2025 Scandinavian Film Festival: The Queer & Jewish sessions

The 2025 Scandinavian Film Festival is running through July and August.

This year’s packed programme includes one Jewish and one queer film, details below.

Never Alone

From celebrated director Klaus Härö (The Fencer, One Last Deal, My Sailor, My Love) comes a powerful true story of resilience and defiance, based on real events during World War II and adapted from Rony Smolar’s book, Uncle Stiller. Ville Virtanen (Bordertown) delivers a standout performance as businessman Abraham Stiller, a pillar of Helsinki’s Jewish community who did everything in his power to help the Jewish refugees.

Helsinki, 1942. The state of Finland has made an alliance with Nazi Germany. Only one man is trying to stop the Finnish security services which were operating in secrecy, turning over Jewish refugees into the hands of Gestapo. As Nazi influence grows, Stiller finds himself torn between his personal life and his politics, and must risk everything to protect his community.

A moving drama that shines a light on the plight of Jewish refugees in Finland during WWII, Never Alone showcases the inspiring humanitarian efforts of a man who risked everything to protect them, in a gripping story of courage, and the fight for hope amidst overwhelming adversity.

Odd Fish

Directed and co-written by Snævar Sölvason (From Iceland to Eden), Odd Fish is a heartwarming tale of dreams, identity and acceptance, set in a small community in the picturesque Westfjords of Iceland.

During the summer, childhood friends Hjalti (Björn Jörundur, Trapped) and Björn (newcomer Arna Magnea Danks), run a seafood restaurant in the fishing village in which they were born and raised. Despite their vastly different personalities, the two have a successful business partnership, and their restaurant is popular. They have long dreamed of keeping the restaurant open all year round, and when an unexpected opportunity arises, they finally get the chance to do so.

But, when Björn suddenly reveals a long-held secret to Hjalti, their long-standing friendship is tested and prejudices come to light. Faced with changes that reveal new perspectives on life and identity, the two of them must each re-evaluate what matters most.

An endearing story imbued with warm humour, Odd Fish is a tender reflection on the power of friendship.

Young Jewish Queers launched | AJN

Pride Across Cultures

Young Jewish Queers launched

“YJQ is a place for queer Jewish teens to meet each other and to see that there are other people like them.”

By Sharyn Kolieb

July 14, 2025, 3:06 pm

The Jews of Pride stall at the Pride Across Cultures event on June 25. Photo: Michael Barnett.

During the pride month of June, a broad range of cultural and faith groups from Melbourne’s LGBTIQA+ community came together at the Collingwood Town Hall for the inaugural Thorne Harbour Health “Pride Across Cultures” event on June 25.

Amongst the dozen stalls were Jewish groups Aleph Melbourne and Jewmos, and newly formed group Young Jewish Queers for Jewish queer teenagers aged 13 to 18.

Michael Barnett of Aleph Melbourne said that amongst those who came to their stall were recent arrivals to Melbourne’s Jewish community from Israel and from interstate. Others came to share their support for the Jewish community in these challenging times including Matt Mackenzie from the Department of Home Affairs and Victoria Police LGBTIQA+ liaison coordinator Jeremy Oliver.

Barnett told The AJN that Mackenzie has been working closely with the Jewish community to understand their safety needs post-October 7, and Oliver has been instrumental in providing protection for the Jewish contingent at the Midsumma Pride March and at the Pride Across Cultures event.

Jarod Rhine-Davis of Jewmos delivered a presentation in the breakout room on the events being organised for this year including a queer Shabbat dinner to be hosted at Temple Beth Israel on August 15.

Freshly showcased on the night was Young Jewish Queers Melbourne (YJQ) formed to create a safe space for Jewish queer teenagers, who recently hosted a film night. Speaking to The AJN about starting YJQ, Nick Wainstein said, “The reason why I started YJQ is so that I could build a community and a space where I don’t feel the need or pressure to hide my identity. Whether that be being queer or Jewish.

“Having the experience of that constant feeling of not being fully accepted or being safe in either of the communities that you’re a part of is really isolating. And so that’s where YJQ comes in.”

Wainstein added, “YJQ is a place for queer Jewish teens to meet each other and to see that there are other people like them. This is a space where they don’t have to choose between being a queer person or being Jewish.”

To get involved in YJQ email: info@yjqmelbourne.com

To book the shabbat dinner at TBI visit tbi.shulcloud.com/event/queer-dinner

SMH | Antisemitism envoy distances herself from husband’s donation to right-wing lobby group

[Aleph Melbourne notes that Advance Australia actively campaigns against progressive causes including LGBTIQA+ issues]

Antisemitism envoy distances herself from husband’s donation to right-wing lobby group

By Olivia Ireland

July 13, 2025 — 5.00pm

Antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal has distanced herself from donations by her husband’s family trust to controversial conservative lobby group Advance Australia days after she released recommendations on how the government needs to respond to rising hate towards Jewish people.

Australian Electoral Commission donation records lodged by a company Segal’s husband John Roth is a director of show that the Roth family trust, Henroth, gave $50,000 to Advance in 2023-24.

Advance Australia has previously said a vote for Labor is endorsed by the Chinese Community Party, that teal candidates are hidden Green politicians and accused left-leaning politicians of being “mostly on the same side as Hamas”.

Jillian Segal and John Roth.Credit:Facebook

Segal’s role as envoy is to fight antisemitism and enhance social cohesion, and she has asked for endorsement of her report on combating antisemitism. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese explicitly said he did not want the report to be politicised.

In a statement, Segal said she had no influence on the donations made by Roth’s trust. “No one would tolerate or accept my husband dictating my politics, and I certainly won’t dictate his. I have had no involvement in his donations, nor will I,” she said.

ASIC documents show Henroth Investments Pty Ltd is co-directed by Stanley and John Roth. AEC donation records state the company lodged its donation return on behalf of Henroth Discretionary Trust.

The company has also previously given money to the Liberal Party. Henroth was named after their father Henry Roth, who was a successful property developer.

The brothers own gelato chain Gelatissimo which has stores across Australia and globally in the Philippines, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the US.

The donation was first reported by Guardian Australia and The Klaxon.

There is no suggestion Segal was aware of a donation or that it has affected her work.

Segal was previously a prominent lawyer and eventually partner for what was then called Allen, Allen and Hemsley before leaving to become a commissioner and later deputy chair of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Special envoy to combat antisemitism Jillian Segal and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday.Credit:Dylan Coker

She has also served on boards for the Australian Securities Exchange, the National Bank of Australia, served on the council of the Australian War Memorial and was deputy chancellor of the University of NSW.

Segal also is the immediate past president of the Executive Council of the Australian Jewry.

Lobby group Advance Australia prominently campaigned against the 2023 Voice Referendum and during the 2022 and 2025 elections shared various banners and ads against the Greens, teal independents and Labor.

Trucks were seen across the country in 2022 with slogans comparing the Australian Labor Party to the Chinese Community Party, with an image of Chinese Premier Xi Jinping and a caption stating: “CCP says vote Labor”.

The lobby group in late 2024 also released a petition, which remains on its website, calling for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to stand up to pro-Palestine activists.

“[Pro-Palestine activists] have the full backing of the elites – the Labor/Green/Teal politicians, the media, the universities and the taxpayer funded bureaucrats and nonprofits are now mostly on the same side as Hamas,” the petition said.

Advance Australia has been contacted for comment.

On Thursday, Segal released her antisemitism report beside Albanese who said the government would consider all recommendations.

The report has sparked wide-ranging debate as it includes recommendations to rate universities on how they have cracked down on anti-Jewish hate and stripping funding from educational institutions, cultural events and charities that fail to address antisemitism.

A controversial definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Association was also recommended to be adopted by all Australian institutions.

The definition has been embraced by Jewish groups and some parts of the Australian government for its clarity and breadth, but attacked by critics, who argue it stifles free speech and conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

Antisemitism

Olivia Ireland is a federal politics reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, reporting on political breaking news and workplace relations from Parliament House in Canberra.Connect via Twitter or email.

The Queer sessions at Limmud Oz Melbourne 2025

How kosher is homosexuality? How Queer is the Torah? Being both gay and straight. The struggle religious schools face with queer students. All this and more at Limmud Oz 2025.

Melbourne hosts Limmud Oz from June 7-9 2025.

This year’s packed programme includes four queer-themed sessions, as detailed here.

Sunday June 8 • 12:00pm – 1:00pm • Idan Dorshav Dershowitz

What does the Bible say about Homosexuality?

The “abomination” passage in Leviticus 18 and the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 are the two main biblical texts that come to mind when thinking about biblical attitudes toward homosexuality. We will explore the history of how these two passages have been interpreted, beginning already in the biblical period itself.

Sunday June 8 • 5:15pm – 6:15pm • Shoshana Gottlieb

70 faces: reading queerness into Torah study

Discover a new and exciting face of Torah! In this session, we will learn some Torah together (all levels welcome), and seek to understand how and where queerness can be seen within the text. How can our understanding of the stories, our traditions, and ourselves be made more meaningful?

Monday June 9 • 1:15pm – 2:15pm • Ari Jacob

The Jewish married life of a straight, religious homosexual

This is a session on Jewish continuity. But it’s not old-school. It’s a musical(ish) performance about how God made me gay, but Torah (sort of) made me straight (sort of). Not in a homophobic way. It’s about love, intimacy, and how I went from the Closet to the Chuppah. Not in a hippie way. Really, it’s a Kabbalistic journey through the divine masculine and feminine, and finding wholeness in contradiction. Or something like that.

Monday June 9 • 4pm – 5pm • Jacquie Seemann Charak

Schools, religion and the law: an unholy alliance

What is the state of ‘religious freedom’ in Australian schools? For example, may Jewish schools exclude non-Jewish students/staff? May an Anglican school force a Jewish student to attend chapel? How do religious schools deal with sexuality and dress codes? Religious schools juggle complicated questions – trying to avoid unlawful discrimination while also transmitting religious identity. We’ll explore what Australian Jewish schools can/can’t do compared to some other countries, and what the Religious Freedom Review (2018) had to say about these issues. We’ll also look at some examples of allegations of antisemitism in Australian schools, and what has happened to them.

Congratulations Josh & Monique, and thank you Zoe

Aleph Melbourne congratulates Monique Ryan and Josh Burns on retaining their seats of Kooyong and Macnamara in the 2025 Federal Election. They are strong advocates for LGBTIQA+ people and the Jewish community.

We are especially grateful to Monique and Josh for taking the time to write heartfelt and considered statements of support during the election campaign.

Aleph Melbourne is appreciative of the other candidates who supplied statements of support for LGBTIQA+ people: Kath Davies (Independent/Chisholm), Alana Gallie-McRostie (Greens/Goldstein), Zoe Daniels (Independent/Goldstein), and Sonya Semmens (Greens/Macnamara).

A special thank you goes to outgoing MP Zoe Daniel who has consistently been a friend and ally of LGBTIQA+ Jews, and whose commitment to equality and decency remains without question.

Raymond Rich – Condolence notice | AJN

The following condolence notice for Raymond Rich appeared in the Australian Jewish News (Melbourne edition) on May 9 2025.

Raymond died on April 24 2025.

[full page]

Aleph Melbourne launches 2025 Australian Federal Election Voters Guide for LGBTIQA+ Equality

MEDIA RELEASE
20 April 2025

ALEPH MELBOURNE LAUNCHES 2025 AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION VOTERS GUIDE FOR LGBTIQA+ EQUALITY

Aleph Melbourne is proud to announce its 2025 Australian Federal Election Voters Guide for LGBTIQA+ Equality.

The Voters Guide is designed to inform voters in Melbourne’s predominantly Jewish suburbs who want to select candidates who have comprehensively demonstrated or pledged support for LGBTIQA+ equality and inclusion.

This election the guide covers Victorian electoral divisions (as per October 2024 electoral boundaries) with 1000 or more people with Jewish religious affiliation as at the 2021 census. The selected divisions are Chisholm*, Goldstein, Hotham, Isaacs, Kooyong, Macnamara and Melbourne*.

* Included due to the abolition and redistribution of the division of Higgins.

LINKS

KEY FEATURES

Individual candidate statements indicating commitment to LGBTIQA+ issues
Indicators advising whether a candidate is LGBTIQA+, an ally, or opposed to LGBTIQA+ equality
Indicators advising whether a candidate is Jewish, or is perceived to hold antisemitic views
Links to candidate/party platform/policies on LGBTIQA+ issues
Links to How To Vote cards

We encourage voters to locate their voting district, review their candidates’ levels of support for LGBTIQA+ issues and vote in a manner that prioritises LGBTIQA+ equality.

The guide will be continually updated as more candidate information comes in, or as developments on candidates arise.

HISTORY

This guide is the eighth in our series of election guides since 2013:

MEDIA CONTACT
Michael Barnett OAM
0417-595-541
contact@aleph.org.au

ENDS

Aleph Melbourne 2025 Voters Guide for LGBTIQA+ Equality – Australian Federal Election

ALEPH MELBOURNE
VOTERS GUIDE TO LGBTIQA+ EQUALITY
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION 2025
#CHISHOLM #GOLDSTEIN #HOTHAM #ISAACS
#KOOYONG #MACNAMARA #MELBOURNE

This guide is designed to inform voters who want to select candidates who have comprehensively demonstrated or pledged support for LGBTIQA+ equality and inclusion.

This election the guide covers Victorian electoral divisions (as per October 2024 electoral boundaries) with 1000 or more people with Jewish religious affiliation as at the 2021 census. Note: Due to the abolition of the division of Higgins, we have included Chisholm and Melbourne in the guide.

What to look for in candidates that PRIORITISE LGBTIQA+ equality:
* A supportive candidate statement
* [BEST] A comprehensive LGBTIQA+ policy platform and/or unequivocal commitment to LGBTIQA+ issues (green tick)
* [OK] A policy platform that shows a moderate level of support to LGBTIQA+ issues (yellow tick)
* [BARELY OK] A policy platform that shows a weak level of support to LGBTIQA+ issues (black tick)
* Are declared as an ally.
* Are declared as LGBTIQA+ (although this is not an indication of a candidate’s political priorities)

What to look for in candidates that OPPOSE LGBTIQA+ equality:
* A warning symbol against their name in the LGBTIQA+ column
* A policy platform that is inconsistent with LGBTIQA+ equality (red cross)

What if a candidate has not declared themselves as an ally and/or does not have an LGBTIQA+ policy platform?
We recommend you contact the candidate or their party and ask them directly. We do not yet have enough information on them to show their level of support.

Feedback, corrections and updates are invited via our contact page. Information is provided here in good faith and on the understanding that it is correct.

Aleph Melbourne – 2025 Federal Election Guide

Chisholm Goldstein Hotham Isaacs Kooyong Macnamara Melbourne

Chisholm Division

Candidate (in ballot order)	Party	LGBTIQA+
RANDALL Tim	The Australian Greens	ALLY
ONG Gary	Family First
ALLEN Katie	Liberal	ALLY
MCSHANE Christine	Trumpet of Patriots
GARLAND Carina (incumbent)	Australian Labor Party	(not stated)
DAVIES Kath	Independent	ALLY

Goldstein Division

Candidate (in ballot order)	Party	LGBTIQA+
WILLIAMS Vicki Jane	Trumpet of Patriots
GADANI Nildhara	Australian Labor Party	(not stated)
SEGAL David	Libertarian
GALLI-MCROSTIE Alana	The Australian Greens	ALLY
GARDINER Leon	Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
DANIEL Zoe (incumbent)	Independent	ALLY
WILSON Tim	Liberal

Hotham Division

Candidate (in ballot order)	Party	LGBTIQA+
VAINORAS Tony	Citizens Party	(not stated)
BARRY Martin	The Australian Greens	(not stated)
FOGARTY Stuart	Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
BROWN Mark	Family First
O’NEIL Clare (incumbent)	Australian Labor Party	ALLY
MATHARU Harmick Singh	Liberal	(not stated)

Isaacs Division

Candidate (in ballot order)	Party	LGBTIQA+
DREYFUS Mark (incumbent)	Australian Labor Party	ALLY
KIRWAN Matthew	The Australian Greens	ALLY
HARMSE Audrey	Family First
OTTEY Fiona	Liberal	(not stated)
MCMAHON Geoff	Pauline Hanson’s One Nation

Kooyong Division

Candidate (in ballot order)	Party	LGBTIQA+
PEPPARD Richard	Libertarian
HAMER Amelia	Liberal	(not stated)
CARTER Jackie	The Australian Greens	ALLY
BRACHE Camille	Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
VADER David	Trumpet of Patriots
RYAN Monique (incumbent)	Independent	ALLY
CROSBY Clive	Australian Labor Party	(not stated)

Macnamara Division

Candidate (in ballot order)	Party	LGBTIQA+
BURNS Josh (incumbent)	Australian Labor Party	ALLY
RUBIN Sean	Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
SEMMENS Sonya	The Australian Greens	ALLY
SAULO Benson	Liberal	(not stated)
ABELMAN Michael	Libertarian
MYERS John Barry	Independent	(not stated)

Melbourne Division

Candidate (in ballot order)	Party	LGBTIQA+
CASEY Melanie	Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
WITTY Sarah	Australian Labor Party	ALLY
SMITH Tim	Independent	(not stated)
KOUTOUFIDES Anthony	Independent	(not stated)
BANDT Adam (incumbent)	The Australian Greens	ALLY
HUANG Helen	Fusion	(not stated)
HUNT Steph	Liberal	(not stated)

Jews of Pride at 2025 Midsumma Pride March

The Jews of Pride contingent came to life again at the 30th Midsumma Pride March on Sunday February 2, 2025.

Enjoy this compilation of clips taken from the day showcasing the diversity of Melbourne’s Jewish community, celebrating LGBTIQ+ people and our families.

Facebook: Jews of Pride at Pride March (Feb 2 2025)

Extended version includes photos and a bonus interview courtesy of 3CR’s Queering The Air:

Facebook: Jews of Pride at Pride March (Feb 2 2025) Extended version

Jewish News photo sales here (access password: AJNsubscriber18).

Participating/Supporting organisations:

Jews of Pride 2025 photos @ AJN photo store

Check out the The Australian Jewish News’ online photo store for pictures from the Jews of Pride contingent at the 2025 Midsumma Pride March, taken by Peter Haskin. Access password = AJNsubscriber18

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