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Israelis in Australia
Australians in Israel
ZFA Israel Programs information nights
Zionist youth groups winter camps
Participants on Israel by Choice at volunteering sites.
Filming: Gaby Grabin
Editor and Director: Yigal Sela
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“It’s a really interesting way to get to know Israel from the inside,” said IBC Program Director Gabi Grabin. “It’s getting to know Israelis that choose a line of work that is hard every day. … It’s important to understand that these places won’t stop working. They bring such an interesting and fun vibe to these places. It just changes these places and brings a whole new light.”
Sophie Davies, from Melbourne, was volunteering at the Agam School, for people aged 6-21 who have disabilities. “It was a good place to help and see what day-to-day life is for people I would have never seen before,” Davies said. “In my class they don’t speak, but I can already see their personalities, and have made a connection to them.” Daniel Edelman, from Melbourne, volunteered at Shikma, a village for people with retardation. “At this place, you can see a difference that you’re actually making,” Edelman said. “They learn your names, and they get excited when you come. It is hard, but fulfilling at the same time.” Jessie Goldberg, from Sydney, chose Leket, Israel’s national food bank, where she could be hands-on and have a direct vision of her accomplishments.”You can see the effect you have. You can see at the end of the day 10 crates or 20 crates – that’s what I’ve done,” Goldberg said. “You know that it’s going to go to some place where it’s going to go to good use.” |
Agam School Shikma Leket |
MELBOURNE — More than 30 leaders of the Israeli communities from across Australia converged in the Beth Weizmann Community Centre on Sunday, 19 May, for the inaugural “Israelis in Australia” conference. It is estimated that more than 16,000 Israelis live in Australia, and representatives from communities from Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast brought to the table their perspectives on issues, challenges and opportunities facing the diverse communities.
The conference was organised by the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) and the Association for Israelis in Australia (AIA). Its aims were to develop strategies to connect Israelis living in Australia with each other, with their local Jewish communities, with other Israeli communities across the world and, of course, with Israel.
We were privileged to welcome to the conference three guests from Israel: Brigadier General Azriel Nevo, the chairman of the Global Task Force for Israeli Communities; Monika Lev-Cohen, Program Director of Global Israeli Communities Program from the Jewish Agency; and Gary Vitkin from the Israeli Scouts.
Nevo highlighted the priority of working with the second generation of Israeli immigrants to Australia, to strengthen their connections to Israel, to the Hebrew language and to their Jewish identity.
This conference is the beginning of what will be a concerted process to develop initiatives in the areas of:
• Education and youth (“second generation”)
• Israeli Culture
• Business and networking
ZFA President Philip Chester said:
“This conference is the first conference which specifically brought together Israeli leadership from around Australia together with the Jewish Agency and with the local community. We are delighted with the enthusiasm, contribution and candour of the participants. Of course, it is a first step, and there is much work to be done as a result of it. We are hopeful that the recommendations made will result in stronger connections and activities between the Israeli and local Jewish communities and the State of Israel.”
The Zionist Federation of Australia supports the Australasian Zionist Youth Council (AZYC) and the individual youth movements in providing winter activities.
Twice a year, youth movements across Australia gather at campsites across rural Australia on their Winter and Summer Camps. This year in July, each Zionist youth movement will be embark on their Winter camps of about 3-7 days each.
Camps are the pivotal experiences in the youth movement calendars. They allow the participants to be Continue reading
By Emily Gian
Many of you would have read last week of a decision by renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking to join the academic boycott of Israel by pulling out of the upcoming 2013 President’s Conference in Jerusalem.
The conference, run under the auspices of President Shimon Peres and now coming into its fifth year, assembles world leaders, international scholars, activists, poets and scientists, artists and clergy, entrepreneurs, economists and industrialists, as well as representatives of the next generation of leaders. Each year, Palestinians have also featured at the conference, including members of the Palestinian Authority. Continue reading
By Emily Gian
Yesterday, two incidents occurred in relation to Israel and the Palestinians which warranted media attention. But what is interesting is the way in which the two stories played out in the international media.
Let us begin with the facts.
At around 8am yesterday morning, a Palestinian man approached the Tapuach Junction in the West Bank, pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed an Israeli man. He then grabbed the man’s gun and began to open fire on the Border Guard post. Soldiers returned fire and the situation was stabilised. The victim, identified as 31 year-old father of five Eviatar Borovsky, died at the scene. His attacker, believed to be Continue reading
29 April 2013
Telfed – the South African Zionist Federation (Israel) and the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) have announced the signing of a joint partnership in which Telfed will provide klita (absorption) services to Australian olim on behalf of the ZFA.
In a joint statement the two organisations welcomed the completion of discussions and the agreement will officially commence at the end of April 2013. All olim from Australia will thereafter be supported by Telfed from the moment they step off the plane and for the first full year of their new lives in Israel. This will involve meeting them at the airport, advising them in their first weeks and months in the country as well as help in integrating within local communities.
“We are delighted Continue reading
A record number of participants of Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) gap year programs from Australia attended the official ANZAC Ceremony at the Commonwealth Cemetery on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem last Thursday. Facilitated by the ZFA Israel Office, 260 participants from Habonim Dror, Netzer, Hashomer Hatzair, Bnei Akiva, Hineni, Betar, AUJS, Israel by Choice and Maccabi Sports Leadership Program were bussed and taken on a guided lecture talk of the Commonwealth Cemetery before the ceremony itself. Continue reading
We have become accustomed to conspiracy theories linking Israel to various tragedies around the world. It therefore was no surprise to me that someone would pen an article in which last week’s terrorist attacks in Boston were blamed partly on U.S. foreign policy and partly on Israel. What may surprise some is that this comes directly from an employee of the United Nations. Continue reading
From ZFA President Philip Chester
Israel at 65 has evolved significantly since the new-born, rough-around-the-edges state of 1948. The Israel of the 21st century is a first world economy and a sophisticated society, complete with a unique culture, dynamic politics and a robust and vigorous democracy.
However, Israel continues to face formidable challenges on the security front, due to the instability of many neighbouring regimes and leaders and the grave threat from Iran.
Israel’s recent elections saw new parties including Yesh Atid and HaBayit HaYehudi securing significant representation in the Knesset and forming part of the coalition government. It is clear that Israeli politics continues to be Continue reading
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