Jewish Council of Australia news & media
We aim to work with media personnel, politicians, and policymakers to provide expert Jewish voices on issues of antisemitism in Australia
Sarah Schwartz appears on Jewish Currents podcast: Processing the Attack at Bondi Beach
Executive Officer Sarah Schwartz recently appeared on the “On The Nose” podcast by Jewish Currents episode titled “Processing the Attack at Bondi Beach”. Below is a description of the episode from the show-notes: On this episode of On the Nose, Jewish Currents editor-in-chief Arielle Angel and senior editor Mari Cohen spoke with Sarah Schwartz, the…
Chanukah – Vigil and candle lighting – Melbourne/Naarm
The Jewish Council planned to hold a Chanukah celebration this Sunday 21st of December, but our community is still reeling after the terrifying attack on the Chanukah gathering in Bondi. Many of us know people who were impacted, and all of us have experienced this as an attack on our community as a whole, and…
Max Kaiser speaks to CNN: after Bondi, how do we move forward?
Executive Officer Max Kaiser recently spoke to CNN about the Bondi massacre. See an excerpt from his segment below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jewish Council of Australia (@jewishcouncil) Click here to watch the excerpt on Instagram.
Bart Shteinman speaks at vigil for Bondi massacre
Executive Member Bart Shteinman recently spoke at a vigil for the Bondi massacre. Below is an excerpt from his speech. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jewish Council of Australia (@jewishcouncil) Click here to watch the excerpt on Instagram.
Sarah Schwartz appears on ABC News breakfast to discuss the Bondi attack
Executive Officer Sarah Schwartz recently appeared on ABC News breakfast to discuss the Bondi attack. Below is an excerpt clip from her appearance. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jewish Council of Australia (@jewishcouncil) Click here to watch the excerpt on Jewish Council’s Instagram page.
Media Release: Mass shooting at Chanukah event in Bondi
We are horrified and shaken in the wake of the mass shooting at a Chanukah event in Bondi this evening, which has left at least ten people dead and injured many more. This is the first night of Chanukah when we gather with loved ones and friends to light the Chanukiah. Many within our community have…
Max Kaiser speaks to ABC: “Palestine necklace a ‘political symbol’ claims council”
Executive Officer Max Kaiser recently spoke to the ABC for a story titled “Palestine necklace a ‘political symbol’ claims council”. Below is an excerpt from his comments in the story. The map of historical Palestine is where Palestinian people come from…having a map of historic Palestine or Palestine as a whole is not offensive. Click…
Online event: Organising in the Jewish diaspora during a time of genocide
We invite you to join us at 10 am (AEDT) on December 7 for a critical conversation – Organising in the Jewish Diaspora in a Time of Genocide: Lessons from Australia, the UK, and the US. Hear from key organisers from the global Jewish movement fighting Israel’s genocidal efforts in Palestine to share strategies, discuss…
Sydney Chanukah Community Day 2025/5786
Jewish Council Chanukah Community Day: A Light for Dark Times The Jewish Council of Australia invites you to a community Chanukah gathering! There will be something for everyone: eating, kids activities, crafts, more eating, dreidel spinning, and lighting chanukiot. Please bring a plate to share if you’re able. All are welcome as we gather, eat,…
Sarah Schwartz speaks to SBS for story “Melbourne event celebrating Israeli pager attack sparks outrage”
Executive Officer Sarah Schwartz recently spoke to SBS for a story titled “Melbourne event celebrating Israeli pager attack sparks outrage”. An excerpt from her quoted comments is below: The images associated with the event that I have seen…cartoons, guns, pitching it as this family friendly event, I think that that’s really concerning beacuse it means…
Chanukah Community Day 2025/5786
This event has been changed to a Chanukah vigil and candle lighting to gather in community, mourn for those lost and express solidarity in person. See the updated event details here. Jewish Council Chanukah Community Day: A Light for Dark Times The Jewish Council of Australia invites you to a community Chanukah gathering and pot…
Jewish Coalition Opposes Anti-Democratic Antisemitism Plan, Calls for United, Whole-of Society Approach
November 14, 2025 The Jewish Council of Australia joins a coalition of nine Jewish organisations in releasing an open letter urging the Australian Government to reject the plan proposed by Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism (ASECA plan). It warns that the plan risks undermining Australia’s democratic freedoms like freedom of expression and will not…
New Victorian Protest Laws Still Threaten Democracy
November 12, 2025 The Jewish Council of Australia welcomes the decision of the Victorian Government to step back from the harshest versions of its proposed anti-protest laws, including a ban on face coverings at protests. This is a partial victory for civil society, and for the more than 1,000 Australian Jews who signed our petition…
Sarah Schwartz speaks to SMH about the neo-Nazi protest
Executive Officer Sarah Schwartz recently spoke to SMH for a piece titled “What we just witnessed was state-sanctioned Nazism”. An excerpt of her comments quoted in the article is below: They are clearly trying to intimidate, but I refuse to be intimidated by these pathetic young men who have joined a cult. But I am…
Sarah Schwartz speaks to The Guardian about the neo-Nazi rally
Executive Officer Sarah Schwartz recently spoke to The Guardian for a piece titled “NSW police accused of ‘sickening’ double standard over neo-Nazi rally as Jewish groups demand answers”. An excerpt from her quoted comments is below: We’ve seen entirely inconsistent police responses when it comes to addressing far-right extremism and when it comes to addressing…
Sarah Schwartz speaks to ABC news about the neo-Nazi protest
Executive Officer Sarah Schwartz recently spoke to ABC News Breakfast about the neo-Nazi protest. An excerpt from her comments is below We’ve been telling the government for a really long time that it needs to take the threat of far right extremism and neo-Nazism seriously instead of focussing on protest movements. Click here to watch…
Max Kaiser quoted on SBS about the protest law review in light of the recent neo-Nazi rally
Executive Officer Max Kaiser recently spoke to SBS News for a piece titled “Police authorisation of Sydney neo-Nazi demonstration sparks calls for protest law review”. Below is an excerpt of his comments quoted in the piece: Rather than giving police more power, the Jewish Council calls for united action to combat the far-right and root…
Sara Dowse review of “Marseille 1940: The Flight of Literature”
Advisory Committee member Sara Dowse has recently had piece published in Inside Story titled Perilous refuge: Uwe Wittstock’s Marseille 1940 is a marvel of narrative art, a “fascinating account of the thousands of rescues” of Jews from the Holocaust by the Emergency Rescue Committee. Click here to read the full piece.
Diaspora Jewish Leaders Urge Action Against Israel as it Orders Strikes on Gaza and Advances West Bank Annexation
October 29, 2025 The Netanyahu government has ordered strikes on Gaza killing nine people, violating the ceasefire for the second time after less than three weeks at the same time as the Parliament votes to advance bills that would annex large parts of the occupied West Bank. Over the course of just one week, the…
