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What I learned on Bondi beach
Lying on the ground that balmy summer night in Sydney with blood still gushing from my head, having just learned that my wife and children had reached safety, I found myself reciting the Shema, the ancient and seminal Jewish declaration of faith.
Read MoreSports legends, business and defence leaders, silks, communal organisations, officials, politicians and others call for royal commission
A list of all Australians, including the families of the victims as well as current and former sports legends, officials, politicians, business leaders, silks and communal organisations that have publicly called for a royal commission following the Bondi terrorist attack.
Read MoreAIJAC, ZFA and national Jewish and communal organisations call on Prime Minister to establish Royal Commission into Antisemitism
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), Zionism Victoria, the Zionist Council of NSW, the State Zionist Council of QLD, the State Zionist Council of South Australia, the State Zionist Council of WA, the ACT Zionist Council, the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students… today issue this unified and urgent call for the establishment of a Commonwealth Royal Commission into Antisemitism.
Read More“This was an attack on Australia”: Joel Burnie on Sky News
AIJAC Executive Manager Joel Burnie spoke to Sky News’ Kel Richards about the joint statement by several leading Australian Jewish community organisations calling for a royal commission.
Read More“We need a royal commission”: Joel Burnie on Sky News UK
AIJAC Executive Manager Joel Burnie spoke to Sky News UK about the unequivocal need for a royal commission after the Bondi terrorist attack.
Read MoreRoyal commission necessary: Jamie Hyams on Sky News
AIJAC Director of Public Affairs Jamie Hyams OAM spoke with Sky News’ Reuben Spargo about the need for a Royal Commission after the Bondi terrorist attack.
Read MoreI survived Bondi. Now a royal commission is critical
Bondi should never have happened. We owe it to those who lost their lives, and those like me who survived this horror, to safeguard Australia’s democratic values and our shared future, and ensure that the conditions which allowed such hatred to grow are confronted, exposed and never allowed to repeat.
Read MoreVale Stanley Roth AM
We at AIJAC were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Stanley Roth AM. Stanley was a wonderful, inspirational, caring and principled person, a pillar of our Australian Jewish community and also devoted to the security and vitality of Israel.
Read MoreAntisemitism threatens the very fabric of a democratic, cohesive, fair go and safe Australia
In the immediate aftermath of the October 7 attacks, Federal and State governments failed to act against the open and brazen displays of hatred, igniting a powder keg still burning today. The recommendations of the PM’s own Antisemitism Envoy spent five months basically gathering dust.
Read MoreAnother “heinous antisemitic attack” in Melbourne: AIJAC’s statement to JNS
“This heinous antisemitic attack has seen a young family have their car destroyed and being too frightened to stay in their home simply because they chose to share the joy of Chanukah with the community. It further emphasises the urgent need for the state and federal governments to crack down on the antisemitism and incitement to and perpetration of violence rampant on our streets before there are more tragic outcomes.”
Read More“I’m not religious but I started praying”: Arsen Ostrovsky in the Jerusalem Post
Arsen Ostrovsky was at Bondi for a Hanukkah celebration. Minutes later, he was injured in a terror attack, and Australia was forced to look at its Jewish community through the harshest possible lens.
When I called him afterward, I expected anger. Instead, he offered something quieter, and maybe more explosive: “I feel alive.”
Read MoreNow is the time for healing, not laying blame
At this time we should all be prioritising the healing of those impacted by this tragedy, first and foremost the devastated Jewish community, and the prevention of further attacks. Those who put their own needs and politics above that are doing the entire country a grave disservice, and frankly, should take a good, hard look at themselves. They are part of the problem, not the solution.
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