NSW Jewish Board of Deputies

MUST WATCH Witness testimony today has confirmed how necessary and important the Royal Commission is. Watch testimony from a Jewish mother in Victoria, testifying under the pseudonym ‘AAP’, as she details her experience in regional Victoria. In her testimony, she highlights harrowing incidents two of her children who attend Catholic high schools have experienced. She said students joked about dressing up as the Bondi shooters or Hitler, leaving her children questioning why people ‘don’t like Jews’. These are not harmless jokes. They are warnings. They show us how prejudice takes root, how it spreads and how it harms real families. This is not the Australia we aspire to be and antisemitism, in any form, cannot be tolerated.

NSW JBD Statement: “Globalise the Intifada” event cancelled

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Michele Goldman spoke today with ABC News Breakfast about the Interim Report of the Royal Commission. Watch the interview here ▶️

We are devastated and appalled by the overnight stabbing of two Jews in London. It is the latest in an escalating string of attacks against the UK Jewish community. From the firebombing of Jewish institutions and ambulances to the murder of Jews at a synagogue on Yom Kippur, the UK Jewish community is experiencing an epidemic of antisemitism. Sadly, this is a pattern that we are only too familiar with in Australia. The lessons are the same - violent hate speech against Jews directly precedes and incites violent acts against Jews. Hate marches which dominate city streets and hate preachers who can operate with impunity foster an environment in which violence is the logical consequence. Platitudes are not enough to respond to what should be recognised as an emergency in the UK. We stand in unwavering solidarity with British Jews and affirm their fundamental right to live in peace and safety - free from hatred, fear and violence. Antisemitism and terrorism are enduring global threats. They do not resolve themselves, and silence only emboldens them. Confronting them demands a strong and decisive response from governments, institutions and civil society alike.

Today is Yom HaZikaron – the day of national remembrance in Israel to commemorate all of those who have lost their lives during the struggle to defend the State of Israel. On this day, we mourn and remember all of Israel’s fallen soldiers and all those who have been murdered in acts of terror. We recognise the high price that has been paid to make Israel, the Jewish dream of 3,000 years, a reality. We pause to remember, honour and give thanks to all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the survival of Israel. May each of their memories be a blessing 🕯️ 🇮🇱

Tomorrow is ANZAC Day. We pause to honour the courage, sacrifice and service of all who have worn our nation’s uniform in defence of Australia’s freedoms and values. We remember the contribution of Sir John Monash, one of Australia’s greatest military leaders, amongst the 7,000 Jewish men and women who have proudly and bravely served in the Australian Defence Force since Federation —across every conflict and every generation. Their service is part of the ANZAC story, woven into the fabric of our national history. On this day, we remember all who made the ultimate sacrifice, and we express our enduring gratitude to those who have served and continue to serve. Lest we forget.

From a centuries-old dream to the reality of a modern, diverse and resilient state. Today, we celebrate Israel's 78 years of independence. Its history, its people, its right to live in peace and a future full of hope, strength and possibility.

NSW JBD wishes you a Chag Pesach Sameach! May this Pesach be joyful and meaningful, filled with family, tradition, and peace.

Mazal tov and congratulations to Archbishop Anthony Randazzo. We are pleased to celebrate his appointment by the Pope as Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, a role that makes him the most senior Australian to serve at the Vatican since Cardinal George Pell. Archbishop Randazzo has long been a trusted friend of the Jewish community, especially during his tenure as Bishop of the Broken Bay Diocese. He has consistently demonstrated warmth, respect and sincere partnership toward our community. As he prepares to take on this significant leadership role in Rome, we extend our heartfelt blessings and best wishes.

Tonight, the Matildas play China in the Asian Cup Semi Final. Last week, the family of Matilda Britvan was invited onto the field as special guests of Football Australia where they were welcomed by Matildas’ coach Joe Montemirro. We thank the Matildas and Football Australia for this beautiful gesture in honour of Matilda, the youngest victim murdered in the Bondi massacre. It was a very special and memorable moment for Matilda’s family. We will be cheering tonight - go Matildas! 🐝 🇦🇺

The Sydney Biennale has failed its first test and is shamefully tainted. Our concerns were made very clear to Biennale’s board when we told them that artists who hold antisemitic and hateful views should never have been included in an arts Festival that taxpayers are paying for. Not in NSW and not after Bondi. Not ever. Instead, their opening night was used to push antisemitic rhetoric, including references to a so-called “Zio-Australian-Epstein empire,” and to praise “martyrs” and the “resistance.” The Biennale’s board must now come out and explain how they allowed their festival to become a platform for such hate, especially after repeated assurances were provided by the Chair Kate Mills and her Deputy Chair Matt Crocker.

More than 150 years ago, a small group of Sydney Jews dreamed of building a spiritual home for future generations. This week, standing inside that same magnificent space, we were reminded of just how powerful their vision was. The Great Synagogue hosted the Opening of the Law Term 2026 and the Rededication of the Sanctuary, bringing together community, leadership, and history under one roof. We were proud to see our President David Ossip address the gathering, and to have our CEO Michele Goldman open the Torah Ark in a moment that carried both reverence and emotion. They stood alongside the community and special guests including the Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE, the Governor-General of Australia Her Excellency Sam Mostyn, Her Excellency the Hon. Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of NSW and many NSW Parliamentarians. It was a night filled with meaning, honouring our past, celebrating our present, and looking ahead with hope. A truly special moment for our community and for The Great Synagogue, whose legacy continues to shine brightly.

I began my visit to Australia by meeting David Ossip, President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, and laying a wreath in memory of the 15 victims of the December 14, 2025 antisemitic terror attack at a Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach. New South Wales has long been a beacon of multiculturalism, where people of different faiths and backgrounds live side by side in mutual respect. The rise of antisemitism threatens these values and must have no place in NSW—or anywhere else.

Australia’s decision to list Hizb ut-Tahrir as a prohibited hate group sends a clear message: hate and extremism have no place in our society. The listing means individuals who are members of, recruit for, or provide support to the organisation can now face serious criminal penalties. The move is part of a broader framework introduced to address organisations that promote hate and threaten social cohesion. We support this step to safeguard Australian communities and uphold the values of a peaceful and multicultural society.

Happy Holi to all our friends celebrating! May the colours of Holi spread the message of peace and happiness, friendship, love and joy.

We watch in awe at the strength and resilience of the Iranian people, and hope for a near future where they are free, for the good of all humankind. The story of Purim took place in ancient Persia, where one woman’s courage changed the course of history. This year, the spirit of Queen Esther is echoed in the bravery of the people of Iran and IDF and US army personnel. Chag Purim Sameach!

We welcome the joint Israeli and US military campaign aimed at neutralising the threat posed by the despotic Iranian regime and in support of the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom. For 47 years, the Iranian regime has curtailed basic freedoms and brutally oppressed its own citizens. In recent weeks alone, it has murdered in excess of 32,000 Iranians who came to the streets crying out for freedom and dignity. At the same time, it has exported violence far beyond its borders as the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism. Through funding and training its proxies, fuelling regional conflicts and pursuing nuclear weapons, it has destabilised the Middle East and posed a serious threat to global security. With a commitment to the destruction of the State of Israel and antisemitism as a key tenet of its theocratic ideology, the Iranian regime has repeatedly target Jewish communities abroad directly and through proxies. This has included targeting Australia’s Jewish community through acts of violence over the past two years. We pray for the safety and welfare of IDF personnel and members of the United States Armed Forces who are carrying out this operation, and for the protection of innocent civilians throughout the region. The people of Iran are heirs to a rich and proud civilisation. They deserve a future defined not by repression, but by freedom, dignity and human rights. We express our hope that this moment will mark a turning point — one that leads to greater stability and peace across the region and opens a pathway toward freedom for the Iranian people. We stand in complete solidarity with the vast majority of the Iranian diaspora in Australia and across the world who are rejoicing at the death of Khamenei and are praying for a better tomorrow for Iran. Those who fail to stand with the Iranian people at this moment, such as the Greens political party, make a parody of their claimed commitment to human rights and should never be allowed to live down the shame and disgrace of their current position. Woman. Life. Freedom. زن، زندگی، آزادی

Ramadan Kareem. The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies wishes Muslim communities across NSW a meaningful and blessed Ramadan.

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has officially launched its website. 🔗 asc.royalcommission.gov.au

Happy Lunar New Year to all our friends celebrating! May the Year of the Fire Horse bring renewed energy, resilience and good fortune for the year ahead.