Israelis shaping life in Australia

Once upon a time, Israelis who emigrated abroad faced stigma as ‘Yordim’, meaning ‘descending’.  But today, there is greater understanding that Israelis will move to the diaspora including Australia for a variety of reasons whether professionally or personally, and many will continue to be strongly connected to Israel.  Israelis within Australia have also provided an invaluable bridge between the local Australian Jewish community to Israel – bringing the latest Israeli music, food, culture and innovation.

University lecturer and analyst Dr Ron Porat referred to the Israel-born Jewish population of Australia in his doctorate as ‘Ausraelis’ – a combination of ‘Australians’ and ‘Israelis’. Porat estimates that people born in Israeli living in Australia are around 15,000 people – 10 per cent of Australian Jewish population. He notes that Israelis in Australia are multifaceted with different cultural, religious and political backgrounds.

The AJN spoke with Israelis in Australia to hear their insights, and some reflected that there is significant difference amongst Israelis who came to Australia since 7 October 2023, and those who arrived many years before.  As many new arrivals from Israel have experienced trauma from multiple conflicts.

“I see a big difference between me and the people who came here a decade ago. For example, we can be at the same age, we can be Israelis, we can even attend the same community functions… But we are different. I see myself only as Israeli at this stage, who lives in Australia for the last year and a half,” Urit Eshel-Sirton shared, who came to Australia to work in cyber technology.

Chairman of Global Israeli Leadership (GIL) Eitan Drori said GIL was founded to recognise the business and diplomatic benefits of Israelis living abroad for Israel and for Jewish communities in the diaspora.

“My aim with the Global Israeli Leadership is to give the Israelis who are leaving Israel for whatever periods of time, the feeling that they’re part of a people.”  He added, “We left Israel, but Israel did not leave us.”  Drori recently met with President Isaac Herzog and Chairman of World Zionist Organisation Yaakov Hagoel to discuss the benefits of the GIL.

Some Israelis have described feeling closer to the local Australian Jewish community since the 7 October 2023, as many Israelis initiated rallies and advocacy in support of the hostages.

Sharing her experience of becoming an activist, Vanina Vaisman-Levy said, “I just saw myself as a normal Israeli living in Australia, but I believe that a big shift happened after the 7th of October, and the way I describe it is that I feel some Israelis… came out to actually fill a gap… we felt that our…  community organisations… were being extremely silent or not responsive to other things that were happening after the 7th of October.”

This feeling led many Israelis to come together to organise rallies in support of the hostages, and advocacy trips to Canberra.

“We were not representing any official organisation. We were coming there as Israelis, to explain what was happening in Israel, but more importantly, to raise awareness of what was happening in Australia.” Vaisman-Levy said referring to growing antisemitism.

Vaisman-Levy is an Israeli lawyer and a postgraduate researcher in the field of migration studies.  She also felt that Israelis were yearning for their own social events to address their unique needs – which led her co-found ‘Sabras’ in Sydney, along with Dana Markowitz, Hagit Hashual, Liron Solomon and Elik Rotenberg.

In Melbourne, ‘Shelanu’ was founded by Hallely Kimchi – and it is a new Israeli/Jewish cultural hub bringing people together through music, art and meaningful experience.  Shelanu recently hosted renowned musician Shalom Hanoch for concerts.

In business, Renee Dvir founded ‘Israelis & friends in Tech’ Sydney, which has led to similar events in Victoria and Queensland.  It started when Dvir met another Israeli in tech in Sydney and they said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we knew each other?” Dvir began the network with 11 people and today the network has grown to around 120 people who meet each month, 30 per cent are non-Israelis and about 10 per cent are non-Jews interested in learning about Israeli tech.

As to what the future holds for Israelis in Australia? Drori would like to see Australian Israelis more represented amongst Australian Jewish communal leadership. He feels it’s about inclusivity, “Giving all the Jews in Australia a role and a part in decision making process.”

Porat said it is important to think about the next generation’s inclusion in the Australian Jewish community, as like all migrant communities, Israeli children are more likely to become more ‘Australian’, especially if they don’t attend Jewish schools.

“The Jewish community has a responsibility to open the door to impact the second generation – the kids either born here or came here as young kids, to connect them to the Jewish community.  It’s on the Jewish community to understand how to do it, and the only way to do it is to reach out to their parents,” Porat remarked.

Embracing the Israeli diaspora in Australia remains an important task for the Australian Jewish community – the benefits of which not only enhance the vibrancy of the local community but continue to be a powerful bridge to our home away from home in Israel.