Minister’s Jewish education
MINISTER for Multicultural Affairs Nicholas Kotsiras praised the unity and harmony of the Jewish community during a tour of Jewish sites last Wednesday.
MINISTER for Multicultural Affairs Nicholas Kotsiras praised the unity and harmony of the Jewish community during a tour of Jewish sites last Wednesday.
The Greek-born minister accompanied Caulfield MP David Southwick on the tour of Caulfield Hebrew Congregation and the Jewish Museum of Australia where he met religious and lay leaders and learnt about Jewish traditions.
“At the Caulfield shul, we discussed various issues confronting the Jewish community and I was impressed by the multifaith events, particularly the bringing of Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities together in harmony,” Kotsiras said.
“The Jewish museum is a cultural institutions for all Victorians, not just the Jewish community and I encourage all Victorians to visit.”
The minister has been busy in the portfolio, last week announcing details of a new range of government grants and hosting a community forum to discuss changes to multicultural services in the state.
More than $1 million will be provided as part of the Baillieu Government’s Unity Through Partnerships grants, which will be extended to help Victoria’s diverse communities to collaborate and create multifaith or multicultural events.
“Diverse cultures, food, music and heritages can come together under this funding and create amazing new events that emphasise our multicultural harmony,” he said. “The boost to funding for culturally diverse festivals exhibits the strong commitment of the coalition government toward the multicultural sector.”
On Monday, Kotsiras travelled to Whittlesea, in Melbourne’s north, for the first of the government’s forums on multicultural issues.
“These forum sessions will provide government with the opportunity to have further conversations with the community about programs, policies and initiatives that further strengthen our community,” he said.
The forums also provide an opportunity for the minister to explain how the new look Victorian Multicultural Com mission is expected to work, via its eight new regional advisory councils.
Applications for membership of those regional advisory council are open for people from diverse backgrounds who feel they can represent the interests of their community.
NAOMI LEVIN
Pictured: (from left) David Southwick, Nicholas Kotsiras and Rabbi Ralph Genende. Photo: Peter Haskin
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