Yaakov Hagoel brings message of solidarity

World Zionist Organisation chairman Yaakov Hagoel accompanied Israel’s President Isaac Herzog on his visit to Australia in February, meeting with Melbourne’s Jewish community organisations, including a visit to Leibler Yavneh College.

At a February 12 event, hosted by Kosher Meals on Wheels in collaboration with Emunah Australia, WIZO Victoria and YJP, Hagoel said the visit was intended to express solidarity with the Australian Jewish community in the aftermath of the Bondi Chanukah attack.

During an interview with The AJN‘s Editor-at-large Sharyn Kolieb at the event, Hagoel shared in Hebrew that when he heard about the Bondi massacre he said to Israel’s President, “This is by far the biggest terror attack that’s occurred outside of Israel for the last 31 years,” referring to the bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre in Argentina in 1994 that killed 85 people, and he felt it was important to come to Australia to express solidarity.

Hagoel described his meetings with Bondi survivors and mourners as the most significant part of the visit, noting that they had been recognised by the Israeli government as victims of terrorism.

Turning to Israel, Hagoel reaffirmed that Israel was a home for all Jewish people and pointed to the strength of its continued growth. He highlighted that within the next five years most of the Jewish people in the world will be living in Israel and that since October 7, 2023, 183,000 babies in Israel have been born, and over 50,000 have made Aliyah, many choosing to live in Israel rather than seeking refuge.