover in Israel. During Winter and Spring, there is a brand of boots that is worn here with pride and purpose: the Australian Blundstones made in Hobart.
Each pair of boots has a couple of pull-tabs for easy manoeuvring and upon which the word ‘Tasmania’ is prominently printed. I can’t help thinking to myself that for all these Israelis with the word of our island state imprinted on their formidable footwear, would they even have a clue as to what the word means. I suspect not.
Though, to be fair, we have got to give them a break. Times are tougher than tough. When Israelis love someone or something, such as a brand, they are fiercely loyal. I quietly tested the theory the other day. All day, wherever I went, including in and out of the airport, I observed which footwear Israelis love beyond Blundstones.
When it comes to sport shoes, they adore the Swiss running brand
The real superheroes
‘On’. Legendary tennis player Roger Federer has co-designed sneakers within the range. When Israelis wear activewear, which is typically daily, this brand is prominent. Don’t forget, with Israel situated in the heart of the Middle East, its populace is passionate about so many things – from politics to purposeful footwear.
Let’s shift our focus now to the true heroes of our homeland. Shaina is a friend of mine and we see each other once a week at a women-only exercise class. Shaina is younger than me and doesn’t speak English, which, to be candid, is unusual for Ra’anana. She always looks exhausted. When we are doing stretches on our yoga mats, often Shaina is sprawled out and has simply given up on even attempting to follow the instructor. She is out for the count.
Now the class is on the gentle side and one night at the end of the session I asked her in simple Hebrew if she was okay and how many children she had. She looked at me and said one English
old baby boy. Her husband has been consistently serving in miluim too since her son was born.
I looked at her and asked, “Jessica, how do you cope?” She took a deep breath and replied that she literally gets through life in 15-minute increments. Her day is broken down into manageable portions. It is a masterclass on living and navigating the present. Another superhero.
Somehow this Eshet Chayil, this Woman of Valour, still finds the time to get to class to improve her Hebrew. In hindsight, I understand social responses I received in the first month after making Aliyah. Back then I thought it would be a good idea to put dates in the dairy approximately one month ahead to connect with families for Shabbat lunches.
One month ahead? I was clearly fresh off the proverbial boat, wasn’t I? One friend’s husband, who in the vintage Israeli way isn’t backward in coming forward, said to his wife after hearing me attempt to plan dates, “Honey, don’t worry, she’ll get it soon enough.”
Arriving in a time of war, I certainly did. In this regard I fear I am becoming more ‘Israeli’ about my calendar by the day.
And yet, things still make me smile daily. For example, in that exercise class with Shaina, when the teacher referred to the sides of our bodies. We know them colloquially as ‘love handles’. Well, that is not the phrase used in Israel.
word, her first to me: triplets. “Triplets? You have triplets?”, I exclaimed. Turns out shattered Shaina does have triplets who are four-and-a-half. She also has a three-year-old daughter. Whatever nationality you are, whatever hemisphere you live in, this is exhausting. But then she hit me with the kicker in Hebrew: “Ramona, my husband has been in miluim (a reserve soldier in the Israeli army) for over 200 days.” Shaina is a superhero … a superstar.
She is still in her late twenties. This is the untold toll the war takes on society. And yet she still gets to this one class, once a week. Do you know how many Shainas are out there across the length and breadth of Israel? So many. Too many. I wish I had the Hebrew vocabulary to express to her just how incredible I think she is, but I am still in Ulpan class learning the language. Recently, I started a new semester in a higher level and on day one sat next to a gorgeous ex-South African named Jessica. She has a 12-month-
Instead, they are labelled as unwanted ‘schnitzelim’. The class then got a stern but sweet little lecture on over-indulging on Shabbat gastronomically and the resulting kosher meaty addition, so to speak. We nodded in unison but all know we will still enjoy treats the next Friday night once again …
Thinking of those Aussie trees, I crossed the road to examine them a little more closely just to say g’day. I noticed that one was etched.
In this land of miracles, this land of making the desert bloom, who dares to deface said tree and with what? Well, I don’t know the culprit, but I do know what was carved. It was none other than a Star of David. Israelis are far from perfect; that anonymous graffiti artist is in that category for sure. But then I sighed and realised that he, she or they simply engraved our universal symbol of strength. In this time of war, a small part of me understood – next time little rebel, do not deface my beloved eucalyptus, okay?
For now, it is over and out from Ramona in Ra’anana.
RABBI GABI KALTMANN RABBINIC THOUGHT
We, the Jewish people, are known as the “People of the Book” because throughout history our texts have been our foundation. They have guided us, comforted us and served as a bridge between our past and present. Over nearly 2,000 years of exile, when we had no land or central authority, our books kept us connected – to each other, to our traditions and to our identity.
One of the most famous Jewish texts is the Haggadah, which tells the story of our ancestors’ journey from slavery to freedom. More than just a historical account, it is a living narrative, one that links every generation of Jews to those that walked out of Egypt as a free people.
The Haggadah does not shy away from the trauma of bondage, but neither does it leave us stuck in the past. It is a blueprint for redemption, urging us to retell our story, to process our pain and to find strength in our collective resilience.
This concept is strikingly similar to a modern psychological approach called Narrative Therapy, which helps individuals reshape the way they see their struggles. Instead of being defined by their hardships, people learn to reframe their challenges, emphasising their inner strengths and ability to change their circumstances.
Pesach is liberating
As Jews, we have been practising a form of narrative therapy for millennia. We do not just remember history – we actively relive it, internalising its lessons.
The Haggadah compels us to see ourselves as if we personally left Egypt, reminding us that freedom is not just a historical event, but an ongoing process.
Slavery is not only about physical bondage. In today's world, we often find ourselves trapped in different ways – enslaved by the pressures of work, technology or social expectations. We might feel stuck in routines that prevent us from focusing on what truly matters: family, community and personal growth.
Yet, the Talmud teaches that "in every generation, a person must see themselves as having left Egypt." Egypt – Mitzrayim – literally means “narrow places”. Every generation faces its own Mitzrayim, the struggles that constrict us. But just as our ancestors found a way forward, so can we.
Pesach is not just about celebrating the past; it is about reclaiming our freedom in the present. It reminds us that redemption is possible, not only on a national scale but in our personal lives as well. The Haggadah teaches us that no matter how stuck we may feel, we are never powerless.
Wishing you and your families a meaningful and liberating Pesach.
Once slaves in Egypt, now servants of God
RABBI DR BENJI LEVY
A pivotal moment in the story of Exodus is when Pharaoh finally agrees to free the Israelites from centuries of servitude. With their request granted, the people rush into the wilderness, crossing the Red Sea and journeying toward Mt. Sinai. However, their newfound freedom comes with the acceptance of God as their Master and the commandments of the Torah. Was this not just a transition from one master to another? Yes, but the new system was incomparable with the old.
In Egypt, the Israelites were encouraged by Moses to hope for a better future, but the Torah tells us, "they did not heed Moses, because of shortness of breath and hard work" (Exodus 6:9). Their relentless toil left them unable to envision hope. Pharaoh hardly made things easy. "Pharaoh ordered the taskmasters: ‘You shall no longer give straw to the people to manufacture bricks. Let them gather straw for themselves. But the quota of bricks shall not be reduced …’"
Pharaoh’s goal was clear: to burden his slaves so completely that they could not imagine change.
Modern society also compels people to work tirelessly, often to the point of self-imposed servitude. The pursuit of a comfortable life can quickly spiral into an unrelenting climb up the corporate ladder. In Japan, known for its extreme work culture, there exists a term – karoshi –which translates to "death from overwork". This illustrates how work can consume life, leading people to live to work rather than work to live.
Recent events, particularly the war in Israel, have shattered long-held paradigms. The need for survival has forced many to
reassess what truly matters. Families have been separated, communities displaced and the fragility of peace exposed. Yet, amid hardship, there has also been unity, reminding us that true fulfillment is found in purpose and connection, rather than in material pursuits. The war has forced many to confront the reality that financial success pales in comparison to life’s deeper values, faith, family, and community.
However, not everyone has been able to shift their priorities. Many still struggle under financial pressures, career expectations and the constant demand to succeed.
The blurring of boundaries between work and personal life has, for some, created a new form of servitude, making it harder to focus on what truly matters.
The Israelites in Egypt were blinded by Pharaoh’s demands, unable to see a greater meaning in life. Today, while we may not be bound by literal chains, many remain enslaved in the pursuit of success at great personal cost. The pressures of ambition, competition and self-imposed expectations have become the modern Pharaohs.
Since we will inevitably serve something, we must choose our master wisely. To be a servant of God – an Eved Hashem – is to transcend societal pressures that often lead to self-enslavement. Unlike servitude to ambition, which is fleeting, service to the Divine grants meaning, direction and true inner freedom. The Israelites' journey from Egypt to Sinai was not just about leaving one master for another. It was about finding a service that elevates rather than confines, granting purpose beyond worldly limitations.
Rabbi Dr Benji Levy welcomes the dawn of a new day
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann with boxes of Shmurah Matzot, ready for Passover
RABBI ARON MOSS RABBINIC THOUGHT
Question:
I am running our family Seder this Pesach, so I want to be prepared. One part where we always get lost is the eating of the egg. I have looked through the Haggadah and it doesn't say anywhere why we eat the egg. The matzah and bitter herbs are well explained, but the egg is not. So why do we eat it?
Answer:
Chickens and eggs are the subject of some of the greatest philosophical conundrums. Like which came first? And why did one cross the road?
Here is yet another poultry riddle:
When is a chicken's birthday? When the egg was laid, or when it hatched?
There is a strong argument to say that a chicken should celebrate its birthday on the day the egg was laid. After all, that is when it became detached from its mother. On the other hand, one could argue that it is not really born until the day the egg is hatched. Only then is it a chicken, not an egg. If I were a chicken, I would celebrate both. The day my egg was laid is significant. That's when my mother gave birth to me. But the day my egg
Why do we eat the egg?
hatched is the day I came out into the world. An egg is a birth yet to happen, but it is the start of something. So, I'd have a small party on the earlier date and the main event on the latter.
Pesach is like the laying of an egg. It is when we were redeemed from slavery, when G-d took us out of Egypt and led us into the desert.
But that was just the beginning of a big story, the first step in a long journey
that continues until today. We gained freedom, but we are still fighting for freedom.
Our oppressors were conquered, but we are still fighting oppressors.
Pesach is when the egg of redemption was laid, but it hasn't hatched yet. Complete freedom can only come when all evil is vanquished.
That will be when the Moshiach arrives
The Jewish people are at the centre
of a global drama, the struggle to liberate the world from all negative energy and allow goodness to prevail. The struggle began in Egypt, continues today and will end in Jerusalem. On Pesach, when we eat the egg, we celebrate the laying of the egg of freedom and we pray for the complete redemption to be hatched. Next year in Jerusalem.
Fighting misinformation in a digital age
RABBI DANIEL RABIN
A new kind of warfare is being waged and it is not fought with tanks or missiles. It plays out in the digital realm, where algorithms, memes and viral content shape public perception and, ultimately, history. Social media has become the new battleground for truth and those who understand its power wield incredible influence.
Recently, I was involved in bringing Yechiel Jacobs to Melbourne. He is a young social media influencer who has mastered the art of fighting falsehoods with humour, intelligence and creativity. Yechiel is part of a growing movement of digital warriors who challenge the relentless spread of misinformation about Israel and Zionism with sharp wit and an unwavering commitment to truth. His Melbourne performance to a packed Caulfield Shule, with more than 1,000 in attendance, highlighted just how much people are searching for new ways to engage in this combat.
At a time when anti-Israel sentiment is rampant across digital platforms, traditional advocacy alone is no longer enough. As the battle has moved online, we need to equip ourselves – and the next generation – with the tools to navigate and counter the onslaught. Misinformation is spreading faster than ever. A single viral post can undo decades of historical truth in an instant. Yechiel understands that the younger generation consumes information differently. They do not sit through long debates or read lengthy articles; they scroll, they watch and they react. That is why his approach – using comedy, sarcasm and pop culture references – is so effective. Instead of lecturing, he engages. Instead of arguing, he disarms. His short, punchy videos break down complex topics into digestible, entertaining snippets that challenge anti-Israel rhetoric, while keeping his audience hooked. His visit was not just about showcasing his talent, but also
about highlighting the need for a new approach to advocacy. We cannot afford to ignore the reality that our children are growing up in an age where social media is their primary source of information. The following questions must be posed. Are they equipped to distinguish truth from fiction? Do they know how to challenge misinformation when they see it?
Jewish communities worldwide must recognise the urgency of digital education. We need to teach media literacy, critical thinking and the ability to counter falsehoods effectively. The next generation must not only be informed, but also confident in their ability to stand up for Israel in a space where narratives are constantly being rewritten. We must be clever, strategic and aware of this new battlefield, ensuring that we are not caught unprepared.
Yechiel Jacobs represents a new era of advocacy, one that embraces creativity and modern tools to engage a global audience. His success serves as both an inspiration and a call to action. If we want to ensure that truth prevails in this digital age, we must encourage more young people to take up the fight, using the platforms and languages that resonate in today’s world.
Social media is not going away. Neither are the lies. But the question remains: Are we ready to fight back?
Rabbi Daniel Rabin (left) with Yechiel Jacobs
RABBI YAAKOV GLASMAN AM RABBINIC THOUGHT
St Kilda Shule recently filled its Danglow Centre hall with an eager audience that had gathered to hear a presentation by renowned photographer and journalist Alan Meerkin. The event, which showcased his work, was praised by attendees transported through his camera’s lens into the streets, gardens and daily life of Israel.
Meerkin, who is based in Jerusalem, has an extensive multidisciplinary background. Having grown up in Melbourne, he made Aliyah in 1990, embarking on a career in law at Israel’s Ministry of Justice. However, in 2020, his passion for visual storytelling took centre stage when he began photographing the community gardens at Jerusalem’s Museum of Natural History, as well as documenting life across the country. That culminated in the 2023 publication of a book titled Distilling Jerusalem: Portraits of the City at Many Given Moments. It was a collection of photographs that encapsulate the diversity, vibrancy and profound character of Jerusalem.
"As a photojournalist, my photographs and writing aim to capture experience,” Meerkin said. “Regardless of whether my subjects are people, objects or nature, my hope is that the viewer will gain insight into a particular moment in time that
A window to post October 7 Israel
they might otherwise disregard or take for granted. This lends itself well to my publications of street photography, where I strive to highlight the raw, unfiltered moments that tell a deeper story.”
Meerkin’s work took on an even greater sense of purpose following the tragic events of October 7, 2023. He described how that day changed his focus, giving him a mission – his shlichut – to share the realities of Israeli life in the aftermath of the attacks. His photographs and presentations have since reached audiences across Israel, Europe, America and, now, Australia, illuminating how everyday lives have been impacted by that fateful day.
“The specific content of my presentations depends on my audience,” Meerkin said. “Speaking at St Kilda Hebrew Congregation was a particularly meaningful experience, as I could delve into the realities of life in Israel amid current challenges. The positive feedback has been overwhelming and I am grateful for the opportunity to share these moments with others.”
Alan’s presentation was world-class. He took the audience on a nonstop journey, presenting his brilliant photographs of post-October 7 life with wit, humour and depth. He made people laugh, cry, gasp and yearn. It was one of the most engaging presentations I've ever had the privilege of seeing.
Alan Meerkin (far right) with his Bedouin friends. Another friend of Alan’s took the photo at Alan’s request to demonstrate co-existence
Photographer Alan Meerkin (left) with Rabbi Yaakov Glasman AM
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Connecting with nature
The King David School’s Bush Kinder (Gan Tevah) program is a highlight for the children in its Early Learning Centre. The program offers children the opportunity to connect with nature, explore flora and fauna, splash in puddles, build with branches and climb trees. By fostering a strong connection to the land, Gan Tevah teaches
children the value of caring for the environment. They learn about the importance of Country and respecting the interrelationships between people, animals, plants, waterways, land and sky.
Children engage in spontaneous play, take “safe risks” and use nature to expand their imagination and creativity. They develop social skills, a sense of well-being and a deep appreciation for their surroundings.
For those who mean the world to you, only the finest will do.
Ian Sharp Jewellery Craftsmanship iansharpjewellery
How many common words of five or more letters can you spell using the letters in the hive? Every answer must use the centre letter at least once. Letters may be reused in a word. At least one word will use all seven letters and have a direct Jewish connection.
Proper names and hyphenated words are not allowed. Score 1 point for each answer and 3 points for a Jewish related word that uses all 7 letters.
Rating: 19 = Good; 22 = Excellent; 28 = Genius
Glatt has published more than 1,000 crossword puzzles worldwide, from the
to
and Boston
has also published two Jewish puzzle books: "Kosher Crosswords" and the sequel "More
and Word Games".
ANSWERS PAGE 22
THE KING DAVID SCHOOL
The King David School Early Learning Centre children on the Gan Tevah program
Juno
From left, Levi and Matteo
Yoni
LA Times
Globe
The Jerusalem Post. He
Kosher Crosswords
FOODIE CORNER
ALAN BENDER SOUL GOURMET
Ingredients:
1 kg red seedless grapes or other red variety – stalks removed
1/4 cup (60ml) water
45 g CSR castor sugar
30 ml honey
100 ml red wine (sweet is better) – if you don’t want the wine, replace it with water and the juice of two lemons
Method:
1. Put the grapes and water into a medium pot and bring it to boil with the lid on. Cook until soft (about 10 minutes). Allow to cool slightly.
2. Strain the juice from the fruit by pressing it through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl.
3. While still hot, stir in the sugar, honey and wine until dissolved. Chill for a couple of hours or overnight.
4. Place the liquid in a freezer suitable bowl. Every 30 minutes, whisk the liquid, breaking down the ice crystals. Repeat this until the sorbet is smooth and has set.
Red grape sorbet
Chef’s tip:
Make in advance and store in the freezer for three to six months.
Meaty Matzah Kugel
This is designed to serve as an inspiration to repurpose leftovers into a meal.
Ingredients:
½ box matzah
4 eggs beaten
500 ml chicken stock
50 ml oil
2 cups shredded leftover meat/ chicken/tuna
1 tray brown mushrooms sliced
1 small pack baby spinach
2 teaspoons baking powder
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180C and line a loaf pan with baking paper
2. Crush the matzah roughly and add all the other ingredients – mix until combined
3. Place all the ingredients in the lined loaf pan and bake for 30 minutes or until set
Alan Bender is head chef at Soul Gourmet. To find out more, go to https://soulgourmet.com.au
CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES
Friday, Apr 11, 2025 5:41 PM
Shabbat ends, Apr 12, 2025 6:37 PM
Sunday, Apr 13, 2025 6:35 PM
Monday, Apr 14, 2025 6:34 PM
Friday, Apr 18, 2025 5:31 PM
Shabbat ends, Apr 19, 2025 6:27 PM
Sunday, Apr 20, 2025 6:26 PM
Friday, Apr 25, 2025 5:22 PM
Shabbat ends, Apr 26, 2025 6:19 PM
Spelling bee answers
Jewish answer: YERAKOT. Here is a list of some common words (“yes”, we know there are more words in the dictionary that can work, but these words are common to today’s vernacular): KARAOKE, KARATE, KAYAK, KAYAKER, KOOKY, REEKY, RETAKE, RETOOK, ROOKERY, TAKER and YEREK.
Questions/comments, please email Yoni at koshercrosswords@gmail.com
Crossword answers
Except where expressly stated otherwise, content in The Melbourne Jewish Report is provided as general informations only. The articles in this paper have been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content here are presented solely by the author, and The Jewish Report assumes no responsibility for them. It is not intended as advice and must not be relied upon as such. You should make your own inquiries and take independent advice tailored to your specific circumstances prior to making any decisions. We do not make any representation or warranty that any material in the papers will be reliable, accurate or complete, nor do we accept any responsibility arising in any way from errors or omissions. We will not be liable for loss resulting from any action or decision by you in reliance on the material in the papers. By reading the papers, you acknowledge that we are not responsible for, and accept no liability in relation to, any reader’s use of, access to or conduct in connection with the papers in any circumstance. Photographs submitted by individuals or organisations are assumed to be their property and are therefore not otherwise credited. All articles in this paper have received the expressed consent of the author to publish in this paper.
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A rogue cop, police brutality and domestic violence are front and centre in David Williamson’s incendiary satire The Removalists.
Written by the prolific and highly acclaimed playwright 54 years ago, the piece has lost none of its bite.
With crime the number one issue in the state and partner abuse showing no signs of dissipating, the theme resonates as much as ever.
Twenty-year-old Ross (William McKenna) is fresh out of the police academy.
He has landed his first job, eager to get to work at the two-person station to which he has been assigned.
His highly experienced boss, Sergeant Simmons (Steve Mouzakis) – some 30 years his senior – is in no such hurry.
With his feet on the desk, Simmons is leafing through a copy of Police Life newspaper.
He is bemused by the eager beaver young constable who is like a cat on a hot tin roof.
Before long, Simmons is giving Ross a lowdown on how the system works under his imprimatur. It is all about less is more.
Simmons is keen to learn more about Ross, although the latter doesn’t want to share details of his personal life, notably when it comes to his father.
Simmons keeps pushing.
And then two sisters – Fiona (Eloise Mignon) and Kate (Jessica Clarke) – walk into the station. Mother of one, Fiona has been left bruised after being bashed by her husband, Kenny (Michael Whalley).
Kate is outraged and initially would like to see Kenny charged.
But Sergeant Simmons talks her down to filing a report.
Things quickly evolve from there, such that with Ross in tow, Simmons offers to help Fiona move out of the family home after hours.
The lecherous Simmons – who himself is married with two children – is doing so with
MOVIE REVIEW
Highly regarded Australian journalist
Peter Greste was arrested by Egyptian authorities in Cairo on 29th December, 2013.
He was working there for Al Jazeera as a two-to-three week Christmas cover for another journo.
Greste was taken into custody alongside two other Al Jazeera reporters, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed.
Written by Peter Duncan, The Correspondent is based on Greste’s 2017 memoir The First Casualty and it is an account of what happened.
Greste was detained on trumped up charges, including fabricating the truth and smearing the name of Egypt.
He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, while his colleagues received terms of seven years and 10 years respectively.
The Correspondent shows them being moved around the Egyptian prison system.
It reveals how on occasions they turned on one another.
It champions the family support Greste received.
Peter’s brother, Andrew, was a source of comfort in Egypt, while his parents also flew there.
Cop that!
some extracurricular activity front of mind.
With the time arranged when Kenny will be at the pub with his mates, Simmons engages a removalist (Martin Blum).
The problem is that particular Friday night Kenny arrives home early. Thereafter, all hell breaks loose.
Harsh words are exchanged and violence escalates.
While that may sound bad, as the saying goes, it “ain’t the half of it”.
Unfolding in two scenes (moving from the police station to Fiona and Kenny’s family home), The Removalists is brim full of action and vitriol.
Inappropriate and unlawful behaviour is ramped up and up and up.
David Williamson has an uncanny ability to cut to the quick and to engage us – the audience – in the process.
We laugh and we are shocked and incensed. Of course, that is the whole point.
So we should be. Williamson wrote The Removalists after he became a removalist’s assistant when shifting house. As they drove to
the new place, the removalist chatted about an interesting day he’d had very recently.
Two attractive sisters had enlisted the aid of a couple of local police to help the younger – escaping an abusive husband – to move.
With no warning that he was about to lose his wife and furniture, the husband had become angry and the police were forced to subdue him.
What struck Williamson was how much the removalist relished being a ringside witness to the husband being “taught a lesson”.
Further, according to the removalist’s account, how much the cops enjoyed administering some vigorous biffo.
Williamson’s fascination and abhorrence at the worst of male macho competitive behaviour tipped the resulting play from realism into dark satire.
The Removalists premiered at La Mama in 1971.
Regardless of the humour and exaggeration deliberately invested into Williamson’s work, I was left asking whether much had changed. That reference relates to the continued,
Journalistic integrity
The film captures what Greste was subjected to, how he coped and what he thought about while in captivity.
Notable throughout is the fate of fellow war correspondent, Brit Kate Peyton.
The pair was working for the BBC in Mogadishu in 2005 when a bullet struck Peyton. Those memories loom large for Greste. Without doubt, there is extra clout associated with a real-life story and so it is here with The Correspondent.
I dare say many of the people who will
horrifying incidence of domestic violence and bad male behaviour, including aggression, dominance and control.
Director Anne-Louise Sarks has done a fine job bringing one of Williamson’s seminal works to life anew.
In short, it is compelling theatre.
The cast is magnificent, led from the front with venomous and misogynistic intent by Steve Mouzakis, who comes across as a force of nature. Awkwardness and expression are the mainstays of William McKenna’s excellent performance as wet behind the ears Ross.
Importantly, Eloise Mignon imbues Fiona – Kenny’s long-suffering wife – with nuance. I got the impression that Fiona kept hoping Kenny would change, but his behaviour had simply worsened.
In another strong showing, moral indignation is apparent in Jessica Clarke, as Kate cottons on to what is going down here.
Entitlement (as if Fiona’s is his, to be treated as he would like) is apparent in Michael Whalley’s dogged representation of Kenny.
Complete with impressive handlebar moustache, Martin Blum revels as the removalist with a high opinion of himself, who is keen to get on with the job.
The evocative set (Dale Ferguson is responsible) and costuming by Matilda Woodroofe are a fitting, readily recognisable throwback to the ‘70s. I had forgotten how popular orange seats were!
Staging is traverse style.
I refer to four rows of seating on stage, while the lion’s share of the audience remains in traditional auditorium seating, with the action taking place in between.
The transition between scenes (literally removing an entire set by hand and replacing it with another) is flawless and most impressive.
One hour 45 minutes without interval, The Removalists is a superb and timely production that ticks all the boxes.
It is playing at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner, until 17th April, 2025.
see this movie will recollect Greste’s predicament and fate.
What the film does is go into detail.
We become invested in what happens, in the injustice of what has been perpetrated and continues to unfold.
Richard Roxburgh is well cast as cool operator Peter Greste. Coming across as intelligent and disciplined, he is shown to keeps his wits about him throughout.
The tension in the relationship between Greste and Mohamed Fahmy is an
important subplot. Julian Maroun wears his heart on his sleeve as the opinionated Fahmy.
There is more sympatico between Greste and Baher Mohamed. The pair gels over backgammon, which they play regularly to pass the time in jail. Rahel Romahn is measured as Mohamed.
When initially imprisoned, Greste forms a relationship with young activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, whose advise is sage. Mojean Aria presents the latter as decent and wise beyond his years, despite the invidious situation in which he himself is in.
Kate Peyton shows herself as being in the same mould as Greste, dedicated to uncovering the harsh reality of war-torn regions. As Peyton, Yael Stone comes across as a valued confidante and friend.
Peter Greste’s path is hardly a straightforward one and director Kriv Stenders pays attention to the twists and turns.
We witness the mental toll and are left to admire just how Greste worked his way through 400 days of captivity to come out the other end intact and sane. Rated M, The Correspondent scores an 8 out of 10.
For more of Alex First’s reviews, go to https://www.itellyouwhatithink.com
More than half a century on, The Removalists remains tough and gritty (photo by Pia Johnson)
Imprisonment awaits three journalists in Egypt, including Australian Peter Greste
