A word from our President: Holding on to what brings us together

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, alongside this, something else continues to exist, something we have always known to be true. That what holds us together is stronger.

At Hatikvah, our purpose has always been to bring people together around shared values, humanity, equality, and pluralism. These are not abstract ideas. They come to life in the way we show up for one another, especially in times like these.

Over the past weeks, we have felt this deeply.

From the collective energy of Shalom Hanoch’s concerts in Melbourne, where nearly a thousand people gathered in shared voice and connection, to the quiet support extended to loved ones in Israel, our community continues to embody what it means to stand together. And culture continues to be our bridge.

It gives us language when words fall short. It allows us to feel together, even when we are far apart. It reminds us not only of where we come from, but of who we are. And sometimes, even in the most difficult periods, something meaningful emerges.

This Yom HaZikaron, we will come together for

“Sharim LeZichram” – Singing in Their Memory

An intimate community evening of songs and stories in memory of Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror.

Through music and shared stories, we will honour their lives, their memories, and the people they were beyond the headlines. We feel incredibly fortunate to have Moshe Levi, legendary music producer of Shalom Hanoch, with us here in Australia at this time, having been unable to return to Israel due to the war. With Moshe Levi shaping the musical direction of the evening, this will be a powerful gathering that speaks directly to this moment.

This gathering is not only about remembrance. It is about connection. It is about holding space together. It is about allowing ourselves, as a community, to feel.

More details and registration information below.

As we move into Pesach, we hold on to the hope that quieter days will come, and that peace will follow. Wishing you and your loved ones a meaningful and peaceful Pesach.