National Israeli Culture Photography Competition
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Posted in Events, Hagshama, Israel Programs, News, Upcoming Events, ZFA News
Tagged ARZA, Australia, australian jewish news, competition, contest, Emanuel Synagogue, Hagshama, iPad, iPad-mini, Israel, Israeli, MASA Israel Journey, photogaphy, photographs, photos, Union for Progressive Judaism, zfa, zionist federation of Australia
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ZFA News: 14 June 2013
In this week’s newsletter, read about
- ZFA President to present at Israeli Presidential Conference
- Official announcement of Telfed/ZFA olim absorption, and of olim volunteer program
- ZFA Israel Programs update
- Hagshama movie night and culture brunch
- The Russian way to travel
- Bible Quiz
- Zionist Youth Group winter camps
As well as the latest news from Israel.
Did you ever notice how much Israel and Australia have in common?We often acknowledge the similarities between Australia and Israel for big, sociopolitical value systems – democracy, charity, hard work, multiculturalism, etc.
The cultural similarities can be just as meaningful. Our zest for life, high-quality cuisine, subtlety in drama, self-deprecating humour and celebration of the arts in multiple ways are definitive to both Australians and Israelis.
This week we saw Israel and Australia both exhibit art the same way. On Thursday, the Jerusalem Festival of Light completed its 2013 exhibition, only a few days after the end of Vivid Sydney, a festival of light, music and ideas. Both were in their fifth year.
During the day, we admire the stonework and architecture in Jerusalem and around Sydney’s Circular Quay and the Rocks – we appreciate the timelessness of them. But during the light exhibitions in both cities we smiled at the bright colours, shapes, patterns and stories on display – lights that feel contemporary, even a bit futuristic.
The timing of the festivals accentuates the commonalities between Australia and Israel. Unfortunately, we can’t be two places at the same time.
See more from Vivid Sydney.
See more from the Jerusalem Festival of Light. Continue reading
Posted in Latest Newsletter, News, Newsletters
Tagged 5773, 5774, Adelaide, australian jewish news, AZYC, betar, Bible Quiz, Birthright, Bnei Akiva, Bondi, Chidon Hatanach, CINEMAtek, Emanuel Synagogue, Haaretz, Habo, habonim dror, Hagshama, Hashomer Hatzair, hashy, hineni, IBC, Israel Advocacy Update, Israel by Choice, Israel Programs, Israeli Presidential Conference, J-Wire, JAZY, Jerusalem, Jerusalem Festival of Light, June, Kangarusski, Kangarusskis, Maccabi, Maccabi Sports Leadership Program, MASA, Melbourne, MSLP, new south wales, newsletter, olim, Philip Chester, queensland, Sasha Kliatchkina, Shvil Yisrael, south australia, Sydney, Taglit Birthright Israel, taglit-birthright, Telfed, The Other Son, Victoria, Vivid Sydney, youth, zfa, ZFA Israel Programs, zionist federation of Australia
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ZFA President to present at Israeli Presidential Conference
Panel to discuss Jewish community outside of Israel, United States
11 June 2013
Zionist Federation of Australia President Philip Chester is in elite company with current and former world leaders (including Shimon Peres, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and Mikhail Gorbachev), innovative academics (Professors Daniel Kahneman and Dan Ariely, and Dr Rush Westheimer) and international superstars (Barbra Streisand, Sharon Stone and Israel’s Rita): They will all be presenters at the 2013 Israeli Presidential Conference, 19-21 June in Jerusalem.
More than 4,000 of the world’s most influential Jewish community leaders, entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and academics from around the world are expected to attend the conference.
Chester is one of five community leaders who will be on the 20 June panel “The Tomorrow of the 20%: Jewish Communities Outside Israel and the United States”.
“So much focus of discussion and news about Jewish continuity outside of Israel comes from the United States, but it is so important for others to note how different other Diaspora communities are from each other and from the United States,” Chester said. “The panel will be an opportunity for the rest of the world to see and understand different ways that Australia has maintained a strong Zionist and Jewish identity in the Diaspora. It will also give us a chance to have a dialogue with other communities and learn ideas and ways that may make our community greater.”
The other panellists hail from France, Mexico, the former Soviet Union and Israel. The panellists have a wide range of community, academic and business experience. Continue reading
Posted in Aussies in Israel, Events, News, Upcoming Events, ZFA News
Tagged 2013 Israeli Presidential Conference, Australia, Barbra, Barbra Streisand, Bill Clinton, Dan Ariely, Daniel Kahneman, diaspora, Dr Rush Westheimer, Dr. Ruth, Israel, Jerusalem, Jewish, Judaism, Mikhail Gorbachev, Philip Chester, President, Rita, Sharon Stone, Shimon Peres, Streisand, Tony Blair, United States, zfa, zionist federation of Australia
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Hagshama CINEMAtek: ‘The Other Son’
12 June 2013
CinemaTEK continues to be a great success, bringing the latest Israeli film releases alongside the classics, to the young adults of Sydney, with the latest screening, in Bondi, a gathering of 30 young adults from across Sydney on June 4 for “The Other Son”.
“We usually screen Israeli films, but we chose this time to screen French film The Other Son,” said Hagshama Co-ordinator Dana Amir. “The wall that divides Israel from Palestine towers many times over head. Lined with razor wire, fortified with steel and watched over by a ceaseless procession of armed Israeli guards, it stands as a dramatic physical representation of a people divided. In French director Lorraine Lévy’s The Other Son, the stark and haunting image of this wall also embodies the impenetrable barriers of identity that we build around ourselves”.
The movie starts with an impossible twist of fate and ends with a random tragic circumstance, totally divorced from the logical progression of the story’s central conflict. The unfortunate result is that the film’s humanistic message of Continue reading
Posted in Events, Hagshama, Past Events, ZFA News
Tagged Bondi, CINEMAtek, Hagshama, Sydney, The Other Son, zfa, zionist federation of Australia
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IBC Volunteering 2013
Participants on Israel by Choice at volunteering sites.
Filming: Gaby Grabin
Editor and Director: Yigal Sela
 As part of Israel by Choice, a long-term Israel program mostly for school-leavers on a gap year, participants must choose a place to volunteer for part of their program. Multiple options are available to them.During their volunteering, they usually work with others on their program and sometimes meet volunteers from across the world. They also work closely with the Israeli staff.”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 For students with disabilities, ages 6-21, Volunteers interviewed: Nadia Shnier, Melbourne Sophie Davis, Melbourne Kfar Nachman farm Therapeutic farm and horses, for ages 2-adults Volunteers interviewed: Adrian (AJ) Rich, Melbourne Tarquin Milecki, MelbourneShikma Small village for 194 people with retardation Volunteers interviewed: Daniel Edelman, Melbourne Tarryn Smith, Sydney Danielle Joffe, Melbourne Leket |
Posted in Aussies in Israel, Israel Programs, Multimedia, News, ZFA News
Tagged Agam School, Australia, disabilities, food, IBC, Israel, Israel by Choice, Israelis, Kfar Nachman, Leket, MASA, MASA Israel Journey, meetnadvim, Melbourne, Shikma, Sydney, therapy, traveling, travelling, Volunteering, volunteers, Yigal Sela, zfa, ZFA Israel Programs, zionism, zionist federation of Australia
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Inaugural conference for Israelis in Oz
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 of Israelis in Australia (AIA). Its aims were to develop strategies to connect Israelis living in Australia with Continue reading
Posted in Events, News, Past Events, ZFA News
Tagged Adelaide, AIA, Association of Isrelis in Australia, Australia, Azriel Nevo, Beth Weizmann Community Centre, Brisbane, Gary Vitkin, Gold Coast, Israeli Scouts, Israelis, JAFI, Jewish Agency for Israel, Melbourne, Monika Lev-Cohen, Perth, Philip Chester, shlichim, sunshine coast, Sydney, zfa, zionist federation of Australia
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Youth Movement Winter Camps 2013
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
Posted in Affiliate News, Events, News, Regular events, Upcoming Events, Youth Movement Camps
Tagged Adelaide, AZYC, betar, Bnei Akiva, Brisbane, camp, Gold Coast, Habo, habonim dror, Hashomer Hatzair, hashy, hineni, Melbourne, netzer, new south wales, NSW, Perth, queensland, Sydney, Victoria, winter, zfa, zionist, zionist federation of Australia, Zionist Youth
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ZFA In the News
13 June 2013 – J-Wire, “The Diaspora minus the United States”, preview of ZFA President Philip Chester’s presentation at the 2013 Israeli Presidential Conference
13 June 2013 – J-Wire, “One Day with the ZFA”, a visit in Israel with long-term Israel Programs Israel by Choice (IBC) and Maccabi Sports Leadership Program (MSLP)
11 June 2013 – The Age, “Heading to Peres’ 90th” (in Melbourne Life briefs), ZFA President Philip Chester will be among the celebrities, world leaders, entrepreneurs and academics attending the Israeli Presidential Conference, in Jerusalem. Read it in print or online
6 June 2013 – Ha’aretz, ” ‘Bloody Israelis’ Down Under”, about Israeli expats finding more acceptance in the Australian community, with the ZFA/JAFI “Israelis in Australia” conference a positive event
26 May 2013 – SBS Radio – Nitza Lowenstein interviews ZFA Executive Director Ginette Searle (English) and Eitan Drori (Hebrew) (here and here), President of Association of Israelis in Australia, to talk about Israelis in Australia Conference
24 May 2013 – Australian Jewish News, print (page 8 in Sydney) (page 8 in Melbourne, 31 May) “Support for new olim,” about the ZFA’s deal with Telfed for aliyah absorption services. “Support for new olim,” about the ZFA’s deal with Telfed for aliyah absorption services
24 May 2013 – Australian Jewish News, print (page 5 in Melbourne, page 4 in Sydney) and online, “Preserving Israeli identity in Australia,”interview with Azriel Nevo, guest and featured speaker at Israelis in Australia Conference, co-hosted by the ZFA, Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and Association of Israelis in Australia (AIA)
23 May 2013 – Ha’aretz, “Australian immigrants to get more help in their first year in Israel,” article about ZFA partnership with Telfed for immigration absorption services (non-paywall text available here)
20 May 2013 – J-Wire, “Israelis in Australia,” Israelis in Australia Conference
29 April 2013 – iZionist (WZO), “ZFA Participants attend ANZAC Day Commemoration in Jerusalem”
29 April 2013 – Telfed/ZFA Partnership, on Telfed website and J-Wire
28 April 2013 – JPost, “Record attendance at Jerusalem ANZAC Day Commemoration,” ZFA Israel Programs participants attend commemoration event
18 April 2013 – JTA, “Sydney University student council votes for academic boycott of Israel,” ZFA President Philip Chester quoted saying that the entire university leadership won’t change their minds on maintaining academic cooperation with the Technion.
17 April 2013 – Ha’aeretz, “In Australia, a Zionist Tent of Many Colors,” ZFA President Philip Chester notes that despite a diversity of opinions from the community about Israel, the community is still supportive of Israel
16 April 2013 – J-Wire, “Yom Hazikaron across Australia,” ZFA’s summaries of Yom Hazikaron commemorations
16 April 2013 – The Australian, “Appalling attempt to boycott Israeli uni,” Op-ed by Philip Chester reacts to Sydney University students
5 April 2013 – ZFA President Philip Chester and ZCV President Sam Tatarka were appalled at the AJDS’s call to boycott Israeli products from the West Bank on the eve of Passover, as reported in Ha’aretz, the JTA, the AJN and J-Wire
Posted in ZFA in the news
Tagged AJN, australian jewish news, Haaretz, iZionist, J-Wire, JTA, Jwire, Philip Chester, WZO, zfa, zionist federation of Australia
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Olim get new absorption services
ZFA partners with Telfed for services for new immigrants on arrival in Israel
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
Posted in Aussies in Israel, News, ZFA News
Tagged absorption, ginette searle, immigration, Israel, olim, Philip Chester, Telfed, zfa, zionist federation of Australia
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Chag Ha’atzmaut Sameach
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
Posted in Blog, Israel Opinions, News, Regular events, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut, ZFA News
Tagged Israel, Israel @ 65, Philip Chester, Yom Ha'atzmaut, Yom HaZikaron, zfa, Zionist Councils, zionist federation of Australia
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