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Countering identity-motivated crime
The Victorian Government is reviewing current laws and investigation practices to find ways to counter identity-motivated crime, in the wake of recent attacks on Indian students. The ADC is working with other Jewish community organisations to develop a Jewish community submission to the inquiry. To read more about the inquiry go the Department of Justice website. To make suggestions for our submission contact the ADC.
To read the article "We are all in this together" by ADC Research Director, Deborah Stone, click here....
Multifaith future leaders feed the homeless
Youth from the ADC's Multifaith Future Leaders Program chopped vegetables, cut fruit, cleaned tables and served dinner to 60 homeless people as part of a joint charity project in St Kilda last week. Three chefs volunteered their expertise and worked together to facilitate the preparation of the meal. Charity is something that all religions have in common, and this was a great opportunity to focus on the good that different religions can do together.
 
INTERFAITH DIALOGUE - HOW WE CAN MAKE IT WORK FOR US
As part of the Basia Leinkram Lecture Series, the ADC hosted an evening with keynote speaker on Islamic Studies, Adam Goodvach. Goodvach is an internationally acclaimed lecturer on Islamic Studies, consultant to the JCCV, and currently studying a Masters in Islamic Studies. He also lectures at the Florence Melton Mini-School in Melbourne, and is an outreach presenter for the Parliament of World Religions.
 The lecture followed the annual AGM where the Stephen Minz Award for the Volunteer of the Year was presented to Mrs Annette Gladwin (pictured with Tony Levy) who has made an enormous contribution to the ADC in the areas of research and facilitating the ADC's Annual Appeal.
Parliament of World Religions 
The ADC will host a panel on integration of religious minorities at the Parliament of World Religions on Friday 4 December from 11.30am- 1pm. The panel brings together Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist & Sikh representatives to discuss the challenges of community development, education and identity in a multicultural society, observing their rituals and traditions and contributing to the broader society. To register, go to the Parliament of World Religions website.
The Jew in the Text - Antisemitism above and below the surface
The ADC Basia Leinkram Lecture Series committee hosted a wonderful evening of drama and film on 18 October. Directed by George Werther, the evening included readings from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, David Hare's Via Dolorosa and Arnold Wesker's Shylock and film clips from Chariots of Fire and Daniel Deronda. Discussants Deborah Stone, Dr Carmela Levy-Stokes and Michelle Prawer facilitated debate on these controversial texts, encouraging audience participation. The ADC thanks Lesley Gaspar and Rena Lopata for their work in organizing this informative and innovative event. To read the full article, click here...
To order a copy of the dvd, plse call (03) 9572 5770 Running time: 2 hrs 30 min.
  
Multifaith Future Leaders Program share celebrations
Jade, Rebecca, Dvorah and Nasro (left) are just four of the participants in this program which aims to connect students of different faith groups and develop leadership skills. The evening in the East Melbourne Synagogue's Succah was informative, educational and social as the students listened to Daniel Goodhardt explain the significance of Succot, while Abdul Al-Hasany explained the Muslim festival of Eid al Fitr and its significance. Rabbi Gutnick and Danny Segal welcomed all and conducted a tour of the shule, one of the oldest in Melbourne.
Racist graffiti attacks in Melbourne suburbs. To read the latest report in the Jewish News, please click on the link below: 
http://jewishnews.net.au/2009/09/14/passing-the-buck-on-swastika-graffiti/7735
Increase in hate crimes in Britain after Gaza
27 July 2009
British Jews are facing higher levels of racist attacks and intimidation
after more than 609 antisemitic incidents were recorded in the past year.
These ranged from verbal abuse to extreme violence and most took place in
London and Manchester. To read more, click here:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3751530,00.html
Website acts on antisemitism
22 July 2009
Following a report by the ADC"s Research Director Deborah Stone, many antisemitic comments on the new website, newmatilda.com, have been removed from its comments facilities on articles about Israel. Holocaust denial and racist stereotyping are some of the subjects included in the unbalanced coverage on this site. To read more, click on the link, http://jewishnews.net.au/2009/07/21/website-moves-against-anti-semitic-comments/#more-5638
 The Jewish Community says NO to racism
12 July 2009
The Jewish community showed its support for cultural diversity by participating in the State Government-sponsored Harmony Walk in the city yesterday. Approximately 5000 people marched along Swanston Street to Federation Square.
Seen here under the banner are community leaders, Stefan Oberman (AUJS President), John Searle, (Chairman, Jewish Community Council of Victoria) and Tony Levy (Chairman, B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission) under the banner. (Photo: Pam Goldman)
Show your opposition to racism -  Join the Harmony Walk
ADC urges all Victorians to join us at Carlton Gardens at 1.00 pm on 12 July for the Harmony Walk. The Premier announced the Walk as a response to recent attacks on Indian students and to reaffirm our state's tolerance, diversity and multiculturalism. ADC Chairman Tony Levy said it was important Australians from all backgrounds turned out for the walk. "Our thoughts are with the Indian students who have been attacked and with all who feel threatened at this time. They need to know that other Australians are appalled by this behaviour and will speak out strongly against racism.”
ADC calls for solidarity with Indians under attack
The spurt of violent attacks on Indians in Melbourne has prompted strong condemnation from the ADC. ADC Research Director Deborah Stone has called on members of other minority communities to defend the Indians. "The Jewish community has stark experience of racism. We also have excellent experience of managing community security, running educational initiatives and working with governments. As a more established community it is incumbent upon us to do everything we can to support the Indian community at this time." Click here for full article
The Anti-Defamation Commission fully supports the statement by the Jewish Christian Muslim Association, calling upon all parties involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to end the hostilities and work towards a peaceful resoultion.
To read the JCMA Melbourne Statement, click here
To read the JCMA Press Release, click here
The ADC is disturbed that the Australian Arabic Council supports pro-terrorist, antisemitic television station, Al-Manar. AAC president Roland Jabbour told Age journalist Barney Schwarz that Al-Manar's repeat of blood libel s and descriptions of Jews as apes and pigs were "reasonable". ADC Chairman John Searle said Al-Manar goes beyond acceptable limits of free speech. Al-Manar is operated by terrorist organization, Hezbollah. (Posted 22 August 2008)
To read Zwartz's article in The Age, please click here.
To read the ADC Media Release, please click on ADC Media Release (top right)
Why is the world still obsessed with the "Jewish problem"?
Martin Peretz, editor of the The New Republic explores the issue.
THERE are so many more important issues in the world today than Palestine that I wonder why I am so obsessed with it. Well, of course, what I am obsessed with is Israel, and it's a personal obsession relating to the catastrophe that befell my people in a way that no catastrophe had previously befallen any other people. This fact alone brings the fate of the Jews into the consciousness and conscience of others. It also provokes in a demonic way a wish for the end of the insistent Jewish problem, even if that means the end of the Jewish nation, a goal hoped for by not a few Arabs and their sympathisers. Keep reading
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Human rights as a vehicle for antisemitism
"Human rights have become a weapon. A potent force for denunciation and defeat – not in the hands of the abused, but in the hands of the abusers."
Professor Anne Bayefsky,
ADC 2008 Orator
To read the 2008 Oration,
please click here
To listen to the 2008 Oration,
please click here
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Professor Bayefsky at the
Gandel Oration in Melbourne |
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Antisemitism 
