PASSOVER

APRIL 2016 / 5776

INDEX

1. Message from Chairman
2. ADC News Items
3. Bulletin Board
4. Photo Gallery
5. Council of Advisors
6. Staff
7. Patrons & Supporters

Message from the Chairman

This Friday, many of you, together with family and friends, will observe the festival of Passover and celebrate the power of hope and faith over oppression.

During this special time of great reflection, we are reminded that the agents of evil still threaten our liberty and safety.

As the frightening eruption in anti-Semitism strikes fear in Jewish communities here and around the world, our mission is now more urgent and critical than ever before.

There is a lot at stake and still so much left to do.

But we want you to know that as we face these frontiers of hate, the ADC remains devoted to standing firmly and courageously in countering bigotry and stereotypes, and will never let up in providing support to those affected.

A key part of our work is to teach tens of thousands of school students, through our free of charge Click Against Hate program, how to build a better Australia and how to combat racism wherever they find it.

Every day, we work hard to stop the defamation of Israel and the Jewish people, and with the support of concerned individuals like you, who share our resolve, we are stronger.

Thank you for doing your part when it matters, and for helping us sustain and expand our important programs.

Wishing you and your family a joyous Pesach.

Chag sameach,

Dvir Abramovich

A few words from

our champions,

Greg and Anne

Rosshandler

Anne and I congratulate the ADC on the past 37 years of success.

Through our ongoing commitment to the ADC we know that we are ensuring that it can continue to fight anti-Semitism and hatred, and build a better world. We all need to do our part to make sure that this important organisation has the financial base it needs to move forward into the future with even greater success.

In these unsettling times of anti-Israel activity and discrimination, we need the ADC’s Click Against Hate program that teaches school students about the dangers of racism and empowers them to speak up against the evil of bigotry. The work of the ADC addresses some of the most urgent and immediate challenges facing our community, and touches so many lives.

We are very proud to help make the future safer for generations to come and to create a legacy of hope by endorsing the ADC’s vital mission and activities.”

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ADC MATTERS | http://www.antidef.org.au

ADC NEWS ITEMS

ADC Chair, Dvir Abramovich, writes an opinion piece in the Herald Sun "Nazism is an abomination, not a term of casual abuse"
.."As one who has devoted his life to fighting anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial, I’ve had enough. So let’s retire and bury, once and for all, the improper Hitler and Nazi references.....
Read More

ADC Chair quoted in the Australian Jewish News on Channel 7's lack of monitoring of its FB page
"The users who exploited this news item to demonise Jews as greedy and money hungry, and to peddle these sweeping bigoted stereotypes should be ashamed"......
Read More
Media Release

Calling time on the Nazi slur
ADC Chairman, Dvir Abramovich, writes an opinion piece in The Australian Jewish News on using "Nazi" in conversation.
Read More

ADC quoted in the Australian Jewish News on the swastika sprayed on a car
"Chairman of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) Dr Dvir Abramovich has sharply condemned the incident as a “craven and repugnant display of intolerance”...
Read More
Media Release

An evening with Eldad Beck as featured in The Australian Jewish News
Read More

ADC marks the 71st anniversary of the liberation of the Bergen Belsen Nazi death camp
..."As we carry the torch of remembrance, we make a pledge to work hard so as not fail them.””...
Read More

ADC deeply troubled by South Australian MP’s comparison between voluntary euthanasia and Nazi Germany
..."There is no place for such divisive and painful words in our civil discourse, and we urge Mr Pederick to repudiate his statement and to refrain from employing such analogies in the future.” ....
Read More

ADC and B’nai B’rith International denounce UNESCO’s anti-Israel resolutions
"The resolutions voted on at these UNESCO sessions are damaging to the peace process in the Middle East, and will only further serve to discredit the agency and divert it from its own stated mission.””...
Read More

ADC accepts and welcomes David Murray’s apology for Hitler analogy as featured in The Australian
..."This episode is a reminder that we all have to be mindful of the dangers of employing Hitler references in the public square.”....
Read More
Media Release

ADC's decry of David Murray in The Australian
....“I do hope that there will come a time when public figures will realise that using inappropriate and painful analogies to Hitler in order to score a political point and generate headlines are misguided and insensitive"....
Read More
Media Release

ADC condemns swastika spray painted on the car of a Jewish family
"Chairman,... Dvir Abramovich condemned the attack on the Jewish family in a statement to Leader"......
Read More
Media Release

ADC's condemnation of the swastika on the car features in Arutz Sheva
"The B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission has called the crime a "craven and repugnant display of intolerance"...
Read More
Media Release

ADC breaks the story on News.com.au on Trump's comparisons with Hitler
"Dr Dvir Abramovich... said “once again we see celebrities using appalling comparisons to Hitler to attack others”...
Read More

ADC chair quoted in an SBS story about Nazi themed game
....“This trend is hitting new lows as time passes, and as Holocaust survivors and the memory of what really happened during World War II dwindles,”....
Read More
Media Release

ADC deplores UNESCO vote that denies Jewish links to Temple Mount and the Western Wall
..."UNESCO’s Executive Board should be ashamed for this outrageous and cynical resolution that embraces a false narrative which denies two thousand years of Jewish history and Israel’s irrefutable connection to these holy places.” ....
Read More

ADC mourns the passing of Professor Geoffrey Hartman

..."His enduring legacy and unwavering commitment to preserving Shoah testimony and to educating the public about the importance of remembrance will live on forever in our hearts and minds.”"...

Read More

To read all ADC News items and Press Releases go to http://www.antidef.org.au /news

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ADC MATTERS | http://www.antidef.org.au

BULLETIN BOARD

CLICK AGAINST HATE

We had a very busy few months with the Click against Hate program. The program continues to grow with outstanding feedback. Please look out for our new Click against Hate website which will be completed in the coming months.

As this vital program is delivered free of charge in all Victorian schools, the backing of our Champions is greatly appreciated. We encourage ADC supporters to consider backing us in this important work.

Please enjoy reflections from a few schools that have benefited from the Click against Hate program

Mt Scopus College
Year 9 Teachers
This program was most effective. Students engaged well with Brett who was informative and effectively conveyed the ideas and the various scenarios.
The programme was fantastic in helping kids identify issues when using the internet and be more aware of discrimination. It also helped students become savvier in reporting inappropriate information they find on the web.

Glenhuntly Primary School
David R Jenkins
Assistant Principal

I just wanted to thank you for allowing us to work with you and the for the cyber-safety sessions you delivered to us. I visited the sessions a couple of times and could clearly see that what was occurring was engaging and valuable for the students. The feedback I received from the teachers present was also totally aligned with this assessment. The teachers would like to thank you for the high quality presentations and we are very grateful for your fantastic work here. Please pass on to Brett that he was passionate, knowledgeable and interesting for the students and what he shared with them will make a positive difference to their future internet safety and conduct.

Valkstone Primary School
Matthew Ware
Grade 6 Teacher
I would just like to say on behalf of Valkstone Primary School that I was most impressed with Brett and the many very important messages that he presented to our children today.
Brett was an engaging and entertaining facilitator. I know the children took some key learning points from his sessions, as did I and the other teachers who observed them.
Thanks for taking the time to visit us Brett. We look forward to your visit next year.

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ADC MATTERS | http://www.antidef.org.au

PHOTO GALLERY

Click against Hate

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ADC MATTERS | http://www.antidef.org.au

COUNCIL OF ADVISORS

Emeritus Prof. Louis Peter Waller

Louis Peter Waller AO was born in Poland on February 10, 1935. He was Sir Leo Cussen Professor of Law at Monash University from 1965 until 2000 and is particularly well known for his work in medical and criminal law. He formally retired from Monash Law School in 2000 as its most senior academic. However, he has continued his teaching and research as Emeritus Professor of Law. Upon his retirement, the school established the Louis Waller Chair of Law in his honour.
President of Council of Advisors

The Hon R J L Hawke

Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC, GCL was born December 9, 1929. After a decade as President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions he entered parliament as the Labor MP for Wills in 1980. Three years later, he led Labor to a landslide election victory and was sworn in as Prime Minister. He led Labor to victory at three more elections in 1984, 1987 and 1990 making him the most successful Labor Leader in history. He remains to date Labor's longest-serving Prime Minister, and is Australia's third-longest-serving Prime Minister.

Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue

Lowitja O'Donoghue, AC, CBE, DSG was born August 1, 1932. After commencing her career as a nursing aide, she became a nurse. In 1967 she became an Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the South Australian Department of Education. She was named Australian of the Year in 1984 and in 1990 Ms O'Donoghue was appointed Chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

The Rt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen

Sir Ninian Martin Stephen KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, PC, QC was born June 15, 1923. By the 1960s, Stephen was one of Australia's leading constitutional and commercial lawyers. In 1970 he was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, relinquishing it in 1972 to take up his appointment as a Justice of the High Court of Australia. In 1982 he was appointed as Australia’s 20th Governor-General. He subsequently became the first Australian Ambassador for the Environment and was later appointed chairman of the second strand of the Northern Ireland peace talks. From 1993 to 1997 he was a judge on the international tribunals investigating war crimes in Yugoslavia and Rwanda. He has also been chairman of the Citizenship Council since 1998 and has acted as a special envoy of the UN Secretary General to resolve political conflicts in Bangladesh.

The Hon John Winston Howard

John Howard OM, AC was born July 26, 1939, in Sydney, Australia. He entered parliament in 1974 and became Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs from 1975 to 1977. He was then elevated to the position of Treasurer from 1977 to 1983. He was leader of the Liberal Party from 1985 to 1989 and from 1995 to 2007, being Prime Minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007. He is Australia's second-longest-serving Prime Minister.

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ADC MATTERS | http://www.antidef.org.au

STAFF MEMBERS

Edna Lipson

Projects and Development Manager

Edna Lipson has been working at the ADC since February 2008. In her role as Project and Development Manager, Edna is responsible for implementing and running our programs. These include The Multifaith Future Leaders Program, Click Against Hate, ADC Gandel Oration, Campus anti-Semitism and other ADC events.

Minette Machet

Administration Officer

Minette Machet has been working at the ADC since January 2014. Minette is responsible for the upkeep of our social media, including Facebook, YouTube and the ADC website, as well as much of the administration. She assists with the ADC Multifaith Future Leaders Program, Click Against Hate and in producing the newsletters.

Michele Slatem

Bookkeeper

Michele Slatem has been working at the ADC since May 2015. She is responsible for the financial reporting and bookkeeping functions.

Dannyella Levin

Education Support

Dannyella has been working at the ADC since April 2015 and is responsible for co-ordinating the Click Against Hate program. She is the liaison officer between the schools and the Education officers.

Sharon Swiatlo, Brett Kaye and Lindy Lifszyc

Education Officers

Together Sharon Swiatlo, Brett Kaye and Lindy Lifszyc are responsible for delivering the Click Against Hate program into Victorian schools. Sharon, Brett and Lindy bring years of educational experience into the classroom to engage the students in this dynamic program.

Annette Gladwin

Volunteer

Annette Gladwin has been working at the ADC for over 30 years. Annette is responsible for researching information related to anti-Semitism, racism and multiculturalism. Annette volunteers her time when necessary to remove anti-Semitic graffiti.