The annual Report on Antisemitism in Australia for 2016 has been released by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), the elected representative national body of the Australian Jewish community. An article by Julie Nathan, Research Officer for the ECAJ, entitled "Antisemitism in Australia in 2016: Why Does the Malignancy Persist?" was published on 29 December by the ABC Religion and Ethics online magazine. Click here to read the article.

Rabbi Gary Robuck, who will retire from the pulpit at North Shore Temple Emanuel at the end of December, has developed a strategy document for his pluralistic Gesher retreat centre, to educate and bring together Jews from across the world and denominations.

The winners of the 2016 UPJ awards were announced at the UPJ Biennial in Perth on 17 November. We are delighted to share their names, as follows:

Ner Tamid: Ellen Frajman (Temple Beth Israel), Teresa Petrzelka (North Shore Temple Emanuel), Peter Rosenfeld (Beit Or - BPJC)

Vatik: Kate Lesser (Temple Shalom - Gold Coast), Joe Lewitt (Temple Beth Israel)

President's Award: Stephen Freeman

Mazel tov!

We were fortunate to have senior journalist Peter Kohn with us at the UPJ Biennial in Pert; he wrote two follow-up articles about the conference. #TheAustralianJewishNews