Delegates to come together this Sunday
The invited delegates reflect the religious, political and cultural diversity of the Australian Jewish community, with up to 100 delegates from across Australia making their way to Melbourne for the event.
The Kol Ha’am – Voice of the People conference initiated by Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to take place this Sunday, June 18 in Melbourne at the Beth Weizmann Community Centre.
In partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel and the World Zionist Organisation, the conference was initiated as part of a greater project regarding Israel’s connection to and understanding of the Jewish communities in the Diaspora.
The invited delegates reflect the religious, political and cultural diversity of the Australian Jewish community, with up to 100 delegates from across Australia making their way to Melbourne for the event.
“The Kol Ha’am conference presents a timely opportunity for an inter-communal and international dialogue about key issues concerning world Jewry,” Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said.
“President Herzog’s initiative is a significant step toward strengthening the relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jewry and is a prime opportunity for us to engage with community representatives from different backgrounds about collective goals and challenges regarding Zionism and Jewish identity.
“It is exciting to see the interest this conference has generated and we look forward to learning from the outcomes of this important initiative.”
His sentiments were echoed by ZFA CEO Ginette Searle.
“The Kol Ha’am initiative is a pragmatic way of bringing together thinkers and leaders, particularly among younger cohorts, to raise important issues and work on strategic solutions, and will ensure that diverse perspectives from across the Australian Jewish community are included in this important global dialogue,” Searle said.
Melbourne was chosen as one of 14 Diaspora cities around the world to participate in the initial consultation stage of the Voice of the People initiative.
Herzog first announced the plan for a global consultation with world Jewry and the landmark establishment of a worldwide Jewish advisory council under the Office of the President during a speech on Sunday, April 23 to representatives of the Jewish Federations of North America in Tel Aviv, just prior to Israel’s 75th Independence Day.
Calling it a “Jewish Davos”, Herzog said the point of the initiative is for the global Jewish community – both within Israel and without – to gather and discuss issues of key importance. Its members will represent all parts of world Jewry.
The point, Herzog stressed, is not necessarily consensus but dialogue.
“The fact is that between our Jewish communities, and between them and the State of Israel, we are growing at times more distant from one another. On some of the most essential questions, we are unable to agree. But, more concerning, often, we are unable even to discuss,” he said.
The initiative, he said, “will be a place where we can engage in serious, sensitive, and strategic discussions on the most complex and pressing issues facing our people. A place where we formulate concrete proposals and action items to address them”.
“But, most importantly, a place to cultivate the next generation of Jewish leaders. I consider this to be its most important function.”
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