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50 council members'Generational opportunity for stronger Israel'

Aussies represent on Voice

The forum established by Israeli President Isaac Herzog to strengthen understanding and collaboration between Israelis and the Diaspora.

By Peter Kohn February 6, 2025, 11:12 am Edit
Tracie Olcha (left) and her sister Mandy Katz-Jaffe with their cousin Danny Majzner whose sister Galit Carbone, an Israeli-Australian, was killed near Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7, 2023.
Tracie Olcha (left) and her sister Mandy Katz-Jaffe with their cousin Danny Majzner whose sister Galit Carbone, an Israeli-Australian, was killed near Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7, 2023.

Seven individuals from Australia have been appointed to the council of Kol Ha’am (Voice of The People/VoP), the forum established by Israeli President Isaac Herzog to strengthen understanding and collaboration between Israelis and the Diaspora.

They are among 50 council members representing the non-North American Diaspora, with another 50 from North America and 50 from Israel, all selected for two-year terms. They will confer in a monthly online plenum, and will take part in the next annual gathering of VoP on March 26.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin, who will be part of a group dealing with “Israel and Global Jewry relations”, said, “We have a generational opportunity to chart the course to a stronger Israel and to reinvigorate Jewish communities. I’m pleased to be a part of the council, and to contribute my energy and ideas to its holy work.”

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler, who has been appointed to an investigation into “Polarisation and dialogue among different Jewish communities”, said VoP “represents a critical platform for fostering dialogue and collaboration, not only between Israelis and the Diaspora but also among diverse communities across the global Jewish world”.

Tracie Olcha will join a team examining “Rising above antisemitism”. She spearheaded two Australian Jewish Funders missions to Israel last year, in March and September. She said she will “collaborate with diverse Jewish leaders, activists and change-makers from around the world, leveraging our collective wisdom to develop innovative, inclusive and actionable solutions to the pressing challenges facing the global Jewish community”.

Describing VoP as “a timely and important initiative”, Amanda Miller, appointed to the same group as Ryvchin, reflected, “My time spent in Israel since October 7, where I have witnessed the extraordinary resilience and hope of the Israeli people, has deepened my resolve to contribute to this important work.”

Australian-born Rabbi Benji Levy, a reservist in the IDF’s Spokesperson Unit, was named as one of three top global change-makers working for Diaspora Jewry by Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon, and awarded ‘Educator of the Year’ by JNF for his leadership and service.

Dr David Bryfman, who attended Mount Scopus Memorial College and Habonim, is CEO of the Jewish Education Project in the US, working on identity development with Jewish adolescents.

Dr Natalie Rens is the AI specialist for the Office of the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, founder of Spaceport AI and of the Queensland AI group.

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