Glasman promotes community harmony
"I've been extraordinarily honoured to have worked with successive Victorian premiers and governors to advance harmony between different faith and ethnic communities," says Glasman.
St Kilda Shule’s Senior Rabbi, Yaakov Glasman, is in the running to win a prestigious award for his multicultural work.
He is a finalist in the Premier’s Award for Community Harmony and has also been nominated for the Multicultural Honour Roll.
Both are part of the Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence to honour Victorians who foster cross-cultural relationships.
Rabbi Glasman’s multicultural work started 20 years ago when living in Doncaster, while serving as rabbi of the North Eastern Jewish Centre.
He said it has continued since then at St Kilda Shule, which has hosted approximately 500 visits annually from diverse groups to learn about Judaism.
“Some of our visitors have never met a Jew before let alone been inside a synagogue. I’ve been extraordinarily honoured to have worked with successive Victorian premiers and governors to advance harmony between different faith and ethnic communities,” Glasman said.
He said he is deeply appreciative that he was nominated by Jewish community stalwart David Marlow who himself has been very involved in multicultural work for many years.
“It feels pretty surreal and, honestly, quite overwhelming to have been shortlisted as a finalist in this area of work about which I am passionate. I have met so many beautiful people along the way and have formed friendships that transcend politics – including with my very dear friend the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli who has been an extraordinarily strong voice in opposing the recent spike in antisemitism since October 7,” he said.
Glasman believes working on community harmony is now more important than ever.
He said he has been touched by the outpouring of love and support from so many of the dozens of communities he has worked with over the years, who have reached out to him to show their solidarity with the Jewish community.
“I view my work in this space not as a personal achievement but as testament to the Jewish community as a whole which stands as a beacon of peace in our state,” Glasman said.
The award winners will be announced at an event at Government House on December 19.
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