Letters, January 28, 2011

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Picking up the tab for the floods

IF the catastrophic floods in Queensland were an act of God, as Ronnen Shapiro states in Vox Pop (AJN 21/01), then shouldn’t those who prayed for rain foot the clean-up bill?

Henry Herzog

St Kilda East, Vic

Putting the unity into community appeals

THERE is an old saying, “Two Jews have three opinions.” There now seems to be a newer version of this: “Two Jews collect for three appeals.”

If we want to be seen as “the Jewish community cares”, then we should do such through one channel and one channel only. It makes little sense that one Jewish organisation wants to hand over to the Salvos the funds they have collected, a second one wants to use it to help Aboriginal communities in northern NSW, a third one does not seem to know yet how to apply the funds, and a fourth one wants to use it for Jewish victims of the floods.

In the end, it is not of paramount importance how funds collected are applied, for surely the need is in many places. But there should be one appeal and not half-a-dozen, none raising enough funds to justify speaking for Australian Jewry alone.

We have a federal roof body in the form of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. They should organise and coordinate through the various affiliated state bodies so that not every tax-deductible organisation tries to earn some kudos in running their own appeal, but that it is done by one federally appointed organisation only.

This is the only way we can achieve  recognition that “Australian Jews care for Australia”. Even if it is too late now for the Queensland floods, it should be done now for future cases. Last year, we had the Victorian fires, now we have Queensland floods. There is no doubt we will have other occurrences in the future.

Georges M Teitler

Mosman, NSW

Turning the tables on Israel boycotters

MAY I respectfully suggest that your paper carry a weekly feature – perhaps entitled “Boycotting the Boycotters” – listing those people and organisations that boycott Israel, so that we may in turn boycott the boycotters – be they fools, cowards, political opportunists, anti-Semites or all of the above.

Your readers should be reminded every week between now and March 26 of the article that appeared in The AJN on December 9: “At its state conference last weekend – held in the run-up to the NSW election in March – the NSW Greens passed a proposal by consensus for Australians and the Australian Government to ‘boycott Israeli goods, trading and military arrangements, and sporting, cultural and academic events as a contribution to the struggle to end Israel’s occupation and colonisation of Palestinian territory, the siege of Gaza and imprisonment of 1.5 million people and Israel’s institution of a system of apartheid.’”

In April, Elvis Costello will be appearing at the State Theatre. If any of your readers are foolish enough to contemplate shelling out $150 for a ticket, perhaps they might recall what Costello said in April 2010:

“As soon as you play, you are going to get criticised, I know that there are organisations who think that they need to boycott Israel to pressure it. I, as opposed to them, think that culture is the only way in which humanity shares experiences and that is why I need to come and perform here.’’

Then, in May, he announced that he will not perform in Israel because of its treatment of the Palestinians.

And of course, in the unlikely event that anybody has any dealings with Marrickville Council, they too could be reconsidered.

Let businesses and so-called academics who don’t want to have dealings with Israel be identified so that we can avoid dealings with them.

Our votes, our dollars, our very presence are powerful. Let us marshal them against this latest pernicious attack.

Val Bellamy

Rose Bay, NSW

Protecting the viability of the retail sector

I have not “stepped away” from the Retail Coalition campaign for a “level playing field” for all retailers. The AJN article of January 14 is incorrect.

The Government policy of allowing overseas-based online retailers to avoid all Australian custom duties and GST on goods under $1000 significantly advantages overseas retailers, thereby seriously disadvantaging retailers and importers in Australia.

The real issue arising from this unfair competition is the impact on Australian retailers and importers, Australian jobs, government revenues and the billions of dollars that are being sent to benefit the economies of other countries, that otherwise would be circulating in Australia and driving economic activity and growth here.

The issue is not about industry protection or a fear of competition. It is about unfair competition and its consequences.

Australian retailers provide millions of jobs directly and indirectly, paying wages, rents, duties, corporate taxes and also collecting GST for the Government. Overseas retailers do not contribute to any of these for the betterment of Australians.

It is for the same reason that the Governments of the United States, the UK, Sweden, Canada and China among others, have already levied these taxes to protect their citizens by providing a “level playing field” ensuring fair competition.

Unless addressed, this issue will inevitably continue to adversely impact the entire retail chain – manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, property values and rentals – and the jobs and economic benefits that a strong retail sector delivers to the entire economy.

Our aim is to solely protect the long-term viability of the industry.

The Government has a choice; either remove GST and duties on all goods sold under $1000, or levy those same taxes on all goods coming in from overseas.

Solomon Lew

Chairman, Premier Investments

Ignoring non-Zionist youth movements

LIAM Getreu’s article, “Movements of the people” (AJN 21/01), presented many charms of Melbourne’s young Jewish community. Indeed, Jewish youth groups have taken the lead in providing an informal Jewish education for youth and allowing Jewish youth to find a form of Jewish identity that they best identify with. Australia is home to a large variety of these Jewish youth groups, whether Bundist or Zionist, religious or secular, political or apolitical.

Unfortunately, Getreu failed to mention this large variety of Jewish youth groups that exists in Australia.

By referring to just “Australia’s six youth movements”, a clear representation of the six Jewish youth groups who are members of the Zionist Youth Council, Getreu failed to account for various Jewish youth movements, including not only SKIF, but also other groups, like Jewish Scouts, Chabad Youth and others.

This omission is problematic on two counts: firstly, it fails to include a large proportion of Melbourne’s Jewish youth who do not fall into the mainstream represented by the six mentioned youth groups. Diversity is one of the Australian Jewish community’s greatest assets, and must be respected by all members of this ­community.

Secondly, this is problematic as Getreu seems to fail to see the difference between Jewish and Zionist youth movements. If this distinction was clear, the above omission would not have appeared in his article.

This confusion between Zionism and Jewishness is rather problematic. Let us be rather clear on this issue – while Zionism is a political belief that may be held of importance by many Jews, it cannot be confused with thousands of years of Jewish tradition, culture and history.

Jewish culture exists beyond the State of Israel and thrives in the Diaspora. As Jews in Melbourne, we know this all too well.

Our responsibility, as Jews, is to uphold the traditions, languages, culture and history that have been passed down to us by our ancestors. This responsibility exists independent of whether or not one is a Zionist.

In order to ensure a future for our Yiddishkeit, our Jewish culture and identity, we need to clearly understand that Jewish culture has existed in Jewish communities all around the world, long before Zionism existed as a political ideology, and will continue to exist all around the world long into the future.

Reyzl Zylberman

Forzitser (chairperson),

SKIF Melbourne

Don’t overlook MAIGs success

I have just returned from overseas and read with great interest the page 3 article on MAIGs (AJN 07/01).

It is a great pity that you chose to report on the Shabbaton without asking me (the project coordinator) for some feedback. I would have been more than happy to give you a story and was available to comment. There were a couple of incidents where athletes arrived off the plane unwell and therefore did not attend the Shabbaton.

Things happen, especially after a long trip. The American team was hit with gastro so it was prudent that they did not attend the Shabbaton.

We still had well over 200 athletes catered for by 55 families and I have many emails that I have kept that state the event was a huge success.

It makes me very sad when you obviously heard one or two bits of feedback and chose to report those stories without getting the full

picture. That is not accurate or fair reporting.

As a community, I believe we need to stick together and promote feelings of unity and harmony. It should never be an “us and them” mentality.

This is my two cents worth from the person who spent endless hours putting together the Shabbaton and was truly amazed by people’s kindness and willingness to open their home to strangers. Seeing the athletes arrive at Central shul, knowing they had a home to go to that night and an opportunity to feel the Aussie spirit, left me feeling very proud.

It was an absolute pleasure to be part of this positive experience and while there were incidences where people had fewer guests than anticipated, the majority of hosts understood “things happen beyond control when travelling long distances”.

Finally, as editor of Maccabi News for the last two years right up until October 2010, I heavily featured these games each and every week in some positive and exciting way.

As journalists promoting Jewish sport, it is our duty and role to instill enthusiasm and excitement about our community. Passion and pride is contagious and negative reporting does nothing but cause divide. Your article certainly got a reaction, but is it the right one?

Odile Faludi

Freelance writer, NSW

Caring for Israel’s trauma victims

ON my recent visit to Israel, I visited a well-known trauma centre in Tel Aviv called NATAL, which we have supported through our organisation, Pe’ula-Action for Israel, an Australian volunteer organisation that raises funds for victims of terror and war in Israel.

During the Carmel Forest fires, NATAL’s contact details were continuously flashed across TV screens throughout the country. NATAL’s hotline is the only one in Israel offering immediate and ongoing assistance to victims of “national psychotrauma”.

For the residents of the north, the fires brought back memories of the fires that raged in the summer of 2006 during the Second Lebanon War from Hezbollah’s onslaught of missile attacks.

It is estimated that 10 per cent of Israelis suffer from PTSD – post traumatic stress disorder. NATAL’s latest project is a mobile unit, composed of eight mental health professionals, which provides treatment to residents in the comfort of their own home.

Within this framework, more than 180 families have been treated this year, approximately 1000 people, most of whom are children and adolescents. The unique model of the mobile unit was developed by NATAL to treat populations under fire within conflict zones.

Especially as the rockets continue to fall in the south of the country causing injury and damage to several communities, I feel privileged to support an organisation that plays such an important role in giving Israeli victims of war and terror the ability to cope with their losses and remain productive members of Israeli society.

Leah Adler

Caulfield North, Vic

Special significance of Australia Day to Jews

PAUSE and ponder. Just what does Australia Day mean to you? And also, what does United Nations International Holocaust Day mean to you? This question is maybe even more pertinent with the commemoration falling on January 27, one day after Australia Day.

Since the First Fleet arrived in 1788, European Jews have made quite incredible contributions to almost every aspect of Australian life. They have contributed in so many different ways, and generally, in a quiet and often behind-the-scenes way, helped the nation develop and become the great and different land it is today.

They have walked with the nation’s leaders and attained the highest positions in the land. Their humour and even their Yiddish sayings are becoming more and more part of the daily vernacular. Chutzpah and (dare I say) even shmuck (without really knowing the meaning) are bandied about.

Australia has become a haven for thousands of Holocaust survivors and, with some exceptions, a haven away from anti-Semitism and hatreds, prejudice and racism.

It has enabled Jews to be themselves, carry out their various ways of following their Judaism, its traditions and, above all, live as individuals, as long as they have followed the nation’s laws.

Let us join with our fellow Australians in celebrating Australia this week. Let us also pause and remember the millions of Jews (and others) who did not have the opportunity to survive man’s inhumanity to men, women and children in the horrendous Holocaust.

We must ensure that we keep alive and spread the messages of the Holocaust, genocide and ethnic cleansing in all their horrendous forms, and also of the millions of refugees around the world and that we must somehow solve the basically ignored refugee problem on an international basis.

Stan Marks

Caulfield, Vic