Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrated at Melbourne Uni

On April 22 a group of Jewish faculty and students at the University of Melbourne gathered to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut in the Old Quad in the heart of the university.

Nathan Ben-David, president of MUJSS, and Jasper Sherman, president of AUJS Victoria, welcomed students and staff. Rabbi Baruch Broh, the Jewish chaplain, arrived carrying pita bread, falafel, salads, hummus, tahina and tefillin.

Mah Nishtana? It is Israel’s 78th birthday. There was a festive atmosphere and the sound system played Israeli music. MUJSS students gather every Wednesday for lunch, a shmooze, and to support each other.

Professor Jane Gunn, the university’s Provost, and Professors Steven Prawer, Katy Barnett and myself attended the Yom Ha’atzmaut lunch in solidarity. Professor Glyn Davis, the acting vice-chancellor (and vice-chancellor 2005-2018), said he was delighted to meet MUJSS students at the bagel lunch on the previous Wednesday but was unable to attend on Yom Ha’atzmaut because security had locked down the Raymond Priestly Building.

The University of Melbourne, founded in 1858, ranks number 30 in the world. The university is steeped in academic history and Jewish soul. Sir Isaac Isaacs (1855- 1948) the first Australian-born Governor-General, graduated in law in 1880. Sir John Monash (1868-1932) Australia’s greatest military commander, graduated in law and engineering in the 1880s. He co-founded the Melbourne Student Union. Sir Zelman Cowen (1919-2011) another Governor-General, graduated in law in 1940.