This year (2019/5779) the Australian Jewish Democratic Society hosted a community Pesach Seder outside the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. The Pesach Seder for Freedom was a protest against Australia’s inhumane treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.We brought our Seder table to the offices responsible for the administration of Australia’s cruel offshore detention centres, […]
Activity in the Chinese and Jewish communities (or to be more exact, by certain well-resourced lobby groups) appears to be reaching a tipping point with respect to political influence in this country. Chinese food has a peculiar attraction to Jews, and has probably been so for a century or more now, ever since Jews and Chinese […]
The Australian Jewish Democratic Society responds with horror to the neo-Nazi terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch New Zealand. We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and the New Zealand community. We are even more disturbed to learn that an Australian was the key protagonist in the […]
Our Jewish community forum event discussing BDS in March 2019 brought together accomplished activists and writers to discuss the topic of BDS in the Jewish community. Jews, Israelis and Palestinians come together to answer some of the difficult questions onBDS, and broaden the conversation on Israel/Palestine. It saw close to 100 attendees and vibrant discussion that moved well […]
Only a short time before thousands gathered in Tel-Aviv to protest against police violence and profiling, the cops again did what they know best and shot to death a 16-year-old Palestinian girl holding a knife. There are some people for whom the rules of engagement do not apply.By Orly NoyA short time before thousands of […]
by Samah SabawiAustralian singer/song writer Deborah Conway in a recent interview was asked why her support for Zionism increased. ‘I hate bullies and I feel the world is bullying Israel’ she replied adding that the Palestinian-led BDS (Boycotts Divestments and Sanctions) movement to end Israel’s occupation and ongoing human rights violations is ‘horrendous antisemitism.’ For years, I […]
editorial This issue of Just Voices is dedicated to Environmental issues. In 2015 AJDS released our environment policy. It states: “The Australian Jewish Democratic Society places itself amongst progressive voices globally, striving for peace and social justice for all of humanity. Today, the progressive vision has inevitably become entwined with environmentalism. A holistic progressive vision […]
Environmental movements and indigenous sovereignty movements often intersect in their agendas and activities. However, what seems like a natural ally ship based on preservation and conversation of the environment has mounted a history of tension between these two movements. For example, the language and concept of wilderness, held dear to much of the environment movement, […]
Anonymous AJDS MemberI am concerned at the slow and steady loss of environmental values in our community. I am worried that children and young people are spending less time in natural settings. I know that more people are sipping coffee during the day, and the apparent lack of care and consideration for our natural systems […]
From the AJDS website: www.whatsbehindjnf.orgThe JNF in Australia have tax deductibility status as an environmental organisation. According to the JNF’s website:“Donations of $2.00 or more to the JNF Environment Gift Fund for the planting of trees and other environmental projects are tax deductible.”The JNF advertise themselves as a primarily environmental organisation but they are complicit […]
