Minister’s Caulfield Shule visit
The discussion covered topics such as antisemitism from both the far right and extreme anti-Israel left, the significance of Jewish outreach to foster interfaith connections...
Jewish community leaders engaged in a productive dialogue with Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs Colin Brooks last week, addressing various opportunities and challenges.
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) and Caulfield Shule hosted Brooks and Labor Member for Southern Metropolitan, Ryan Batchelor, for a tour of the synagogue.
Rabbi Daniel Rabin, synagogue president Dr Howard Zeimer, and vice-president Ruth Kurc provided insights into the Caulfield Shule community. A community roundtable, led by JCCV president Daniel Aghion, allowed representatives from diverse organisations to discuss their work and the hurdles they face, from the expense of upgrading ageing communal infrastructure, to the growth of out-of-school-hours Jewish education, from the spread of disinformation on Israel, to the benefits of multi-faith engagement.
The discussion covered topics such as antisemitism from both the far right and extreme anti-Israel left, the significance of Jewish outreach to foster interfaith connections, the financial burden of maintaining infrastructure such as synagogues, social issues including reconciliation and LGBTQI+ collaboration, and ongoing efforts to promote gender equality within the Jewish community.
Brooks – who, since being sworn in as Minister for Multicultural Affairs in 2022, has attended many community events, including Yom Hashoah and Pillars of Light – said his understanding of the Jewish community stemmed from a trip he took to Israel in 2016.
He also noted the disparity between the open doors of his own church and the need for security outside the synagogue. He assured the Jewish community of the Victorian government’s awareness of the persistent threat of antisemitism. The government’s commitment of $3 million in the recent Victorian budget to combat antisemitism, along with efforts to strengthen anti-vilification laws such as prohibiting the public display of the Nazi swastika and the proposed ban on the Nazi salute, were also reiterated by Brooks.
Following politicians’ visit, Aghion said, “We are grateful, as a community, that is now more than 100 years old, of having had the opportunity to prosper in Victoria.”
He added, “In the current environment, which can seem hostile at times, the feeling is that the Victorian government has our back in its support of the community generally and specifically, in regards to antisemitism we are facing from the far left and the far right.”
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