Jewish Community Council of Victoria

In 2023 we saw record number of incidents, both before and after October 7.

More incidents were reported in Victoria between 1 January and 6 October 2023 than all of 2022.

The period after October 7 far exceeds any previous annual total of antisemitic incidents reported in Victoria.

Read the full report published by JCCV and Community Security Group Victoria - CSG - or come to a community presentation on the 2023 Victorian Antisemitism Report on August 26.

Links in comments.

Register now for the community presentation on the 2023 Victorian Antisemitism Report.

Link in comments.

The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) and Community Security Group Victoria - CSG have published the latest Victorian Antisemitism Report.

The 2023 Report tells a worrying, but not unexpected, story.

Read the full statement, link in comments.

We will build on the legacy, and we will survive...

We asked our community building colleagues who their favourite Jewish athlete is...

Who's yours? Tell us in the comments below!

Shocking incident that has no place in Australia.

Any discrimination should be reported to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, and reported to CSG.

Read the article in full, link in comments.

We are pleased to invite you to join us in welcoming Jillian Segal AO, Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, to Melbourne.

Jillian will be joined by Alex Ryvchin for a special event addressing the issue of antisemitism. This will mark Jillian's first public appearance in Melbourne in her new role, and together they will discuss the generational challenges faced by the Jewish community.

Link to register in comments.

In this weeks newsletter we talk about what we are focusing on and what we will be up to in the next few weeks.

Two people have been charged over June's attack on the office of Josh Burns MP. Thank you to Victoria Police for their ongoing work to keep our community safe.

We asked our community building colleagues who their favourite Jewish comedian is...

Did we miss anyone? Tell us in the comments below!

The JCCV has been reaching out to educate non-Jewish service providers about our community, including the recent rise in antisemitism.

Experienced Jewish community facilitators ran sessions this week for the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) and staff from Glen Eira Council.

We will continue to educate the broader community to ensure Jewish Victorians can live proud and safe Jewish lives.

These sessions are run by the JCCV and supported by the Victorian Government.

The emergence of blatant and open discrimination against Jews in Australia has come as a real shock.

Read what JCCV CEO Naomi Levin wrote in the The Australian Jewish News, link in comments.

Our present and future are in good hands...

“Australian’s can hold their own views about the conflict in the Middle East – but implying that Jewish Australians are responsible for it and should be sanctioned as a result is completely abhorrent." says NSW Premier Chris Minns.

Reads the full article from The Australian Jewish News, link in comments.

The JCCV met this morning with councillors and senior council staff from Eastern municipalities at the North Eastern Jewish Centre to discuss the experiences of their local Jewish communities.

We presented our recommendations for supporting the community, and councillors expressed their appreciation for facilitating dialogue during challenging times.

JCCV President Philip Zajac on the news that the owner of the Burgertory restaurant, which was firebombed in Caulfield in November, reportedly faces arrest for anti-Jewish incitement.

The Australian Jewish News

Read full article, link in comments.

Yet another local public figure spreading crude and hateful messages through our community. This time it is Victoria’s 2024 Local Hero, Betul Tuna.

Betul was recognised by the Victorian Governor for her commitment to humanitarian and community causes. Posts like this do nothing to create a safe and inclusive community.

The Australian Jewish News writes about the recent report on antisemitic incidents at Victorian tertiary institutions.

Read the full article, link in comments.

How do we speak with non-Jewish Australians about what is taking place in the Jewish homeland?

Year 12 students at several Jewish day schools have come out with a powerful joint statement.

The statement about antisemitism in Australia was produced by the students in order to have their voices heard.

The JCCV applauds their initiative, coordination, leadership and courage. They should take pride in what they have achieved.

We encourage you to read the full statement "In Unity, We Stand: Jewish Youth Against Hate," as published by the The Australian Jewish News. Link in comments.

The schools involved are: Mount Scopus Memorial College, Bialik College, King David School, Yavneh Leibler College, Yeshiva College, Beth Rivkah Ladies College and the Carmel School in Perth.

Expressing our gratitude.

JCCV President Philip Zajac was delighted to meet Senator Jacqui Lambie in a meeting facilitated by AIJAC - Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council.

Thank you for the opportunity to have our voices heard.

The JCCV welcomes the appointment of Jillian Segal AO as the Australian government's first special envoy to combat antisemitism.

This position comes at a time when the Jewish community in Australia has been facing an unprecedented increase in anti-Jewish hate. The time has come to address the problem head on, and to demand that action be taken to tackle this threat to our Australian way of life. There is no room for hate of any kind in Australia, and the current rise in anti-Jewish incidents has challenged the right of the Jewish community to live peacefully and safely within Australia.

We wish Ms Segal the best of luck in her new role – and look forward to working with her to promote social cohesion, tolerance and respect in Australia.

Last week, Professor William Rubinstein OAM passed away. Bill, a historian, made an enormous contribution to documenting the history of the Australian Jewish community. He was foundation editor of the Australian Jewish Historical Society Journal (1985-95) and president of the Australian Association of Jewish Studies (1989-91).

Together with his wife Hilary, also a historian, they published the encyclopaedic Jews in Australia: A thematic history and other dozens of other books, papers and monographs with Jewish themes, both historic and contemporary.

As recently as last month, Bill was still making contributions to community debate, writing an erudite summary of local sources of anti-Israel activity for the Australian Jewish News.

We wish long life to his family. May his memory be a blessing.

Last week, JCCV CEO Naomi Levin held discussions with a group of local Hindu leaders at Jewish Care Victoria. The meeting, hosted by Rabbi Ralph Genende in conjunction with AIJAC - Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council was an opportunity to learn about all we have in common with the Hindu community.

Pictured (L-R): Joel Burnie, Executive Manager AIJAC, Rabbi Ralph Genede OAM, Interfaith and Community Liaison AIJAC, Geeta Devi, President Vishva Hindu Parishad of Victoria, and Naomi Levin, CEO JCCV.

We are starting to see action being taken to address anti-Jewish hate, but more needs to be done, and we will continue to work towards it.

The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) responds to growing antisemitism on Victorian university campuses.

To read the full statement, link in comments.

There are rallies that disrupt and divide, and rallying that inspires and unites. Read this week's community message to find out what we are talking about...

How are they not held accountable?
Consequences need to be put into action.

We have witnessed people who are government appointed officers cross the line. What are the consequences?

With more than 100 hate crime offences in Victoria in recent months, it is no wonder we all want to see swift action taken. This is not acceptable.