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'Encouraging all Australians to reject discrimination and intolerance'
Courage to Care, a travelling exhibition, has completed four exhibitions this year,
reaching a wide range of students and increasing awareness of the dangers of stereotyping. The dedicated team of volunteers works tirelessly to promote
understanding and tolerance. To read their latest newsletter, please click here...
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
Victorian Multicultural Commission supports Future Leaders Program 
The ADC's Multifaith Future Leaders Program has won support from the Victorian Government. In May the Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs Mr James Merlino presented ADC chairman Tony Levy with a $22,000 cheque to support the program. Mr Merlino said the program was a wonderful opportunity for young people from different backgrounds.
Jewish Christian Muslim joint statement on Middle East
"We urge all world leaders to work in a peaceful way for a just resolution of the
issues that divide the Israeli and Palestinian peoples..."
JCMA Melbourne Statement, 8 May 2009.
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
Iran: an imminent threat
Leading expert on antisemitism and Iran, Dr Charles Small visited Australia to speak on the dangers Iran poses to world stability.
Dr Small is the Director and Founder of the Yale Initiative for the Interdisciplinary Study of Antisemitism at Yale University and runs a course on globalisation and antisemitism. He is also the founder of the International Association for the Study of Antisemitism and
Director of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy.
Click on these links to:
To listen to interview with Phillip Adams, ABC radio, Monday 4 May 2009.
Accesss a profile of Charles Small
Hear an interview with Charles Small about Iran
read an opinion piece by Charles Small on Islamism and Israel.
Australia joins Durban Review Conference boycott
On the eve of the Durban Review Conference, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced Australia would not go because of concerns that the anti-racism conference would be used as a podium for political posturing, attacks on Israel and antisemitism. The concerns proved well founded as the conference welcome virulently antisemitic Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinjad as a keynote speaker. the US< Canada, New Zealand, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland are also out of the conference, which has lost all credibility. For more resources on the Durban Review Conference click here.
Education the key to fighting antisemitism and prejudice 
The ADC and Courage to Care recently visited a Melbourne Catholic Boys School, in response to reported antisemitic behaviour by several of its students.
Courage to Care is an anti-racism program which pays tribute to those courageous individuals who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust, drawing parallels with examples of discrimination, prejudice and racism in our society today. Students listened to a Holocaust survivor and learned about the righteous who saved Jews.
Future Leaders Program builds bridges
Future Leaders of faith communities united to learn leadership skills at a three-day workshop run by the ADC on the outskirts of Melbourne in February 2009. The inaugural Multifaith Future Leaders Program brought together about 30 Christian, Muslim and Jewish students to discuss topics such as conflict resolution; public-speaking speaking and the media, in an atmosphere of mutual support and respect. Theprogram was a great success and the ADC hopes to run another next year. Interested participants should contact the ADC.
Antisemitism rife in Israel protests
Antisemitic slogans were widespread at a Melbourne rally in support of Australians for Palestine.To read a report from The Daily Telegraph, 18 January, click here.....
6 January 2009 - Kevin Rudd calls on Hamas to stop firing rockets
Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd says he is concerned by the conflict and supports efforts by the United Nations to help bring an end to fighting.
Click on this abc link to read our Prime Minister's comments.....
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/05/2459488.htm
Israel and Gaza - 'What can we do?'
Information prepared by the Zionist Council of Victoria offers some insight into frequently asked questions about the crisis in Israel and Gaza. To read, click here.......
ADC wins grant for Future Leaders Program
Jewish, Muslim and Christian youth aged 18 to 26 will benefit from a multifaith leadership training program which was recently launched by the ADC.
The program is being partially funded by a $10,000 Interfaith grant from the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC).
The ADC is currently looking for sponsors to provide additional funding for this important project to improve interfaith relations.
For more information, contact Project Co-ordinator Ari Morris, who is pictured (second from left) with (from left) Martin Foley MP (Member for Albert Park), James Merlino MP (Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs) and Tony Lupton MP (Member for Prahran) receiving the VMC grant.
Facebook scandal shames private school students. 
Students from the prestigious The Scots College in Bellevue Hill have embarrassed their school by creating a Facebook site called Jew Parking Appreciation Group. 51 students have signed up. To read a report from The Age, 9 December 2008,
click here........
New Chairman takes the helm
 Tony Levy has been elected as Chairman of the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission, following the resignation of John Searle to take over the reins at the Jewish Community Council of Victoria.
Bringing a wealth of experience within Victoria's Jewish community, Tony is a former chairman of the JCCV Social Justice Committee and a member of the JCCV Executive for many years. In 2006 he received the B'nai B'rith Victoria Award for dedication to the Jewish community.
To read more, click here...
Monitoring conspiracy theorists
The economic downturn has brought the conspiracy theorists out in force. ADC Research Director Deborah Stone was featured on ABC Radio Triple J on 2 November discussing the seductiveness of Lyndon LaRouche and the Citizens Electoral Council with host John Safran. She said the innocuous initial messages of conspiracy messages drew people into a dangerously racist political cult. Hear the interview at the Triple J site by streaming the last program on the site.
Iran: The Australian Government has stepped up sanctions against Iran but backed down on its intention to take President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the International Court of Justice for his incitement of genocide and antisemitism. To read more from The Herald Sun, click here
Fabrication of scapegoats in times of economic insecurity....
"Beneath the financial crisis waits a nastier beast"... To read more from The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 Oct, 2008, Waleed Aly, click here.....
The Anti-Defamation League (USA) reports a surge in antisemitic messages on online Finance Sites in response to money crisis....
To read the press release, click on this link.....
'Rudd reluctant to deal with international bullies.' writes Piers Akerman.
To read his article which appeared in The Daily Telegraph, 25 Sep 2008,
click here.....
Australia and Durban II
As the United Nations General Assembly opens in New York, representatives from the world's nations will gather to debate a range of issues of importance to the international community. Some of the key issues on the agenda will be Israel-Palestinian Relations, The Iranian Threat and Durban Review Conference to be held in April 2009. Australia's Federal Government has yet to decide whether or not it attends the Durban II Conference. To read more about the 2001 Conference, click on this link to Christopher Pyne's article (Pyne is the Opposition Spokesman for Justice and Security) which appeared in the Adelaide News recently.
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)
Antisemitic 'terror TV' live in Australia - The Brisbane Times reported on Al-Manar's broadcasts accessible in Australia. (Posted 21 August 2008)To read their report, click here
Fifteen days to appeal against extradition decision 
Suspected war criminal, 86-year-old Charles Zentai has fifteen days in which to appeal against the decision by a Perth Magistrate to extradite him. Zentai is alleged by Hungarian authorities to have killed a Jewish 18-year-old, Peter Balazs in Budapest in 1944. Zentai continues to claim his innocence.
To read more, click on link to The Age, 21 August 2008
 Mediation success in case of Vorchheimer assault
Police have apologized to Jewish businessman, Menachem Vorchheimer who suffered racial abuse by members of Victoria's Ocean Grove Football club. Mr Vorchheimer took civil action after being taunted, punched in the eye, and his yarmulke snatched by players travelling on a mini-bus driven by off-duty policeman, Terence Moore.A statement issued by Vorchheimer on Tuesday indicated that through VCAT mediation, an appropriate outcome that recognises the principal of removing racial and religious vilification from our community has been achieved. To read the statement by Vorchheimer, click here
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
ADC talks women and peace
Are women more likely to make peace than men? ADC research director Deborah Stone moderated a panel exploring the issue at the Australian premiere of Lily Rivlin's film Can you Hear Me? Professor Fania Oz-Salzberger, psychoanalyst Carmella Levy-Stokes and social activist Maya Zerman shared the platform, exploring the peace initiatives of women's groups in Israel. The panel questioned Rivlin's thesis that women are the main victims of war and concluded peacemaking should not be a gendered activity. To read more about the film click here.
Iranian swimmer makes a splash against Israel
IRANIAN swimmer Mohammad Alirezaei could face expulsion from the Beijing Games if it is found that his sudden withdrawal from the 100 metres breaststroke heats was a political statement against Israel. Click here to read the full story.
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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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Improving equal opportunity
Equal Opportunity Review submission:
ADC and JCCV have drawn up a submission on behalf of the Jewish community in favour of reasonable adjustments to employment and more powers for the Equal Opportunity Commisison.
Police target Jewish Attacks
The Australian,13 March, 2008, Melbourne, Australia
Victoria Police plans to set up a squad to deal with antisemitic attacks...
Read more..
Melbourne Jew attacked verbally and physically
Jerusalem Post, 11 February, 2008, Jerusalem, Israel
ADC Chairman Michael Lipshutz said "The B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) is gravely concerned at the increased level of antisemitism and violence perpetrated against members of the Jewish community.
Read more..
Antisemitic attack in Melbourne
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 11 February, 2008, New York, NY, USA
These statistics are extremely worrying and highlight the importance of a holistic approach when dealing with anti-Semitism, including education and punitive measures, said Anti-Defamation Commission executive officer Manny Waks.
Read more..
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Antisemitism 
