A meeting with the Governor-General

Representatives from the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) took part in a roundtable discussion with Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Admiralty House on Wednesday, October 21.

The group shared reflections on the Jewish student experience on campus since the Bondi attack of December 14, emphasising the capacity for words to lead to violence and noting that this was especially true on Australian university campuses.

AUJS president Jeremy Suss said in his opening remarks that despite the difficulties of the past three years, young Jewish Australians remained committed to celebrating their identity and to living up to the legacy of previous generations who had worked to make the country better.

“Our sense of belonging in Australia has been shaken by the tragedy of Bondi and the wave of antisemitism that we have been subjected to,” Suss said.

“But we dream as Sir Zelman Cowen did for unity to triumph over division, and for Jewish youth to grow up to inherit a country in which they can be safe, where they can cherish their culture and raise families without fear or violence.”