When you see the name Peter Ivany AO many epithets probably spring to mind. Entrepreneur, investor, former CEO of Hoyts, Life Governor of the Sydney Swans, Life Governor of the JCA. Macher.
When I see the name Peter Ivany, I picture the sports-obsessed man who barely gets a word in at family dinners, the engaged grandfather (better with toddlers than babies) and pencil portrait artist. I know these things to be true because Peter Ivany is the lovable and eccentric father of my longtime friend Jessica. Over the past 25 years, Peter has shared many childhood anecdotes with me.
Which is why I was surprised to only recently learn that during his Habonim Shnat program, Peter was on Kibbutz Kfar HaNassi – a mere 10 kilometres west from the Golan Heights which border Syria – when the 1973 Yom Kippur War broke out.
On finishing high school Peter made the decision to take a gap year in Israel with the aim of expanding his horizons. His parents were far from thrilled as Peter would be the first in the family to leave Australia since their arrival as refugees following the second world war.
Peter’s year-long Hachsharah (training program) combined historical, political and cultural seminars, Hebrew classes and physically demanding labour. The 18-year-old’s excellent work ethic was noticed by leadership, and he was invited to join the highly sought after hashkayah (irrigation) team to maintain the orchard’s apples, oranges and grapefruit. The job was gruelling, but Peter was proud of the contribution he was making.
When asked how he and his mates let loose, Peter becomes animated. “On Fridays before Shabbat, we’d have a football game.”
It’s clear these days were some of the most exhilarating of Peter’s life. He recalls the frequent sing-a-longs, and the stories told by the elders describing the backbreaking methods they used to build the kibbutz by hand. “It was really chalutzic (pioneering).”
Of course Peter was aware of where he was geographically.
“We used to look down at the border,” he says nonchalantly, “but we weren’t that worried about it.”
And then October 6, 1973 came around.
It was a Saturday. Yom Kippur.
Peter remembers reading in his dorm when loud explosions shook the room. “Because we had an air force base about three kilometres away, we just thought it was the boom from planes breaking the sound barrier,” he recalled.
“There will be a right side of history and the Jewish people will be on it. I believe in us.”
But then somebody called out “War!”
Peter was told to go to the miklatim (bomb shelters) and to stay there.
“All the bunks were broken, there was overgrown grass, we had one light between 40 people,” he said, explaining that everyone gathered around one tiny battery-operated radio to listen to the news which wasn’t providing citizens the full picture to avoid panic.
Peter couldn’t stand being cooped up in the shelter, so he snuck out with some friends. “We thought we were invincible.”
Peter was soon hit with the reality of the war. They watched as missiles made chalky contrails in the sky before bringing down Israeli planes.
“Remember, in ’67 our air force won that six-day war. So, when we looked into the valley and all we could see was smoke, we knew the situation was dire.”
Parents were ringing the Habonim chanichim on the single phone line, begging them to evacuate the war zone. When Peter’s parents rang him, they didn’t emotionally blackmail him, despite their own trauma of having survived the Holocaust. They simply asked what he wanted to do.
Peter was emphatic. “I have to stay here to support everyone, I can’t leave our chalutzim who built this country, I can’t leave our brothers.”
I ask Peter if it was bravery or good leadership which prompted him to make that decision. “I never felt brave,” he responds, “I just knew it was the right thing to do.”
Peter’s father endured eight and a half months in Auschwitz; a reality that had always inspired him to persevere through challenging times.
A few days into the war, Peter was given the enormous responsibility of driving a truck to Kiryat Shmona – a city 5km from the Lebanese border – to get provisions for the kibbutz. Bombs were dropping overhead.
Despite the fraught situation, Peter recalls his deep-seated belief in Israel’s strength, “That’s just how I am. I’m still that way now.”
After the war ended, Peter was given another critical role; to assist the electrician wiring up the bunkers so that they would have proper heating and light if and when they next found themselves under attack. When the electrician caught pneumonia, 18-year-old Peter had to step up and lead the international volunteers.
Only once the job was complete, Peter travelled to Tel Aviv.
“Prior to the war, Dizengoff Street was wild, maniacal, exciting, it was wonderful,” he recalled. But after the war, Peter was shocked to find it dead quiet. 2656 Israeli soldiers had just been killed (approximately 1 in 1000 of the population at the time), around 7250 Israeli soldiers were wounded, and some were taken as prisoners of war.
The initial surprise attack had deeply affected the nation. Israelis lost their confidence and their sense of hope evaporated.
Peter reminds me that on October 6, 1973, “Arab forces broke through the first two or three defence lines, because nobody was there. It’s exactly what happened with Hamas on October 7, 2023. It was identical. It was so frightening.”
When Peter initially heard the news last year, he admits, “I could just feel it in my bones. It was 1973 all over again.”
Like all of us, Peter became extremely distressed by the news coming out of Israel.
“It was sickening, it took over my whole mind every minute of the day.”
But Peter’s inherent confidence and belief in Israel continues to be indefatigable.
“Back in 1973, Israel had a less developed economy, it only really had primary industries. It wasn’t the technological powerhouse it is today with a diversified, strong economy on a world scale.”
Israel is ranked among the top nations globally in GDP per capita, with its economy experiencing a 14-fold increase in per capita income since 1973. During the same period, Israel’s population has nearly tripled.
I try to ask Peter my next question but he’s on a roll.
“Israel also has a strong coordinated military and intelligence, enormous determination, resilience and a great will to survive. They were surprised by Hamas, but they’ve got such a demanding presence over Hezbollah. I feel confident that with the support of America they will be successful in defeating Iran.”
Peter hopes to see a change of leadership in Iran to bring sustainable peace in the Middle East.
I tell Peter he’s clearly still connected to his 18-year-old belief that Israel will be OK. Peter nods.
“Some believe we are the chosen people, but we have no choice. There’s no second option here.”
While Peter is confident that Israel will come out of war stronger and more successful – albeit with some serious ramifications – he’s uncertain about the future safety of Jews in Australia.
Peter remains appalled by levels of anti-Jewish racism he has witnessed over the past year. But he continues to hope that everyday Australians will recognise the significant contributions that Jews have made to this country, as well as their efforts in supporting Western democracy in the Middle East.
“There will be a right side of history and the Jewish people will be on it. I believe in us.”
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