Alex Dafner Lag Bomer festival internet and face-book celebration Yiddish report 17.5.2020

The Australian Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who last week was placed under a 24 hours police guard because of anti-Semitic and racist threats, had the difficult task this week of delivering the bleak economic outlook in his parliamentary budget speech, during which he suffered a severe coughing attack and was consequently tested for COVID-19, that luckily proved to be negative. More than 40 thousand people from Australia, NZ and elsewhere participated in a Lag Bomer festival internet and face-book celebration, with singers and prominent Jewish personalities from around the world, including the Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Businessman Frank Lowy, Commonwealth Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and Nathan Sheransky et al, sending their thoughts and wishes to the online Jewish community. Australia’s Jewish institutions began a cautious reopening, in line with the strict COVID-19 regulations set by the State governments, with synagogues and Jewish schools taking small steps to resume their regular services and activities.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Prime Minister Scott Morrison Source: AAP