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The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) is an Australian Jewish community organisation with a membership based structure guided by Torah principles and aligned with centre-right, conservative values. AJA's public policy views are rooted in traditional Halachic principles and states they are welcoming of members of all levels of observance who have an emphasis on support for Israel.

Founded in 2017, the AJA has gained prominence through strategic social media engagement and presence in mainstream media outlets such as The Australian and Sky News Australia. Moreover, AJA makes submissions to the Australian Government on public policy matters affecting Jewish Australians.

Structure

AJA's leadership is self-appointed with a number of paid members. AJA's current president is David Adler, former deputy medical secretary of the Australian Medical Association, and has been president of AJA since its inception. Robert Gregory, a graduate in law, serves as AJA chief executive officer. Both Adler and Gregory have been published in news outlets such as The Times of Israel, The Australian Jewish News and The Australian.

Positions

AJA's mission statement states that AJA aims to be a membership based representative organisation for Jewish Australians based on genuine authentic Jewish and conservative Australian democratic values.

AJA's objectives are to work within the laws and regulations of Australia's liberal democracy and provide advocacy and representation for its members to the government, media and established institutions. AJA states that it is not affiliated with any political party but engages with all politicians to promote Jewish life in Australia. In addition, AJA supports Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people and engages the Australian government and relevant parliamentarians for the benefit of the Jewish community supporting initiatives between Australia and Israel.

The Australian Jewish Association Tzedakah (AJAT) is AJA's registered charity arm. AJAT is listed in the category under "Harm Prevention" with a primary role in combatting antisemitism. AJAT subscribes to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and conducts activities to implement its adoption in Australian jurisdictions and institutions.

Media

AJA is regularly quoted on issues of politics and antisemitism within Australia. Commenting on a vandalism incident in Sydney, Australia in January 2025, AJA blamed the Australian Labor government for the increase in hate, vandalism and violence against Jewish Australians. In the Times of Israel, AJA stated it had warned the current Australian government several times of possible violent attacks, “If the Albanese government cannot protect Australians, they must seriously consider stepping down and allow someone else to do so."

On Sky News Australia, AJA president David Adler stated that there is a "crisis of antisemitism" in Australia after AJA received death threats. CEO Robert Gregory stated that AJA is shocked at the level of support for Hezbollah on the streets of Sydney and Melbourne during a series of protests after the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Criticism

AJA has been condemned by the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) over AJA's X (formerly Twitter) posts. AJA in one post referred to pro-Palestine encampments on university campuses as "Nazi encampments." This drew criticism from the LMA president who called for AJA to be investigated by the New South Wales police for hate speech and intolerance.

In a debate over Jewish representation, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) criticised AJA as being unrepresentative of the mainstream of Australian Jews and has urged media organisations to be aware of who they are before engaging with them. Australia Israel Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) voiced similar opinions stating that AJA is "extremist" and "fringe".

References

1. ^ "We are AJA". Australian Jewish Association. Retrieved 8 January 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
2. Stone, Deborah (18 April 2024). "Who speaks for Australian Jews?". The Jewish Independent. Retrieved 8 January 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
3. Adler, David (26 April 2021). "Comment on objections 8" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
4. Le Grand, Chip (21 April 2024). "What's in a name? The battle over who speaks for whom in Australia's Jewish community". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
5. "Australian Jewish Association". The Social Blueprint. Retrieved 9 January 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
6. "AUSTRALIAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION TZEDAKAH INCORPORATED". Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
7. "AJA Tzedakah". Australian Jewish Association. Retrieved 8 January 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
8. "A troubling trend: the mainstreaming of the Australian Jewish Association". The Jewish Independent. 10 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
9. Starr, Michael (6 January 2025). "'F**k the Jews:' Car graffitied in Sydney in latest attack". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 8 January 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
10. TOI Staff (11 December 2024). "Car torched, anti-Israel graffiti sprayed in Sydney suburb with large Jewish community". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 8 January 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
11. "'A crisis of antisemitism': Australian Jewish Association receives death threats". Sky News Australia. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
12. Ikonomou, Tess; Powell, Caitlin; Brissenden, Neve (29 September 2024). "Protesters wave Hezbollah flags at Australian rally". J-wire. Retrieved 8 January 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
13. Yim, Noah (8 May 2024). "Muslim organisation accuses Australian Jewish Association of 'incitement to violence'". The Australian. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
14. ^ Knott, Matthew (27 May 2024). "Sharma hosted far-right Israel group disavowed by other Jewish associations". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.

External links

• Official website

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