ADC NEWS AND VIEWS
The B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission wishes its members and subscribers Shana Tova, Happy New Year and well over the fast
Tony Blair: a democratic duty to counter delegitimisation of Israel 
Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair has called on all supporters of human rights to fight the de-legitimisation of Israel. The former British PM said Israel is facing de-legitimisation based on prejudice. He said much delegitimisation is insidious from people who deny they are doing it.
Read the full text of Tony Blair's speech on delegitimisation of Israel.
Learn more about delegitimisation and antisemitism.
 Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism
B'nai Brith Canada senior legal counsel David Matas told an ADC audience at a recent Basia Leinkram lecture that the distinction between antisemitism and anti-Zionism was frequently artificial and meaningless for both the perpertrators and to the victims. He said a terrorist who attacked an Israeli embassy in Argentina and a terrorist who attacked a Jewish community centre had the same aim: to kill Jews.
David Matas, Deborah Stone and Tony Levy at the lecture series
Read David Matas on Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism
Click against hate 
ADC's education program Click Against Hate is now running in several Melbourne Jewish schools to help students recognise and respond to online antisemitism. Read a recent article about the way this program will help respond to the dangers of online antisemitsm.
Concern about Hizb ut-Tahir in Melbourne
Jewish organisations including the ADC are concerned that the extremist Islamist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir has begun holding meetings in Melbourne.
Read our media release about Hizb ut- Tahrir.
Hear ADC Executive Director Deborah Stone interviewed on MTR about Hizb ut-Tahrir.
Campus Antisemitism
Results from the ADC questionaire on antisemitism on campus are now being compiled but the ADC continues to gather information from students.
Complete the Antisemitism on Campus Questionnaire.
 Cotler paints disturbing picture of Contemporary Antisemitism
Contemporary antisemitism attacks Israel as a "collective Jew", ADC Gandel Orator, international human rights lawyer and Canadian MP Professor Irwin Cotler told Australian audiences recently. Professor Cotler said that contemporary antisemitism attacked Israel out of a deep antipathy to Jews. He said Ahmadinjad's Iran was guilty of incitement to genocide and it was incumbent on signatories to the Genocide convention such as Australia to take it to the International Court of Justice.
Read an edited transcript of Irwin Cotler's Oration on Contemporary Antisemitism.
Quick response to racism on Channel Nine's A Current Affair website
According to NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff comments on the website violated racial vilification laws. On notifying the network, these remarks were removed
immediately. Read more
Adelaide survivor and sculptor told to remove advert
Andrew Steiner, a sculptor and Holocaust survivor was shocked when recently told he could not display a poster advertising his exhibition on the Shoah. Read more
Far from the stereotypes: Jews in Jail
 Remy Van de Wiel, Kalman Rubin , Timmy Rubin
 Stupidity and being in the wrong place at the wrong time are two reasons of the many reasons Jews land up in jail. Panelists Remy van de Wiel QC, Timmy Rubin, Chaplain to Jewish prisoners and psychologist Kalman Rubin gave a recent ADC audience an intimate insight into Jewish prisoners and the impact of jail on their families and community. Read more...
Josh Singer, Jade Lipson, Caroline Mense
& Ben Saling at the ADC lecture series
Fighting online hate
 Jewish community leaders including ADC executive director Deborah Stone debated how to respond to online hate in the AJN during May 2010. Click here to read key responses.
Multifaith Future Leaders visit Holocaust Museum
  Multifaith Future Leaders heard child survivor Tuvia Lipson speak on his Holocaust experience and toured the Holocaust Museum with survivor George Ginsburg in April 2010. For most, it was the first time they had heard a survivor's story firsthand and they were deeply moved.
Improving the response to hate crime
The Victorian Government is reviewing hate crime law but current laws are not being used to their full capacity. In our submission to the Hate Crimes Review the ADC and JCCV have called for improved investigation, a police hate crimes unit, and more effective application of current laws. To read our submission click here.
'Action,not laws, required on Victorian hate crimes' AJN article, click here.
Victorian youth promote multifaith dialogue
The ADC together with the VMC (Victorian Multicultural Commission)
recently hosted a Multifaith Future Leaders Program for 38 young Victorians committed to interfaith and community service.
Participants were drawn from the Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hare Krishna, Baha'i and Sikh communities. Workshops included Conflict Resolution, Public speaking, Similarities and Differences and Story-telling.
Highlights were the Drumming session, combined quilt-making sessions and the discussion on the breaking down of stereotypes.
  
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 Executive Director, Deborah Stone, click here....
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 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
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