Sisters honoured for the fight that changed the law

The three sisters whose campaign forced Malka Leifer’s extradition to Australia have been inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, recognised in the Change Agent category at a ceremony in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper were nominated collectively and inducted together, joining more than 790 women recognised since the Honour Roll was established.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Women and Girls Gabrielle Williams, who formally inducted the 2026 cohort, told Erlich in a letter notifying her of the induction that the sisters shared the “leadership, tenacity, and unwavering determination” of previous inductees.

“You are rightly an inspiration for all Victorians,” Williams wrote.

The sisters were abused by Leifer while she was principal of the Adass Israel School in Melbourne. Leifer left Australia for Israel within hours of the school’s board becoming aware of the allegations in 2008. She was arrested in Israel in 2014.