News articles

A Night With Alon Amir (Israel’s Eurovision Expert)

Eurovision Fans !

Here is your only opportunity to get all the behind-the-scenes gossip at Eurovision. Aleph Melbourne, together with the Embassy of Israel, presents Alon Amir, the Israeli author of the book “Three Minutes of Eternity” this Tuesday 19 June for an exclusive up close Q&A with the world’s leading Eurovision expert. Ask him anything you always wanted to know about Eurovision.

Alon Amir took part in many Eurovision competitions. He served as the Head of the Press for the Israeli delegation (2009, 2012, 2013, and 2016) as well as for the Slovak (2011) and Belarussian delegations (2005). In addition, he served as an international juror numerous times in national finals in Sweden, Malta, Estonia, Bulgaria, Norway and Finland.

Alon has worked with some of the leading singers and performers in Israel, helping them to build a career and an audience. He created several TV segments with his twin brother on Israeli TV and has written for several newspapers and leading web sites. He also has had his own radio show (despite his voice).

Bookings are essential for his only Melbourne appearance.

Date: Tuesday 19th June

Time: Arrive 7:00pm for a 7:30pm sharp start

Venue: Nature Boy, 486 Neerim Rd, Murrumbeena

Getting there: Train to Murrumbeena Station / street parking available

Cost: There is no charge for this event but you must book in advance to secure your seat

Drinks will be available at bar price.

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Alon Amir

Embassy of Israel logo

Chutzpah – Australian Jewish Homosexual Movement – Feb & May 1975

With thanks to the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives for the following two articles.  [Source: Facebook, February 3 2018]

Australian Jewish Homosexual Movement - Chutzpah - February 1975
Australian Jewish Homosexual Movement - Chutzpah - May 9 1975

Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives

Chutzpah: Australian Jewish Homosexual Movement. Australian Jewish Homosexual Movement, Box 4 Wentworth Bldg, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2006. published: c1974- 75. frequency: monthly.1975: 3-7

Gen17 Initial Findings – LGBTIQ

The Gen17 Preliminary Findings indicate LGBTIQ people in the Jewish community are marginalised and lack acceptance.

The GEN17 Australian Jewish Community Survey – Preliminary Findings have been released and can be viewed here.

The preliminary findings offer no insight into the number of same-sex attracted or gender diverse people in the Jewish community.

They do identify that LGBTIQ people are a marginalised demographic that a small section of the community has concern for.

Hopefully subsequent analysis of the Gen17 data will offer greater insights in this area.

The following sections have been extracted from the report.
GEN17 - Not connected to Jewish Life due to Sexual Identity

 

 

GEN17 - Improve acceptance of LGBTI Jews

 

 

GEN17 - Improve acceptance of LGBTI Jews - Melb vs Syd (text)
GEN17 - Improve acceptance of LGBTI Jews - Melb vs Syd (table)

In One Voice 2018

Aleph Melbourne, the Jewish Lesbian Group of Victoria and Keshet Austalia had a vibrant presence at In One Voice 2018.

Aleph Melbourne, the Jewish Lesbian Group of Victoria and Keshet Austalia had a vibrant presence at In One Voice 2018.

Sandra, Julie, Stacey and Michael at In One Voice 2018

20180318 Shoshi, Colin and Susie at In One Voice 2018

Simon at In One Voice 2018

The story of Dayenu Sydney’s participation in Mardi Gras

Source: ABC Radio National – Life Matters: Remembering 40 years of Mardi Gras

Over the past four decades, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has turned into a huge celebration, giving people the chance to celebrate their identities.

Jewish members of the LGBTI community have marched in the parade for years, but it wasn’t until the year 2000 that they decided to create a huge float to stand out from the crowd.

Dawn Cohen, one of the coordinators of the Jewish Pride float, remembers it as a “damn scary” time, but one she is proud to have been part of.

“It’s an incredible privilege to see social change, and to know I played a tiny little role in that,” she says.

“I feel so proud of the Australian Jewish community, the Australian gay community and of Australia itself. We bet our lives on you, and we won that bet.”

As Sydney gears up for today’s parade, listen to Dawn Cohen reflect on Jewish Pride.

Jewish contingent awarded “Most Fabulous” in 2018 Midsumma Pride March

It is with great delight we announce that Aleph Melbourne, together with the entire Jewish contingent participating in the 2018 Midsumma Pride March, is recipient of the “Most Fabulous” award (for the most fantastically frocked).

2018 Midsumma Pride March "Jews of Pride" Most Fabulous award

Groups registered in the award-winning Jewish contingent included Aleph Melbourne, Habonim Dror, Hashomer Hatzair, Jewish Lesbian Group of Victoria, Keshet Australia, Netzer Melbourne, Progressive Judaism Victoria and Temple Beth Israel.

Contributing to the success of the Jewish contingent were the visually spectacular placards from Temple Beth Israel and Aleph Melbourne, together with the booming sound truck “Barbra the Beaut Ute” and a range of technicolour banners, umbrellas, flags and fabulous community members.

The judges’ decision to select the Jewish contingent the “most fabulous” would have been especially difficult, given the many fabulous entries amongst the over 190 groups registered to march.

Aleph Melbourne is proud to represent a diverse, inclusive and most fabulous Jewish community.

A complete set of photograph of the Jewish contingent can be viewed here.  Hi-resolution images are available on request from Michael Barnett (michael@aleph.org.au).

David Southwick 2015 statement on Keshet gaining JCCV membership

18 AUG 2015

MEMBER’S STATEMENT: JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF VICTORIA

Mr SOUTHWICK — I would like also to congratulate the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) for voting in its plenum on 3 August in support of the affiliation of Keshet Australia, JCCV’s first GLBTI affiliate. I wish to offer my sincere congratulations to JCCV members, including their president Jonathan Barnett, on this historic moment. This is the first time a GLBTI organisation has joined a Jewish community roof body in Australia and one of the few that has done so around the world. It is fitting that it happened on the JCCV’s — —

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Angus) — Order! The member’s time has expired.

[ View on Hansard ]