Transcultural & Interfaith
National Council of Jewish Women of Australia NSW Div. (NCJWA NSW) is a volunteer community organization which responds to community needs engaging in a broad range of educational, social, community services and fundraising activities in the Jewish and wider community.
We have a special portfolio dedicated to Interfaith and Multicultural interaction and endeavour to improve community relations with women from all cultures and faiths to promote harmony through understanding. We embrace the things we have in common and promote those qualities that bind not those that divide, building bridges on these strong foundations.
We have hosted women from many faiths and cultures at Fanny Reading Council House Woollahra. Together we have enjoyed various cultural experiences such as visiting the Sydney Buddhist Centre to learn about Buddhist beliefs and practices. We have held a lunch in our Sukkah, experiencing hands-on the colours and lines that define and unite diverse women with intercultural art facilitator Shiri Hergasds. NCJWA Interfaith/Intercultural Co Chair Di Hirsh OAM spoke in Parliament to Transcultural members on her experiences at sessions of the World’s Religions and Breakthrough Summit.
We have invited many women to share our “Women’s Interfaith Seders”. We have invited guest speakers such as anthropologist Dr Wendy Sinclair and ABC presenter Dr Rachael Kohn. We have hosted a panel from Humanist, Catholic, Muslim, Bahai and Quaker faiths to celebrate Harmony Day. Each September we attend World Day for Peace celebrated with many faiths represented at St David’s Uniting Church, Lindfield. On many occasions we have offered a Jewish prayer for peace. We have visited the Gallipoli Mosque in Auburn and were given a tour and many of our Jewish and Christian members attended as well as the President of Zonta. We studied “The Jew in the Lotus” by Rodger Kamenetz, the account of an historic dialogue between rabbis and the Dalai Lama.
We have worked on a series of hands-on events around the idea of “women helping women”. We invited women from all backgrounds and faiths to come together to pack birthing kits for women in developing countries. We have hosted an event at Our Big Kitchen to bake challah at our “Women baking and breaking bread together”. Our board members and volunteers represent us at a variety of events such as the Abrahamic Conference.
We co-hosted and screened “The Song of Life” documentary with the Greek Zakynthian Association of Sydney and NSW. Over 300 people attended. Tribute was paid to the leaders and residents of the island of Zakynthos for their bravery during the Holocaust, saving all the Jewish citizens in their community. Bishop Chrysostomos Demetriou and Mayor Loukas Karrer were honoured for their humanity and bravery.
Our Transcultural and Interfaith work is very important to us and we take pride in being able to contribute to creating a harmonious multicultural multi-faith society in Australia.
On 11 November 2020 NCJWA NSW hosted Drum Circle. Here is an excerpt from Co-President’s Miri Orden’s welcome. Please note this event took place under tight COVID-19 NSW restrictions.
“Welcome to you all and welcome to Drum Circle for this COVID safe event. National Council of Jewish Women of Australia NSW is a volunteer community organisation which responds to community needs, engaging in a broad range of educational, social, and community services in the Jewish and wider community.
We have a special portfolio dedicated to Interfaith and Multicultural interaction and endeavour to improve community relations with people from all cultures and faiths to promote harmony through understanding. We embrace the things we have in common and promote those qualities that bind not divide.
This event has been made possible with a grant from Woollahra Council’s 2020/21 Community and Cultural Grants Program. This grant supports our Transcultural Program as well as supporting musicians in this time of COVID when the economic climate is so very difficult for most creatives.
