Our Champion Advocate
Levy told The AJN that Australian Jewry should be proud of mobilising to support their fellow Jews.
Eylon Levy connected with over 5000 members of the Australian Jewish community during his jam-packed tour of the country for JNF Australia.
The former Israeli government spokesman shared insights into his day-to-day life since the beginning of the war and highlighted the importance of unifying as a global community to help heal and re-build Israel.
“Australia is witnessing its own great Diaspora awakening, or since you abbreviate everything, the GDA – a global display of Jewish mateship,” Levy said in front of a sell-out crowd at Central Synagogue.
“Australia’s embattled Jews have been true battlers. I know every single person in this room feels a personal responsibility for Israel’s continued survival, because rebuilding Israel’s south is critical for Israel’s future.
“Israel is not going to heal itself, and antisemitism is not going to disappear itself. And so I have come Down Under to help build Israel’s down under, from the land of Nir Oz, Nahal Oz, to ‘Oz’.”
Levy told The AJN that Australian Jewry should be proud of mobilising to support their fellow Jews.
“After the October 7 massacre, the whole world scrambled to get humanitarian aid into Gaza. But only the Jewish Diaspora has lifted a finger to supply humanitarian aid to Israelis, because so many of them lost everything that dark day,” said Levy.
Levy’s nine-day visit included travelling to Canberra for meetings and visiting the Melbourne and Perth Jewish communities.
One of his focuses was meeting with schools and, in Sydney, he spoke to students from Moriah College, Emanuel School, Masada College and BJE.
“I was personally surprised to discover the extent of concern about antisemitism,” said Levy.
“We can still turn the tide by exposing the nutters. This was a speaking tour with JNF Australia, but also a listening tour to exchange notes about how to fight this hate. One of my main messages was to young people, and I met with students from seven schools: they are not just Gen-Z, they are Gen-Zionist, and that means standing up to bullies.”
President of JNF NSW Jason Eisner said, “It was heartening to witness the incredible turnout for our annual campaign. We were deeply moved by the words of Eylon Levy, a hero defending Israel with his mind and voice.”
JNF national president Steven Salamon said it was a “privilege” to bring the community together to hear from Levy.
“Eylon Levy was able to highlight the fortitude and resilience of the people of Israel and, in particular, our communities in the south who directly suffered at the hands of the October 7 terrorists, and which we have been able to assist with aid flowing to them from the first days of the war.
JNF Israel emissary Sarah Vanunu said this year’s campaign is unlike previous years, with the needs of the affected communities being “immense and vast”.
“It is about meeting the urgent needs of the moment,” she said.
comments