SBS YIDDISH SEGMENT: 15.12.2019 PREPARED, PRODUCED AND PRESENTED BY ALEX DAFNER The Jewish community in Australia was shocked by the anti-Semitic attack against a Kosher Supermarket in New Jersey, USA, that resulted in the death of a policeman and three people in the supermarket. Victims and Jews in Australia were dismayed to hear the latest month-long postponement of the hearings into Malka Leifer’s psychiatric fitness to face extradition from Israel to Australia, to stand trial on 74 charges of sexual abuse of students at the Melbourne Israel-Adass girls’ school, because the panel of psychiatrists, who should to determine whether she is mentally fit enough to be extradited were not aware of the 10th of December court hearing they were supposed to report at. The Executive Council of Australian Jews thanked the Australian Foreign Affairs Office for Australia’s “no” vote against 5 anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations General Assembly, despite these being accepted by the world organisation that is seen by Australia as generally biased against Israel. A new tax treaty signed between Australia and Israel has been hailed by both countries’ treasurers, as an important milestone in removing tax berries and facilitating trade and investment to the benefit of both countries. A ceremony to honour the Aboriginal leader William Cooper, who organised a march and a petition to the Nazi German Consulate in Melbourne in 1938, following the Kristalnacht Pogrom in Germany and Austria, was held in the Great Synagogue in Sydney on the 5th December and included Jewish leaders from NSW and two descendants of William Cooper himself. The annual Chanukah candle lighting ceremony was held at the Victorian Parliament on the 11th December and included the former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and leader of the Opposition Michael O’Brien and drew warm praise from the political leaders for the inspiring festival of lights holiday, the outstanding contributions of the Jewish community in general and a condemnation of growing anti-Semitism here and globally.
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