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University acts to make Jewish students feel safer on campus
 MELBOURNE, July 2- La Trobe University Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson (right) and senior university officials have pledged to make the university campus a more welcoming place for Jewish students.
 Prof Johnson, student services director Michael Torney and equity and student support services director Gary Thomas met with Rabbi Yankel Rapp (left) from Merkos on Campus on Monday, June 29.
Rabbi Rapp shared his concerns with the university leaders about aggressive anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment on campus. He said the behaviour of some students demonstrated
intolerance and a lack of respect towards their Jewish peers.
The rabbi said Prof Johnson believed students learnt more effectively when they were in a happy and positive environment, and incidents where students burst into lecture halls denouncing the Israeli government and its defence forces were unacceptable.
"It was a very successful meeting," Rabbi Rapp said. "It was a fantastic outcome."
To help Jewish students feel more at home on the Bundoora campus, Torney urged Rabbi Rapp to build up the La Trobe branch of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS). He also offered the use of an on-campus office and chaplaincy facilities to Merkos on Campus.
"I believe we achieved a big thing here," Rabbi Rapp said.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the rabbi presented the vice chancellor with a copy of a book about the seven Noachide laws, written by Melbourne-based rabbi and academic Shimon Cowen.
AUJS Victoria president Stefan Oberman said Jewish La Trobe students have also approached him with concerns. He said AUJS had also been trying to address the matter and had approached the student union and held information sessions at lunch times.
Oberman also praised Rabbi Rapp. "We support the work he is doing, we need all the help we can get."
Rabbi Rapp requested the meeting with La Trobe leadership after Jewish students told him they had felt intimidated by pro-Palestinian groups on campus.
They reported being told that Zionism was wrong by the groups, which also accused Israel of serious crimes. They spoke of students bursting into science classes and delivering impromptu speeches against Israel and its citizens.
Jewish Community head John Searle calls for Race Hate laws
MELBOURNE, July 2- Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) president John Searle reinforced the roof body's call for a hate-crimes unit within Victoria Police and voiced his
appreciation that police are willing to engage in dialogue with the JCCV on this issue.
"We may not always agree but the Jewish community and other communities know that the door, the phone lines and the blogs are always open."
He was addressing the third annual Victoria Police Jewish Community Dinner, held at St Kilda Town Hall on July 1.
Welcomed by Victoria Police Commander Ashley Dickinson, a conclave of MPs, rabbis, Jewish leaders and representatives from Victoria's Emerging Communities, mingled with senior police over three courses, klezmer music, and a slate of speakers.
Chief police commissioner Simon Overland pledged to continue fostering close links with the full spectrum of the Victorian community, a practice he said had reached new levels under his predecessor Christine Nixon.
Victoria Multicultural Commissioner Marcia Pinskier said it was "heartening" to learn the State Government was planning to amend sentencing to include consideration of a defendant's hatred of the victim's community.
Raconteur and community icon Sam Lipski regaled his audience with a primer on Yiddish, Melbourne-style, recalling his childhood in Carlton and reflecting that he spoke Yiddish with his classmates at the Talmud Torah Hascolah before he mastered English.
Israeli ambassador
staying in Australia
 CANBERRA - Contrary to reports, Israel's ambassador to Australia, Yuval Rotem (left), has indicated he was not offered the coveted chief of staff position with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu recently.
In Israel for the inaugural Australia Israel Leadership Forum, Rotem had a private meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Dor Ahapira, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Canberra confirmed. But job prospects weren't on the agenda.
"There was a meeting between the two. They know each other quite well. They were discussing lots of issues concerning Israel and Australia, but they didn't discuss anything regarding positions and appointments" Shapira said.
Rotem intends to remain in Australia until his term ends in 2011, he added.
"The ambassador has no plans to finish his term right now. He will continue to serve Israel in Australia in the near future".
Rotem took up his posting in Canberra in 2007, and is one of the youngest ambassadors in the Israeli foreign service.
Trekking Kokoda for a good cause
SYDNEY, July 4- Walking the infamous Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea is fast becoming a kind of pilgrimage for many Australians.
Now, retired Jewish businessmen Robert Kohn and Ian Miller are taking up the challenge too, and they are doing it for a good cause.
The friends -- who will set off on the 96-kilometre track through the Owen Stanley Ranges today (July 8) -- are raising money for the Jewish Centre on Ageing (COA).
Their goal: to raise $25,000 towards supporting the centre's services, including its Meals on Wheels program, which
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delivers around 45,000 subsidised kosher meals to Sydney's aged and housebound.
"I'm amazed and disturbed by the poverty and loneliness that I have seen among our older folk," said Kohn, 65, who volunteers at the centre delivering meals three days a week.
"Since I retired, COA has become part of my life. I look upon this arduous and challenging trek as a way to give something back to the community."
The trail is the renowned site of the World War II battle between Japanese and Australian forces in 1942.
It is also famous for its steep and isolated terrain made more treacherous by the region's humid and wet climate.
Earlier this year during the ANZAC Day trekking season, there were two reported deaths on the trail.
"This is no walk in the park," admitted Kohn. "Ian and I have been in serious training to complete this physical challenge."
The pair plans to hike with 13 other trekkers. They estimate it will take nine days to complete the hike.
"Being fit and healthy at 65 is a blessing when I see many people in the community the same age and older who are worse off," said Kohn.
"I hope [our] sponsorship [from] the walk will assist the COA to promote its wonderful work in enriching the lives of Jewish seniors."
Remembering Richard Pratt
 MELBOURNE, June 28- Businessman, philanthropist, visionary, art enthusiast, sportsman, environmentalist, innovator and family man. These many facets of Richard Pratt (right) were celebrated at his state memorial service at Melbourne's Hamer Hall last Sunday.
Thousands of people, from all walks of life and with many and varied interests turned out for the dignified service, where Premier John Brumby reflected on Pratt's energy, enthusiasm and "zest for life".
Brumby called Pratt the "quintessential Australian success story," saying that not only was Pratt "great in ability and achievement", but also "great in generosity," having donated more than $200 million in his lifetime.
Rabbi Levi Wolff, who conducted the funeral service in April, recited Psalm 23 in Hebrew and English, and notable Australians from various aspects of Pratt's endeavours spoke of his contribution.
Chairman of BHP Billiton and confidante Don Argus spoke of Pratt's business achievements and called him a visionary.
"We are all given the opportunity to achieve while on this earth and I can only marvel at what you have contributed to your family, the community and the development of Australia's corporate, sporting and artistic life," he said,
reflecting on a letter he sent to Pratt before he passed away.
"If you were standing beside me today I would say 'well done mate'."
Chief executive officer of the AFL Andrew Demetriou spoke of Pratt's passion for Australian Rules football as a former player, a life-long supporter and a former club president.
Speaking of the Peres Peace Team, Demetriou said Pratt recognised "the potential of using the game he loved as a catalyst for bringing these young men together".
"He understood the simple power of a single act and he also understood the capacity for sport to make a difference and to make people smile, to give them an opportunity to be happy. That was the power of Richard Pratt."
A slideshow to a reworked biographical version of Frank Sinatra's My Way, one of Pratt's favourites, was played, followed by son Anthony Pratt thanking all involved to conclude the formalities.
Following the formal service, guests were invited back to Visy Park for an open day, which was attended by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Pratt, 74, died in April from prostate cancer.
Victor Smorgon, philanthropist, dies at 96; was patron of arts
 MELBOURNE, July 3 -Industrial entrepreneur and philanthropist Victor Smorgon died on Friday morning aged 96.
Born in 1917 in Ukraine during a time of serious political upheaval and pogroms against the Jewish population, Mr Smorgon's father Norman sought a better life for his family, immigrating to Australia.
Shortly after their arrival, Norman opened a kosher butcher in Lygon Street with his two brothers.
Victor joined his father, demonstrating his business acumen as the butcher grew into an industrial empire expanding into steel, plastics, paper, forestry and property.
When asked to explain his success, Mr Smorgon famously said: "If you can make sausages, you can make anything."
As the Smorgon business empire grew - eventually become Australia's wealthiest family - so too did the family's reputation for philanthropy, notably to the National Galleries of Australia and Victoria, the Victorian Arts Centre and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, in addition to many
Jewish causes from the United Israel Appeal to Jewish Care and Melbourne's Jewish schools.
It was Norman Smorgon who, perhaps with foresight, had taught his son that "the more you give to people in need, the more you will get back."
Victor married Loti Kiffer at East Melbourne Synagogue in 1937 and the couple had four daughters who established the Victor Smorgon Foundation, focussing on children, youth issues and medical research.
The Smorgons were also enthusiastic art collectors, donating many of their prized contemporary works to the Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art.
"I followed the example of my father and my grandfather," he said in an interview.
"All of my children and my grandchildren, they were all brought up like that and they do the same thing. They don't all contribute to the same fields but they're all involved in giving and helping in some way. It makes for a full life."
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The Jews Down Under 