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Articles by Rebecca Davis
WAYDATYCBDT? #7 | GRIEVING with Rob Reider
This is JOIN 101’s seventh installment of “What are you doing alone that you could be doing together?” — a series highlighting civic innovators we’ve encountered on JOIN OR DIE’s community screening tour who have asked themselves this pivotal question…and put their answers into action. This week, Rob Reider shares about the founding and work of the SAD DADS CLUB, a group that helps grieving fathers find a community with which to navigate life after loss.
The Psychology Behind Standing Up to the Far-Right
Photo: Stand Up To Racism On 29 July 2024, the UK witnessed a tragic attack – a teenager named Axel Rudakubana stabbed multiple young girls at a dance class in Southport, killing three. Following this incident, mass anti-immigration demonstrations erupted across England and Northern Ireland, aggressively targeting members of ethnic minority communities, mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers.
This Rosh Hashanah, I'm tired - but unbroken.
Rosh Hashanah is meant to be a time of new beginnings. The shofar sounds: a spiritual alarm clock, a call to wake up, a call to hope. We dip our apples in honey and pray for a sweet year ahead. And yet – here we are, 718 days into a long, bloody war. And I’m not going to sugarcoat it: I’m tired. And I know many of you are too. Thanks for reading Moderation with Rebecca Davis! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Today, your Jewish friends are not okay.
How did the world let this happen? Shiri Bibas. Ariel Bibas. Kfir Bibas. Snatched from their home of Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 by Hamas terrorists. The photos are forever seared in our minds. The anguished desperation and pleas of Shiri, clutching Ariel, 4, and nine-month-old Kfir.
From Caulfield to Coogee hate comes to our doorstep
As the community was welcoming Shabbat last Friday evening, peace was shattered when a mob of over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters descended on Caulfield South’s Princes Park, bringing fear, hate and violence to the heart of Jewish Melbourne. The group stretched from the corners of Birch Street to Maple Street along Hawthorn Road.
Australian Jews stand strong
AS the days since October 7 have passed, and we continue to come to terms with war and the ever-evolving details of the horror inflicted on slaughtered and kidnapped Israelis; we also grapple with the world that remains. A world where angry rioters storm an airport terminal in Russia’s Dagestan, hunting for Jews. Where the walls of Jewish businesses in France are daubed with the Magen David. Where Jews are bashed on the streets of Chicago.
Australian Jews stand strong
As the days since October 7 have passed, and we continue to come to terms with war and the ever-evolving details of the horror inflicted on slaughtered and kidnapped Israelis; we also grapple with the world that remains. A world where angry rioters storm an airport terminal in Russia’s Dagestan, hunting for Jews. Where the walls of Jewish businesses in France are daubed with the Magen David. Where Jews are bashed on the streets of Chicago.
When inaction allows incitement
“Gas the Jews!” “F*** the Jews!” No, these aren’t chants from Germany, 1938; this is Sydney, Australia, 2023. And please, tell me how this is okay? How is it seemingly acceptable for a violent protest of pro-Palestinian supporters to launch flares and burn Israeli flags and scream for Jews to be exterminated – with no recourse?
CSG raises national threat level to 'severe'
CSG has raised its National Threat Level to SEVERE, meaning the community is on heightened alert, in light of the war in Israel. In a statement released to The AJN late Monday afternoon, CSG assured: “This increase is not based on any specific information relating to a threat against the Victorian Jewish Community, but rather as a precautionary measure.
Australian Jewish community: ‘Be vigilant’
CSG Victoria have issued a community alert following the launch of a Hamas offensive from Gaza, as the Jewish community celebrates the festivals of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Early Saturday morning, Palestinian terrorists from the Gaza Strip infiltrated the Israeli towns of Sderot, Ofakim and other border communities.
Simply Noa
“I know what your purpose in life is.” It was the statement that halted the conversation between Hollywood actress, producer, author and pro-Israel activist Noa Tishby and her close friend, Sarah Treem. Tishby and Treem had remained friends since they worked alongside each other as executive producer and writer respectively, on the Emmy-winning American television series In Treatment. Now, they sat around Treem’s dining table, joined by their young children.
‘Good – but not good enough’
“HOW do I move on in life without Malka Leifer being such a central role in it – especially after getting ‘not guilty’?” It’s the question Nicole Meyer continues to wrestle with, while she spoke candidly with The AJN from a Melbourne hotel room, four days after the sentencing of disgraced former Adass Israel School principal, Malka Leifer. Over the past 22 years – more than half of Meyer’s life – Leifer had been a constant; “as my teacher or principal, then, as my boss and colleague”.
Red Bird Vegan to open on South Grand and offer fast food-inspired vegan fare
Jessica Johnson knows she isn’t the first (or second, or third) vegan spot to open up on South Grand Boulevard – and that’s the point. Red Bird Vegan, currently in development and slated to open by the end of summer, plans to complement the other plant-based spots in the area by bringing in something brand new: fast food with a health-inspired spin. Johnson began dreaming of healthier options for quick dining during her years in healthcare.
Make me a match
Aleeza Ben Shalom doesn’t just enter the Zoom meeting – she bursts in – her broad smile and sunny spirit no different to her on-screen persona which beamed into my living room just a few days prior. Aleeza is an author, podcaster, educator and founder of executive matchmaking service, Marriage Minded Singles – and with more than 200 marriages under her belt, her success speaks for itself.
A better culture starts with better conversations
The recruitment market is challenging. While some recruitment is positive for councils and an opportunity to bring new talent into an organisation, too much at once can overwhelm an organisation and leave significant skills gaps. Retention is a key lever in our resourcing toolkit and one that is often not given as much importance as recruitment. Retention is more complex and is deep rooted in the culture of an organisation and the sub-cultures of teams.
Warning as Aussies return from Bali with mystery scars: 'Years to heal'
Australian tourists in Bali are being warned to protect themselves from an exotic insect that is toxic to humans. It comes as some travellers return home from the popular holiday destination suffering strange burn-like blisters on their bodies that are taking weeks to heal. Their painful liquid-filled blisters are being caused by a rove beetle, similar in size to an ant - known in Indonesia as tomcats.
Bringing Alba home: The Australian baby born as war began in Ukraine.
This article deals with an account of miscarriage that could be triggering for some readers. It’s 7am London time when Jess van Nooten and I first speak. Her words are hushed through the phone. Her voice is friendly, but strained. Tired. And then I hear Alba’s cry; the little baby that made headlines, born 11 weeks premature via a surrogate in Ukraine - two days before Russia declared war. “How is she going?” I ask. “Not great actually,” tells Jess, a 38-year-old chef from Melbourne.
'For 20 years, I supported my husband wearing women's clothing. But now I'm ending the marriage.'
Since the onset of the pandemic, Rosie says that Danny now 'dresses' as female full-time. She says she's become an expert at compartmentalising. Then, six weeks ago, Danny upped the ante once more. It pushed the marriage to a crucial point. He told Rosie that he wanted to get breast implants. “It just threw me big time. I was completely blindsided. I never knew this was on the radar in my wildest dreams.
'I’m a size 14-16 woman who grew up in the ’90s. This is what it did for my body image.'
And I know, I know, you might remind me of The Sex Tape, or say “famous for doing nothing”, and [insert Kardashian Kriticism here]… But for me, at that time, there was suddenly a woman on our screens and in magazines who had eyes like mine! And hair like mine! And skin like mine!… And she had curves! And she was ADORED. I can’t explain the power of representation and visibility like that, and what it does when you feel so unseen. Particularly as a young girl.
A third of migrant women experience domestic violence in Australia. But there's more to it than that.
The following post discusses domestic violence and mental health issues and might be triggering for some readers. Prisha* was 10 years old when she and her family migrated to Sydney from Uttar Pradesh in northern India. After graduating high school, she studied to become an engineer – the same profession as her soon-to-be husband. While she describes her family as modern and education-oriented, they were also quite traditional too. Marriage happens when you’re young – and it is arranged.
'Last night, I attended a domestic violence vigil. I didn’t expect to be triggered.'
How could he do that to me? How could he hurt me like that? Was that my fault? Was I being "too playful"? My tears descended into sobs, gut-wrenching and gasping. As I lifted my head, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were red; my face, blotchy. My hair was messy. I looked so… Small. Unfamiliar. Is this what domestic violence looks like? ***** Purple lights punctuate the Melbourne dark.
We are three days into Domestic Violence Awareness Month. And a woman has been allegedly murdered.
This story deals with domestic violence and could be triggering for some readers. "Another woman taken." It's just one of the handwritten notes that sits alongside tumbled flowers, part of the makeshift tribute that lines the front of her Croydon North home. It's the home in which she might have cooked meals for her family, or sipped tea on her couch after a busy day, or stared into her child's weary eyes as they fell to sleep. But we can only guess about her, her routine, likes and dislikes.
Safe bathrooms and respecting pronouns: What trans people want to see change in Australia.
news On International Day of Transgender Visibility on March 31, Mamamia launched a three-part series looking into the reality of the trans experience in Australia. Part one looked at what it's like to come out as trans. Part two looks at what it's like to live as trans. And today, the final part looks at what trans people would like to see change.
'I've been harassed in the boys' bathroom': What it's like to live as trans in Australia.
real life On International Day of Transgender Visibility on March 31, Mamamia launched a three-part series looking into the reality of the trans experience in Australia. Part one looked at what it's like to come out as trans. Part two looks at what it's like to live as trans in Australia. Warning: This post deals with suicide and mental health issues, and may be triggering for some readers. Bullying, bathrooms and discrimination.
'They thought it was a phase': What it's like coming out as trans in Australia.
real life Today marks Trans Day of Visibility, an annual international celebration of trans pride and awareness. But here at Mamamia, we want to see a world where trans stories are commonplace and mainstream - ongoing, and unrestrained to one special day. The trans community are one of the most marginalised and vilified groups in Australia - and even more so for trans people of colour or of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Gender quotas scrapped as 50/50 representation reached in Parliament for 50th consecutive year.
In Women and Leadership, Gillard's 2020 book co-authored with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, she reflects on her time in power: “What was different was that the go-to weapon in hard political debates became the kind of insults that only get hurled at a woman. That emerged as a trend alongside what was already a highly gendered lens for viewing my prime ministership.
'Our daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease. This is our life now.'
opinion As a mum, how do you grapple news like that? “I don’t think you ever do, to be honest. You learn to live with it a little easier. You learn to function a little bit better everyday.” There are many ups and downs to Amanda Gilpin’s days, and this week has been “a really s****y one”, she tells Mamamia. Even though we talk over Zoom, I can feel it weighing on her. Behind Amanda’s kind smile, and occasional laugh, her eyes are heavy and glassy, and her face, taut with strain.
'Family violence left me homeless at 15. Here's how I survived.'
“It was a shock to the system. All of a sudden, I was in this weird home environment. They were strangers to me. But the carers were amazing, although in the beginning, I actually slept on a couch for about a month because I didn't feel comfortable sleeping in my single bed in a shared room,” she shares. Eventually Kristen adapted, and began to thrive on the stability and care. She applied herself to study and work and took up every opportunity for professional development that came her way.
Planned escape routes, Neo-Nazis and violence: Antisemitism is rising in Australia.
opinion I had an escape route planned. If I heard someone enter by force from the main entrance, hopefully I’d have enough time to race to the back door, down the stairs outside. And run. Hopefully. But what if someone was waiting on the stairs too? And what about everyone else left behind? This is the reality of being Jewish in 2022 – In Australia. In the world. Treasurer and Jewish Australian Josh Frydenberg on the rise of antisemitism. Post continues after video.
"It is heartachingly painful." Stop comparing Australia’s COVID-19 restrictions to the Holocaust.
opinion I’m always fascinated by Nanna’s hands. Her slender fingers wrap around mine, clutching tightly. Her name is Lena Baron, my partner’s grandmother, but I call her Nanna too. Together we drink tea, share stories and hold hands. Her skin drapes over her knuckles like crinkled tissue paper; the years etched deeply into every crease and groove. 97 years of history.
A whole lot of sol
Five years after it was founded, Rebecca has turned Sol Cups into one of the top-four reusable cup companies globally. Tell us about your journey towards founding Sol Cups and becoming an entrepreneur. The idea of Sol Cups was an incredibly special one! It is a family business, so it has a lot of love behind it. The real passion and idea came from a bit of a harder time in my life. I was hit by an intense auto-immune disease, and my body and nervous system essentially crashed.
Women 'need to see it to be it'
The story so far WOMEN belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” While the immortalised words of the late US Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg were uttered almost two decades ago, they continue to echo loudly, their resonance ever-poignant as the discussion around gender equality evolves.
New mothers are ‘not given enough care’
“WOMEN are suffering emotionally,” says Raizel Fogel – but she is doing something about it. While she may be best known in the community as one half of the couple that owns kosher catering business Eshel, Fogel has dedicated a whole part of her life to caring for women in the days immediately after giving birth following their discharge from hospital. And as a doula for almost 20 years, the mother of six, grandmother of 44 and great-grandmother of four, knows a thing or two.
Mia Freedman unfiltered
ANYONE who follows Mia Freedman on social media knows that it’s more like catching up with a trusted friend than a media tycoon. In her videos, she spins into frame – often shimmering with sequins – in a long skirt or blazer paired with a tee and Converse sneakers. Cool, casual, but also a little bit special. She chats to the camera, slapping on her makeup, no fuss, with the speed of a mother and business woman in demand.
Swastikas to be banned?
THE public display of the swastika and other Nazi images could soon be banned and deemed a criminal offence in Victoria following recommendations delivered in a report by a state parliamentary committee on Wednesday. The bi-partisan committee – consisting of seven parliamentarians including Caulfield MP David Southwick – stated, “[It is] important to send a clear message to the community that Nazi symbolism is not acceptable in any form and has wide-ranging, negative societal impacts.
‘Deadly’ chutzpah! A life unbounded
TO describe Lisa Jackson Pulver as an “inspiration” seems overly simplis- tic, a trite and lacklustre attempt at neatly containing her and her many triumphs to a neat box. Some people cannot be so easily contained – and it is difficult to find one word that truly encapsulates all that she is. So here are a few: Resilient domestic abuse survivor. Ambitious nurse. Social justice warrior. Progressive epidemiologist. Committed professor. Resolute activist. A Jewish and Wiradjuri Koori woman.
Ensuring students are a ‘force for good’
IMPROVED Holocaust education in Victorian state schools is set to become a reality following an announcement of $150,000 in funding from the Andrews government and Gandel Philanthropy earlier this week. The grant will see the rollout of a pilot program developed by the Jewish Holocaust Centre focussing on teacher training.
'Only pathway out of the pandemic'
WITH the first Australian receiving a COVID-19 vaccination on Sunday, marking the beginning of the national vaccination rollout, leading Jewish medical experts have encouraged community members to “get vaccinated”. Director of the Peter Doherty Institute Professor Sharon Lewin is co-chair of the National COVID-19 Health and Research Advisory Committee, providing advice on Australia’s health response to the Commonwealth chief medical officer.
The simcha must go on
WHEN Sydney’s Carli Koonin, 31, and Melbourne’s Justin Balbir, 29, got engaged in 2019, they didn’t want a long engagement – but then, they also didn’t know a pandemic was around the corner. Forced to cancel their big day two weeks prior to their April wedding last year, they were met by the same disheartening fate with the imminent Victorian lockdown on Friday, this time, just two days before their nuptials.
Yes to swastika ban, no to Hanson support
“THANKS, but no thanks. We don’t want or need your support on this issue.” That was the response of Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich following One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson’s call for a ban on the public display of swastikas.
Leifer returns to Australia to face charges
MALKA Leifer arrived in Australia on Wednesday night after being extradited from Israel. In the culmination of 74 court hearings and an arduous seven-year legal battle, the former principal of the Adass Israel School returned to Melbourne just before 9pm to answer 74 charges of sexual abuse, 13 years after she fled. She will appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via video link on Thursday for her first filing hearing.
Malka Leifer extradited to Australia
UNDER the shroud of darkness, alleged sex offender Malka Leifer was seen boarding a plane at Ben Gurion Airport, as she was extradited from Israel in the early hours of Monday morning (Israel time). Transferred to the airport from Neve Tirza women’s prison, Leifer’s departure occurred just hours before Ben Gurion will shut down for one week in an effort to protect the country against coronavirus mutations.
The path less travelled
RICHIE HARKHAM Winemaker | Entrepreneur FIFTEEN years ago, Richie Harkham bought a vineyard in the Hunter Valley. While it was the first time the entrepreneurial Sydneysider tried his hand at winemaking, the craft long ran through the veins of his family. Having fled from Iraq, Richie’s grandmother Aziza Harkham made wine in Zichron Yaakov, part of Israel’s renowned Carmel wine region.
New Leibler Yavneh College principal
LEIBLER Yavneh College (LYC) has announced a new principal, Shula Lazar, will take the reins of the school at the start of the 2022 academic year. While Lazar will join LYC from Perth’s Carmel School where she has been principal since 2016, she is already well-known to the Yavneh community, having served as deputy principal and head of Jewish studies in the 15 years prior to departing for Carmel. Speaking with The AJN, Lazar said, “I’m very excited to be coming home to Yavneh.
Negative momentum mounts at Mizrachi
AN outpouring of disappointment and disdain has grown towards the Mizrachi Organisation following a decision to dump the only woman who sits on its executive in a secret ballot held late last month. In 2019, longstanding Mizrachi member Keren Zelwer put herself forward to join the executive, acquiescing to a request that she be co-opted rather than contest a standing member.
‘Bringing light into dark places’
MEMBERS of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Victoria Police community came together on Monday to share the light of the chanukiah in a special annual event hosted by the ADF Jewish Chaplaincy. In a first, the event was co-hosted by the Victoria Police Jewish Network in acknowledgement of the operational collaboration shared by the ADF and Victoria Police this year – firstly in response to the bushfire emergency, and secondly in dealing with COVID-19.
Germany, 82 years on: ‘We are sorry’
“OFFICIALLY, on behalf of the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel, we are sorry that the 1938 consul general in Melbourne would not accept the letter of the Aborigines League nor forward it on to the political leadership here in Berlin as would have been the right and morally correct thing for a consular official to do.” They were the words that took 82 years to receive.
Sharing light and hope
A 12-FOOT menorah will shine brightly against the city’s night sky in Federation Square this Chanukah as Melburnians of all backgrounds are invited to celebrate all that unites us during the eight-day Pillars of Light festival.
Germany to apologise for William Cooper snub
THE German government will issue a historic apology on Sunday, 82 years since the day that Yorta Yorta man William Cooper and a delegation from the Australian Aborigines’ League (AAL) marched to the German consulate in Melbourne to lodge a petition that protested against the “cruel persecution of the Jewish people by the Nazi government of Germany”.
Street pantry supports community
MAZON Australia is spreading the love by way of groceries and toiletries to those who need it most. The Street Pantry initiative was launched last month in conjunction with the Port Phillip Community Group (PPCG), was lovingly built by volunteers with donated materials, and encourages community members to give what they can, and take what they need.
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