The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) is the peak national body of the Jewish community with 200 organisations under its umbrella across Australia.
The vice chancellor of
@Sydney_Uni
has written to staff and students with a clear message: there will be no tolerance for support of Hamas.
@ecajoz
co-CEO Peter Wertheim has praised the university and hopes others will follow suit.
Read his full comments:
With each passing year, the number of Holocaust survivors left to bear witness diminishes. Within a few decades no survivors will remain. It's up to all of us to help preserve their memory & honour those who perished. Join the campaign by posting a photo with a
#WeRemember
sign.
Sydney’s Jewish community gathered in Double Bay this afternoon for the ‘Balloons of Hope’ event, sending a resounding message of unity, compassion and determination to bring home the 222 Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
#SetThemFree
🇮🇱🇦🇺🎈
With the recent rise in
#antisemitism
around the world, this statistic is even more troubling. Join the
@WorldJewishCong
#WeRemember
campaign. Take a picture of yourself with a 'We Remember' sign. Post it to social media with
#WeRememberor
or email it to weremember
@wjc
.org
Antisemitic incidents in Australia are up 738% since the Hamas atrocities.
"This is a not a Jewish community issue. It is a national shame." - ECAJ co-CEO
@AlexRyvchin
"Her appointment constitutes a serious error of judgement which undermines the credibility and neutrality of what should be a prestigious prize." - ECAJ co-CEO
@AlexRyvchin
, echoing Senator Sharma's sentiments in
@australian
Australian leaders are saying no to antisemitism - will you? We encourage our peers, colleagues, and fellow Australians to join us in signing the pledge and sharing on socials.
Affirm your commitment against antisemitism and hate at
#EndHate
A guidebook to protect Jews on Facebook has been published by the tech giant in collaboration with CST &
@BoardofDeputies
UK. The guide, titled ‘Protecting the Jewish Community from Antisemitism on Facebook,’ is part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week.
“The Opera House needs to decide whether our most iconic venue is the people’s house or a platform for those who denigrate and vilify others.” - ECAJ co-CEO
@AlexRyvchin
🇦🇺🇮🇱 10,000 people across the Australian Jewish and broader community came together yesterday to show complete solidarity with Israel and its people.
#StandWithIsrael
The
@ECAJewry
has today launched the
#SetThemFree
campaign to bring national attention to the plight of 200 Israeli civilians held in captivity by Hamas, and call for their immediate and unconditional release.
#SetThemFree
ECAJ has condemned comments made by Islamic Council of Victoria president Adel Salman. Salman described the events of October 7 as "legitimate resistance", a mindset that ECAJ co-CEO
@AlexRyvchin
told the
@smh
@theage
is "sick and depraved".
The
@abcsydney
has sacked fill-in Sydney mornings radio host Antoinette Lattouf after she breached the broadcaster’s social media code by positing disinformation & anti-Israel comments, which called into question her impartiality. Read more in
@australian
:
The passing of Isi Joseph Leibler AO CBE closes a chapter on one of the most remarkable & accomplished periods of Australian Jewish leadership. On behalf of the community to which he gave so much, we convey our heartfelt condolences to Isi’s family. May his memory be a blessing.
The new episode of the ECAJ’s Jewish World podcast is here! ECAJ host Alissa Foster is joined by
@juliajassey
from
@JewishonCampus_
Listen now via this link also available on:
▶️ Spotify
▶️ Apple Podcasts
▶️ Omny FM
▶️ Google Podcasts
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry's joint statement with the Zionist Federation of Australia, regarding Australia's decision to vote in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution calling for a ceasefire.
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE ZIONIST FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN JEWRY
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (
@ECAJewry
), are deeply concerned by the inconsistency in Australia’s decision to vote in
Education is critical in the fight against ignorance & misinformation - specifically Holocaust denial & distortion. Join the
#WeRemember
Campaign. Write "We Remember" on a piece of paper. Take a photo holding your sign. Share your photo with
#WeRemember
.
Australia has the 9th largest Jewish community in the world, and Jewish life here is rich and diverse. Discover more about the Jewish community of Australia, featuring
@ECAJewry
co-CEO Peter Wertheim.
@WorldJewishCong
The
@ECAJewry
is extremely disappointed by the Government’s decision to withdraw Australia’s recognition of west Jerusalem as the capital of Israel without public consultation or opportunity for public debate, and in a conspicuously opaque manner.
"That is a weapon you need to arm yourselves with in your fight to defend the State of Israel, ladies and gentleman." - Colonel Richard Kemp 🇮🇱
We were honoured to have Col.
@COLRICHARDKEMP
speak at ECAJ Co-CEO
@AlexRyvchin
's Melbourne book launch for "The Anti-Israel Agenda".
A call for ceasefire is a “recipe for more war,”
@ecajoz
co-CEO
@AlexRyvchin
told
@SkyNewsAust
. He added that we need unified leadership amid rising antisemitism & emphasised the importance for leaders to be absolutely clear about what they stand for & what they stand against.
ECAJ President Anton Block, and our co-CEOs Peter Wertheim and
@AlexRyvchin
have signed a declaration of support for Israel, organised by the
@WorldJewishCong
on the occasion of Israel's 70th birthday. The declaration is being presented to
@PresidentRuvi
. 🇮🇱🇦🇺
Great honour to have signed this
@WorldJewishCong
declaration of support for Israel presented to
@PresidentRuvi
on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Jewish State.
@ECAJewry
.
@ECAJewry
co-CEO Peter Wertheim explains why Labor’s decision to reverse Australia’s recognition of West Jerusalem represents a failure of policy and process in his article in
@ABCReligion
.
Read his article here:
As we approach Shabbat and two months since October 7, the Australian Jewish community continues to stand in solidarity with all remaining hostages held by Hamas.
We call for their immediate and unconditional release, and won’t cease until they are freed.
#bringthemhome
🇮🇱🇦🇺
The team at the
@NSWJBD
has taken part in the global
#WeRemember
campaign for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We encourage YOU to join them -- have you posted your photo?
#WeRemember
the
#Holocaust
—the genocide of 6 million Jews and murder of millions of others—did not occur in a vacuum. It was the product of unchecked hatred & collective silence. Join the
#WeRemember
Campaign, ensure that the past is never forgotten.
@ECAJewry
@WorldJewishCong
Did Israel use excessive force against the Gaza protesters? Israel had no real alternative but to use force, other than to allow its border to be breached. In the latter event, the consequent bloodshed would certainly have been far greater. Read and SHARE:
We are deeply saddened by the sudden and premature death of Joshua Levi, a great journalist and a dear friend to many of us at the
@ECAJewry
. May the Levi family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and may they each be blessed with long life.
The
@ECAJewry
has issued a statement in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and invites other Jewish organisations to endorse the ECAJ statement or issue their own statement.
Co-CEO
@AlexRyvchin
shares how
@ECAJewry
is fighting antisemitism, "The antisemitism we face today is of an entirely different character & severity. But the hatred of our ppl. can also slumber. When it rises, & it always does, it is with an almighty lash."
@MarkSofer
@IsraelinOZ
#WeRemember
: We must do everything in our power to reverse the trend of rising antisemitism. Shai Zarivatch, Israel Trade Commissioner.
#Amnesty
's pronouncements on
#Israel
are driven by a pathological hatred for the
#Jewish
State. This is betrayed by numerous public statements by AI senior figures, which have included calling Israel a “scum state”, & its democratically-elected government, “rogue”.
#AmnestyAbsurd
Former Australian Prime Minister
@MrKRudd
has joined the worldwide
#WeRemember
campaign ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day this weekend.
@WorldJewishCong
In honour of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I join with those who say
#WeRemember
. We must never forget the 6 million Jewish and other innocents murdered during the Shoah. Today, we stand together against all acts of antisemitism, xenophobia and racism.
@WorldJewishCong
Join us online to mark the 79th anniversary of the
#WWII
#BabiYar
massacres.
@ECAJewry
co-CEO
@AlexRyvchin
will discuss its historical background, followed by performances and discussions. Tuesday 13 Oct 7.30pm, register here:
@SydJewishMuseum
.
@ECAJewry
has formally lodged vilification complaints with the Australian Human Rights Commission against two Sydney Muslim clerics, after they gave sermons that described Jews as “monsters”, “rats”, “bloodthirsty” & “vile”. Full coverage in
@australian
⬅️
With Australia in the grip of one of the worst bushfire seasons on record, Melbourne philanthropists John and Pauline Gandel have donated $1 million towards national bushfire response efforts.
@aus_jewishnews
.
@ECAJewry
said Mr Adler's comments "indicate that he lacks the same sensitivity to other forms of racism that he has for antisemitism. These comments do not in any way represent/reflect the views of the mainstream Jewish community in Australia".
@J_wire
Antisemitism is on the rise around the world & levels of knowledge about the Holocaust are on the decline. On 27 Jan
@WorldJewishCong
will return to the Auschwitz-Birkenau for the 75th anniversary of the camp's liberation. Join the
#WeRemember
Campaign .
ECAJ co-CEO Peter Wertheim is in Israel attending the 5th annual
@WorldJewishCong
National Directors' Forum in Herzliya. 🇮🇱 The Forum is attended by the top professionals of Jewish community organisations from 45 countries and Ambassadors to Israel from 25 countries.
Two months on, no charges have been laid against a pro-Palestinian mob who chanted “gas the Jews” outside the Sydney Opera House.
ECAJ co-CEO
@alexryvchin
spoke to Neil Breen at
@2GB873
about the failings of Australia’s legal system in protecting the Jewish community.
“I’m just here to remind that our solidarity should be with the Jewish people, because they have had 3000 years plus connection to the land of Israel.”
-
@NovaPeris
on
@2GB873
.
@ECAJewry
warmly commended the Federal government and Minister for Home Affairs, Karen Andrews, for the decision announced today to list Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist organization under the Criminal Code.
Full statement:
We are currently at the crossroad of a fading memory & on the rise of hateful, antisemitic sentiment. Now is the moment to reaffirm our pledge never to forget.
#WeRemember
@ECAJewry
Deputy President Robert Goot AM SC, President Jillian Segal AO & Honorary Treasurer Peter Wise AM.
Prime Minister
@ScottMorrisonMP
conveyed his best wishes to the Australian Jewish community ahead of the Passover festival: “As Jewish families gather around the Seder table this year, my hope is that it will be a good and pleasant time “for brethren to dwell together in unity”
.
@ECAJewry
co-CEO Peter Wertheim, "I pay tribute to the
@AUJS
representatives, nationally and
@UniMelb
, who worked tirelessly in the limited time available to try to defeat this odious motion."
Jewish community leaders met with Premier
@DanielAndrewsMP
, Federal Member for Melbourne Ports
@joshburnsmp
& the Attorney-General for Victoria,
@JillHennessyMP
to discuss the upcoming neo-Nazi concert in Melbourne & a general uptick in antisemitism.
The
@WorldJewishCong
&
@UNESCO
's launched a website "Facts about the Holocaust" at
@UNESCO
’s Headquarters. This interactive online tool aims to counter Holocaust denial&distortion messages
@ECAJewry
president Anton Block with Angus Mackenzie&Agustin Zbar
The
@ECAJewry
and the
@ZionistFedAus
are deeply concerned by the Government’s statement and change in language about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“The change in language is inaccurate, ahistorical and counterproductive.”
Full statement:
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the
@ECAJewry
held their 22nd annual Conversation last week, bringing together participants from around
#Australia
to share their wisdom and reflections.
@aus_jewishnews
Over just 2 days, on Sept 29-30, 1941, more than 33,000 Ukrainian Jews were shot to death at
#BabiYar
. 80 years on,
@ECAJewry
co-CEO
@AlexRyvchin
discusses his personal connection to the massacre & his reflections on its anniversary with
@aus_jewishnews
.
"Australian Jews alarmed by rising antisemitism worldwide",
@radioaustralia
. Listen to the full interview, with
@ECAJewry
Research Director Julie Nathan's comments
Three Australian Senators have spoken out against the rise of antisemitism across the country, calling for increased Shoah education in schools.
@aus_jewishnews
“The myth that there is a conspiracy to commit genocide against people of European ethnicity is not only dangerous but deadly. It has now claimed the lives of 50 Muslims in New Zealand.” - Read the full article by
@ECAJewry
Research Director Julie Nathan
For nearly 8 months now,
@ECAJewry
's Julie Nathan has been diligently warning that the toxic "White Genocide" myth is not only dangerous but deadly. In her latest piece, she traces the events that led to the horrific
#ChristchurchMosqueShootings
Commending Tasmania's ban on Nazi salutes & symbols, Peter Wertheim said it "was a privilege for the
@ECAJewry
to work with our TS constituent, Hobart Hebrew Congregation, in meetings with the Attorney General’s office, to help achieve this outcome." More:
"
#Jerusalem
for 3,000 years has been the beating heart of the
#Jewish
people...Tel Aviv is a hell of a town, but it's never been the capital of
#Israel
." Our Public Affairs Director
@AlexRyvchin
on
@abcnews
last night, speaking to
@bevvo14
. FULL INTERVIEW:
Mr Yemini is in no way associated with us, or with the
@jccvic
, or with any other elected Jewish communal roof body or representative organisation, and he does not in any way represent the Australian Jewish community, or any State Jewish community or mainstream Jewish thought.
We deeply regret that
@RealBobKatter
MP, who is well disposed towards the Jewish community, chose to highlight Avi Yemini’s views and to attribute them to the Jewish community on
@QandA
last night. Read our full statement from ECAJ President Anton Block:
Federal Labor MP
@joshburnsmp
condemned Hamas in federal Parliament this evening, saying that "if rockets were being fired at Melbourne or Sydney or Canberra, there is no doubt the Australian Defence Forces would be responding in the same way."
.
@ECAJewry
has written to party leaders and candidates ahead of the upcoming federal election seeking their positions on policies and issues of particular interest to the Australian Jewish community. All responses on our website:
#MeToo
unless you're a Jew.
The Australian Jewish community stands with the Israeli women who have experienced sexual violence at the hands of Hamas, and condemns the silence of the humanitarian groups that refuse to condemn these atrocities.
#MeTooUnlessUrAJew
"The fact that there is a market for Nazi memorabilia is not only a sad reflection on the ghoulish tastes and amorality of collectors but also of the coarsening of contemporary popular culture and the dilution and dumbing down of history,"
@ECAJewry
co-CEO Peter Wertheim.
In an unprecedented move, a senior ABC employee contacted the
@ECAJewry
to apologise for a recent segment on ABC radio that broke the organisation’s editorial standards for accuracy.
@aus_jewishnews
ECAJ co-CEO Peter Wertheim chaired a lunch last Friday in Sydney at which visiting Israeli MKs
@SharrenHaskel
&
@HassonYoel
spoke about current events in Israel & the wider Middle East region. Thanks to UIA,
@NSWJBD
,
@AIJAC_Update
& Zionist Council of NSW for co-hosting with us.
ECAJ has written to the SBS ombudsman to voice its grievances about the use of Al Jazeera’s news reports on its channel. The letter urges that Al Jazeera is "an organisation which is owned by the government of Qatar, but which does not operate independently of that government."
This week we celebrated Israel’s 74th year of independence at the annual NSW Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, with guests of honour NSW Premier
@Dom_Perrottet
, Opposition Leader
@ChrisMinnsMP
& Ambassador of the State of Israel to Australia
@MaimonAmir
.
.
@ECAJewry
Research Director Julie Nathan noted that “the decrease in the overall number of incidents should not disguise the marked increase in the number of the most serious categories of incidents”. Full report:
@aus_jewishnews