Published: 24 February 2020
Last updated: 4 March 2024
Two thousand people gave him a rousing welcome at the Keren Hayesod UIA centenary celebration fundraiser. But they would have been hoping for a lot more than they received in return.
Apart from the fact that there was no food or drink on offer (save for bottled water), the evening was memorable for what was not said, by President Rivlin or the other speakers from UIA, all of whom were middle-aged men. The ceremony organisers were somehow unable to find room for a single woman speaker in the main part of the ceremony.
In his brief address, the Israeli president talked about "the shared values of modern Israel and modern Australia”, and said Israel “must be a democratic state because we know as Jews we can’t live in a state that is not a democracy”. He stressed that this democracy must be for all Israelis, “not just Jews”.
But having highlighted these noble ideals, President Rivlin then conspicuously failed to mention Malka Leifer, nor say a word about Dassi Erlich, the sexual abuse advocate he had refused to meet during this brief goodwill visit, despite vigorous approaches from Australian Jewish community leaders in the lead-up to his arrival.
President Rivlin conspicuously failed to mention Malka Leifer, nor say a word about Dassi Erlich, the sexual abuse advocate he had refused to meet during this brief goodwill visit.
In what may have been a salve to their disappointment, President Rivlin described the Australian Jewish community as “a model for Jewish communities around the world”.
He could then have spoken in more detail about his well-known analysis of how the four tribes of Israel need to make a partnership with the “fifth tribe”, as he describes the Diaspora.
Nor did President Rivlin take the opportunity to mention Australia’s bushfire catastrophe this summer, an event that caused headlines around the world, and prompted spontaneous relief efforts in Israel among other countries. That would have given some substance to “shared values”.
On way in, I overheard two women wondering if there would be any protests about Leifer, having read about the possibility in the media during the past week. Perish the thought; this was a night designed for just one thing: to feel the love.
This was clear to everyone when Steven Lowy, who is now Chairman of Keren Hayesod-UIA's World Board of Trustees, thanked President Rivlin for taking the time to make such a long journey, especially with the Israeli election around the corner.
Lowy came closest to addressing anything vaguely political when he spoke of the challenges Israel was facing: “we are seeing political challenges (between Benny Gantz and Benjamin Netanyahu); we are also seeing judicial challenges that polarise some” – an obvious reference to the Malka Leifer case that has caused many Australian Jews to lose faith in Israel’s justice system.
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The obvious rapport and goodwill between President Rivlin and Steven Lowy was echoed by the other prominent guest, Sam Grundwerg, World Chairman Keren Hayesod-UIA, who also spoke warmly about Australian Jewry’s contribution to the UIA cause, and Israel.
When the speeches had finished, and votes of thanks given, the audience trailed out with a noticeable spring in their step – no doubt keen to go and have something to eat.
Photo: President Rivlin at the UIA gala in Sydney, February 23 (Kobe Gideon/GPO)
