Iranian and Israeli perspectives shared at NCJWA

The National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (NCJWA) hosted a thought-provoking luncheon late last month bringing together Iranian and Israeli perspectives.

The event, held on June 25 at Arnold Bloch Leibler in Sydney, featured two speakers sharing their lived experiences of the Israel-Iran conflict and its impact on families and communities.

Iranian Australian dissident lawyer Artoniss Ehsani spoke about the overwhelming support among the Iranian diaspora for Israel’s recent actions against Iran’s military regime.

Ehsani expressed deep concern for family and friends still in Iran, particularly given government-imposed communication blackouts. She emphasised that while the Iranian people yearn for freedom, they lack resources to bring about regime change without external support.

Israeli educator Hilli Lam gave a personal account of the war’s impact on Israeli society, describing the psychological toll on families living under constant threat of attack and the daily reality of bomb shelters.

Lam spoke of her cousin, one of the female lookout soldiers murdered on her base on October 7, 2023, and emphasised the importance of extending educational programs into mainstream Australian schools to counter misinformation.

Iranian academic and journalist Dr Saba Vasefi highlighted the emotional burden faced by Iranians both in Australia and abroad. She spoke of frustration when others attempt to dictate how Iranians should respond to the conflict, given the brutal oppression experienced under the Islamic regime.

Vasefi expressed shock that supporters of the “Women Life Freedom” movement three years ago were now backing the Iranian regime in its war against Israel.

The speakers concluded with a hopeful message that ordinary Iranians and Israelis are united by a shared desire to live in peace and dignity.

NCJWA president Lynda Ben-Menashe said the event was another example of the close collaboration between Australian Jewish women’s organisations.