Stephen Goodman Ben Kepes – 30 January 2024 The New Zealand Jewish Council is pleased that the Prime Minister has announced a pause in funding for UNRWA, the UN agency solely dedicated to supporting Palestinians who it defines as refugees, after reports that certain employees participated in the October 7 Hamas massacre of Israelis. In suspending funding, … Read more
Juliet Moses – 18 January 2024 The New Zealand Jewish Council is aware of a press release that The Federation of Islamic Associations in New Zealand (FIANZ) has published in relation to its advisory document recently published. While that advisory is rife with misinformation, conspiracy theories and inflammatory rhetoric, and misrepresents both the nature of … Read more
Juliet Moses – 7 December 2023 Like most people, I am horrified by the death and destruction that has ensued since Hamas sent its henchmen and rockets into Israel on October 7, massacring more than 1200 civilians and abducting some 240 others. Evidence continues to mount of unfathomable atrocities including mutilation and rape. What humane person would not be … Read more
Juliet Moses 18 October 2023 Jews are an ancient people with a long collective memory. Embedded in that memory, alongside happier times, are massacres we have suffered – during the destruction of our two temples in Jerusalem by the Babylonians and Romans, the 1190 massacre at York Castle, the pogroms of the Russian Empire (which … Read more
Ben Kepes 18 December 2023 A couple of weeks ago I attended a private media briefing at the Israeli Embassy in Wellington where select New Zealand journalists were allowed to watch footage captured from the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel. The footage came from the cameras of both victims and terrorists and was, for … Read more
Ben Kepes 08 November 2023 I’m fortunate to serve on the board of an iwi organisation. Having the opportunity to get to know the intricacies of Te Ao Maori, even at a slightly superficial level, is fascinating. One concept that I’ve started to get to terms with is ahi ka, a concept in Te Ao … Read more
Ben Kepes 25 October 2023 I’m an incredibly proud New Zealander. I relish the fact that I was born and grew up in the most beautiful place in the world. I love the fact that, while we have a long way to go when it comes to righting the colonial wrongs, we embrace our indigenous … Read more
Ben Kepes – 12 October 2023 I have a habit of turning any sightseeing visit into a running event. The year before COVID I took advantage of a business trip in Europe to meet up with my son who was doing a gap year in England. We headed to Israel for a few days to … Read more
New Zealand Jewish Community denounces escalating antisemitism, silence from political leaders. As the New Zealand Jewish community experiences unprecedented levels of antisemitic abuse, the New Zealand Jewish Council calls on political leaders, religious leaders and all of civil society to condemn antisemitism unequivocally. Members of Aotearoa’s small Jewish community report feeling more vulnerable than they … Read more
Juliet Moses – 1 October 2023 I was lucky enough to be in Israel in April this year with family and friends, on Yom Hatzma’ut, for the state’s 75th birthday. It was a time to reflect on how this tiny beleaguered state has survived and indeed thrived, despite the unprecedented challenges it has faced since … Read more