Alex Dafner: Jewish Yvette Coppersmith, won the 2018 Archibald Prize...Yiddish Report 20.5.2018

The Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop expressed regret at the tragic deaths of protesters on the Gaza border with Israel, but laid the blame for this on Hamas, whilst the Labor leader Bill Shorten called for restraint and the Greens leader Richard De Natale questioned the excessive use of force by the IDF. The Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed that the Australian Embassy in Israel will remain in Tel Aviv and that Australia was not represented at the opening of the new US Embassy in West Jerusalem, as the Australian Ambassador Chris Cannan was not in Israel at the time. Australian Jews celebrated with Israelis, Israel’s Eurovision Song Contest victory of Netta Barzilais unusual song “Toy!”, expressing satisfaction that many European countries voted for it despite the growing anti-Israel and even anti-Semitic sentiment in Europe. Yvette Coppersmith, a granddaughter of Polish Jewish immigrants, won the 2018 Archibald Prize for portraiture, with a self portrait that tried to capture the look of NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, whom she initially wanted to paint, but who declined her offer, although she did telephone to congratulate the winning artist after her win.

image of dairy products and fruits next to blackboard with the phrase: HAPPY SHAVUOT, on wooden background. Symbols of jewish holiday - Shavuot Source: SBS