Connection between Israel and Australian Jews

Israeli ambassador to Australia Dr Hillel Newman declared there is now a “covenant of blood” between Israel and Australian Jews as a packed Toorak Shule fell silent for an emotional Yom Hazikaron ceremony on Monday night.

The evening, organised by Zionism Victoria with the support of JNF, UIA the Gandel Foundation and other groups, drew a capacity crowd to the historic synagogue for a ceremony themed “Magal Hazikaron – Cycle of Memory.”

In moving remarks, Newman linked the Bondi attack of last year directly to the Israeli national experience of loss.

“When the Bondi Beach attack occurred, I was still in Israel,” he said.

“The shock over the attack swept the entire nation of Israel as if they were Israelis killed on the streets of Tel Aviv. There is now a covenant of blood between Israel and the Jews of Australia.”