Premier in the house

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NSW Premier Kristina Keneally this week delivered her first address to the community since becoming premier in December last year.

She used the opportunity to announce a $53,000 government grant to Jewish House at the social welfare organisation’s inaugural business luncheon on Tuesday.

More than 300 people heard the Premier speak about the importance of the centre, which helps Jewish people in NSW in crisis.

“Jewish House is an organisation that is solely there to help others,” Keneally said. “It brings comfort to those in distress and offer support, shelters and counselling.

American-born Keneally, whose seat is in the eastern Sydney electorate of Heffron explained that she was well-versed in the work of Jewish House.

“When I became a member of parliament Jewish House was one of the first organisations I had the pleasure of visiting because it does so much work for people of south Sydney, in my electorate, and for the state.”

The premier also paid tribute to Jewish House chief executive Rabbi Mendel Kastel.

“As an individual, I have long held the belief that society runs at its best when socially, culturally and economically we all get that ¬†‘fair go’,” Keneally said. “The Jewish House and Rabbi Kastel are definitely the ‘fair go’ in action.”

The grant, as part of the Community Building Partnership Program, will be used to support renovations of the crisis accommodation in Flood Street, Bondi.

“We are going to be able to upgrade the crisis accommodation,” Rabbi Kastel said. “It means we can do a lot of upgrades that we need to do to the building that is very important to us.”

Delighted with the turnout at the small group’s first business luncheon, Rabbi Kastel said: “It was heartwarming to hear the Premier’s comments and to see so many people supporting Jewish House.

“I feel it is important to get the corporate sector together to be aware of community work.”

JOSHUA LEVI