Aaron Lemberg, Hatikvah Community Engagement Officer I know that it’s said every single time an election comes around (which isn’t that rare these days), but this years Israeli election really does feel like it’s by far the most important one of our lifetimes. And the lead up to it has already left me feeling a whole lot of existential dread. Juggling what it has been like to be a young progressive Jew in Australia in the context of the current government in Israel and

Leon Orbach Come gather 'round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You'll be drenched to the bone Change is about to sweep Israel (and in the not too distant future the USA). Do we know what sort of change? No. But surely, whatever the outcome of this year’s elections, there will be transformative changes. If the Netanyahu government is thrown out, then a National Commission of Inquiry will be set up, the corruption

Esther Takac is the writer-director-producer of RISING – Voices of Protest and Hope, an award-winning filmmaker and author, child and adult psychologist and program founder. Memory, democracy and moral responsibility in Israel and the Jewish world today I recently travelled to Israel for the birth of my first granddaughter in Tel Aviv. Becoming a grandmother, or Saftush as I’m now called in Hebrew, has been pure naches. Yet alongside that joy was deep concern for the countr

Israel will head to the polls on 27 October 2026. After years of war, political turmoil and deep divisions, Israelis will once again have the opportunity to decide the country's direction. The date has now be en formally confirmed, and the Knesset will conclude its final sitting before entering the election recess this week. For many in our Australian community, this election feels different. Over recent weeks we have heard from an increasing number of Israelis living in Aust

What happens when a nation’s government completely freezes during its darkest hour? Last night, Hatikvah Australia hosted a deeply raw and urgent community conversation with Ami Dror—entrepreneur, Harvard leadership lecturer, and former Shin Bet security officer who once protected the likes of Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Benjamin Netanyahu. For over an hour, Dror pulled back the curtain on the internal mechanics of Israel’s current political crisis, the untold story of t

By Leon Orbach & Nirit Eylon One thousand days ago, many of us woke to messages we could not comprehend. For Israelis, it was the deadliest day in the history of the State. For Jews around the world, it shattered an assumption many of us had carried our entire lives: that, whatever disagreements we had with Israel, it would always remain a place of safety for the Jewish people. Nothing has felt quite the same since. Over these 1,000 days we have lived through emotions that fe

Article by United With Israel Over the past year, United With Israel has continued to stand beside the people of Israel as their needs have evolved from emergency relief to long-term recovery. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have helped furnish homes for displaced families and hostage survivors, provided practical assistance to those rebuilding their lives, and, most importantly, expanded our support for mental health. Working with trusted partners on the ground

Kedem Levy Australian Entrepreneur Energy Expert Most of us have heard about the risks of climate change, and many have heard of the energy transition. Australia has clear targets to reduce carbon emissions. We know Israel as the “Start-Up Nation.” So, a question is: how can Israel and Australia create partnerships to accelerate the journey to a low-emissions world? The potential is actually quite high, and it's linked to the nature of the transition with the need for inno

Ravit Glance: Associate Producer, RISING: Voices of Protest & Hope There are moments in a nation's history when remaining a spectator is no longer enough. Over the past three years, hundreds of thousands of Israelis chose not to stand on the sidelines. They stepped into the public square because they believed the future of their country was too important to leave to others. RISING is an Australian documentary, created by an Australian filmmaking team, that has just concluded

Nirit Eylon, Hatikvah President Last month, I attended the UPZ Europe conference in Budapest and Vienna. As a partner organisation of UPZ, Hatikvah was proud to participate alongside progressive Zionist leaders and activists from across Europe and beyond. I expected to learn about Jewish communities, Zionism, and the challenges facing Jewish life in Europe. I did not expect to come home thinking about democracy, political engagement, and the role of young people in shaping th

Romy Zyngier, Hatikvah Board On 27 May, Hatikvah Australia, Beit Tarbut, and Shelanu joined forces to host a community workshop in support of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism, bringing together participants for an evening of shared stories, mutual support, and practical action. The workshop was a genuinely collaborative affair, generously supported by community members with legal, psychological and writing expertise who gave their time to help participants navigate both

The Hebrew speaking community of Australia was provided the opportunity to understand the framework of the Royal commission and the opportunity and tools to contribute to the Commission’s work. Hatikvah Aust, Beit Tarbut & Shelanu together with Share Your Story, Project A, ncjwa (nation & Vic), JCCV, ZFA & Habayit all joined forces with to provide the this unique service. For the first time native Hebrew speakers were able to learn about and participate in an important but se

Dawn Cohen Like women have been expected to kow tow to men, Jews are expected to be politely greatful for beingallowed to exist. Women have long discovered that excessive politeness is wearying. Repressing the truthis wearying. The truth not spoken: Our legends and mystical texts have been stollen by the culturalimperialism of Christianity and Islam, co-opted and then rewritten as if they were theirs. The “old testament” is not an “old testament”. It is the Christian theft of

Nirit Eylon, Hatikvah Australia President This was my fourth visit to Israel since October 7, and each visit has felt profoundly different from the one before it. My previous trips focused on two things: the fight to bring the hostages home, and the immense effort to rebuild the devastated communities of the south and north. I was even in Israel during Iran’s first direct drone attack. Yet nothing prepared me for the feeling that accompanied this visit. This time, I encounter

Negba Dolev-Weiss, Hatikvah Australia Board All across the Jewish Community, people are working on submissions to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. This is a crucial undertaking at an historical time. At Hatikvah, however, we feel that the unique perspective of Israelis who have made their home in Australia, is missing. Hence our new initiative to bring the information in Hebrew and run hands-on workshop to enable you to make a difference. Please re

Negba Dolev-Weiss, Hatikvah Board For years, Diaspora Jews and expat Israelis have lived side by side rather than with one another. I know this firsthand. My family came to Melbourne when I was a preteen. Even then, former Israelis were seen as “other”—yordim who had deserted the motherland. My mother, gregarious by nature, built a warm community that included both Diaspora Jews and Israelis. My sister and I went to school here and, after a difficult adjustment, found our pla

Leon Orbach, Hatikvah Board This year 3 pivotal days in the Jewish calendar rolled over each other in quick succession. Yom HaShoah gave way to Yom HaZikaron which in turn is transformed into the celebrations of Yom Ha’atzmaut. So much Jewish history packed into such a short time. Yom HaShoah speaks to the trauma and lessons of exile - Galut. Yom HaZikaron honours the price paid in the struggle for national self-determination – the answer to that exile. Yom Ha’atzmaut allows

Nirit Eylon, Hatikvah Australia President There are two days that carry the full weight and represent the true spirit of Israel: Yom Ha’Zikaron, and the day that follows it, Yom Ha’Atzmaut. No other country moves so sharply between extremes. From the deepest grief to joy,From silent pain to celebration. Growing up, this transition felt almost impossible to reconcile, and yet completely natural.Because in Israel, the two are inseparable. We remember and mourn, and then we live

Romy Zyngier - Board Member On the second night of Pesach, Beit Tarbut Australia came alive with warmth, song, and the unmistakable energy of a community choosing to gather with intention. Around long tables set in a Chet (U-shape), children, parents, elders, and friends sat side by side. An intergenerational tapestry that is both rare and deeply necessary. This was not simply a Seder; it was a living expression of what a progressive Zionist community can be at its best: grou

Nirit Eylon, Hatikvah Australia President As we approach Pesach this year, we find ourselves in a moment filled with uncertainty, concern, and a deep sense of responsibility for one another. Almost a month into the war between Israel and Iran, many in our community are carrying a quiet weight. We are checking the news more often than we would like. We are reaching out to family and friends in Israel. We are holding worry, distance, and at times, helplessness. And yet, alongsi