News

At this time of year, during the Australian summer, we look forward to holidays, some lazy days on the beach, New Year's Eve parties and the December celebration of Chanukah. But the Summer of 2020 will not be remembered for all these things that we usually look forward to, not because we are not a fun-loving people, but because our world has been turned upside down. The Covid 19 pandemic put a stop to most celebrations person to person, most holidays either overseas or even in Australia in interstate holiday destinations, and for many the time of gift giving [...]

On October 30 this year I received a letter from Yaakov Hagoel, the newly elected Chairman of the World Zionist Organization. He talked about Menachem Begin as the person who inspired him in the way he hoped to manage the WZO. I will quote some of his letter. The full letter can be downloaded here. “In 1897 a scattered people gathered together in what seemed almost surreal. For the first time in nearly 2,000 years, Jewish representatives from dozens of communities around the world assembled to discuss the return to their homeland. Theodor Herzl, the Visionary of the State [...]

Finally, Donald Trump has accepted that the formal transition process for Joe Biden’s administration needs to move forward, but says he will continue to fight to overturn the election result. Most would get the impression that Trump actually believes he may overturn the election result that most world leaders accept. It is also clear that there are many around the President who are supporting his incredible stance and carrying on “business as usual”. Hence the visit of the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to the Middle East this week, meeting with Netanyahu and other leaders in the Gulf [...]