Newsletter Weekly Guest Statement

Larry Lockshin
Co-President UPJ

The daily news feeds we all receive from so many different sources can affect our mood and even our ability to face each day.  The Torah shows us that community is the main way we can face these trials and tribulations. Standing alone is a recipe to be confronted and harmed, physically and/or mentally. Standing together is a way to not only survive but to confront the antisemitism we are facing.

Last week, Jewish leaders had an interactive session with CEO of the Antidefamation League (US), Jonathan Greenblatt. Previously, he was Special Assistant to President Barack Obama and Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation. Mr. Greenblatt visited Archer Park, Bondi Beach and addressed several different community groups while here on behalf of the Australian Friends of Magen David Adom.

In our session, Mr. Greenblatt emphasised the importance of personal and community action, saying we are at an existential point in the survival of Judaism as we know it. We can’t just hide ourselves or even sit back and pen letters and petitions; we must act to force our governments and especially social media companies to take action against antisemitism. The Royal Commission is a very important precedent for Australia and for the whole world, which is watching carefully, Mr. Greenblatt says. But the Commission will only have a positive effect if we keep up the pressure on government to act on the recommendations of the Commission after its report is tabled.

Mr Greenblatt took social media companies to task for failing to police online bigotry. He called for strict platform liability and rejected the argument for ‘free speech absolutism’ as a shield for corporate negligence. He stated that social media has transformed antisemitism from a temporary surge into a permanent structural threat. He made an analogy to the regulatory frameworks put in place for seatbelts and tobacco as similar to the need today for social media liability reform. Australia has started down this path with reforms to the use of social media by children but has not gone far enough, according to Mr. Greenblatt. Some of you may have seen in the news several successful court cases in the US holding major social media companies responsible for children’s deteriorating mental health. Meta was also found guilty in March of  ‘wilfully engaging in unfair and deceptive and unconscionable trade practices’. He suggested we do the same here in Australia.

Although much of what Jonathan Greenblatt said was confronting, we can all see what the consequences might be if we do not act.  Our national and community organisations are already acting in our best interests. But they need us to participate with them, not be passive observers.  It will be as a community that we survive, just as Jewish people have survived for thousands of years.

There are many ways to build and maintain community. Those reading this newsletter have already made the first move to participate in an active organisation, the UPJ, which is working to strengthen our Jewish world according to our values. Attending community events, working on projects, celebrating with others are all part of maintaining a strong community.

The UPJ provides several programs to strengthen our regional and local communities. We are in the last few weeks of our Shaliach Tzibbur course, training a new group of lay leaders to lead services and conduct lifecycle and festival events. We offer a Progressive Solidarity Mission to Israel – our third trip is coming this May, registrations of interest available soon. In 2027 we will again support Shir Chadash, a weekend of musical learning led by our cantors. Our Gatherings for congregational presidents provide a forum to share programs and ideas and hands-on workshops for enhancing leadership skills.

A special opportunity presents itself this coming November with B’Yachad Kadima – Moving Forward Together at our Biennial Conference, as noted by our Executive Manager, Lynn Niselow, “Our belief at the UPJ is that meaningful progress happens when individuals are equipped with the right tools, knowledge, and shared understanding to work collaboratively. By fostering connection and collective purpose, the community is empowered to move forward together with clarity, confidence, and unity,” she said.

Have a look at the link to the conference in the next few weeks to see the amazing range of speakers and programs we will share this November. Some of you may be unable to attend, but you can still participate in your local and regional programs that help to build our community.