About us
Who we are, what we believe, and who we work with.
Our story
Jewish Voices was formed in 2024 on Gadigal and Wangal lands. Many of us felt that legacy Jewish organisations did not reflect the real diversity of opinion in our community, particularly on the Israeli government’s treatment of the Palestinian people.
We came together to give local Jewish people a community and a way to advocate collectively. Since then we have met with elected representatives across party lines at local, state and federal level, written to councils and parliaments, given evidence at public hearings, and made a substantial contribution to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
Who we are
Our members range in age, background and Jewish religious observance. Many of us are the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors and of refugees who were given shelter in Australia. That history is why we take antisemitism seriously, and why we refuse to let it be used to justify the oppression of another people.
In solidarity with many other groups, Jewish and non-Jewish, our members campaign for justice for the Palestinian people. Many of us attend rallies and protests, often with our children and often marching together as a visible Jewish contingent. We have not experienced antisemitism within the Palestine liberation movement, where we have made many friends.
What we believe
- Human rights are universal We believe in universal human rights and equality for all people. This leads us to call for a Free Palestine and for the Australian Government to sanction Israel for genocide, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.
- Racism must be opposed We unequivocally condemn all forms of racism including antisemitism. We support the National Anti-Racism Framework developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission and call on the Australian Government to implement it as a matter of urgency.
- Antisemitism is racism against Jewish people because they are Jewish The test is the one Australian law already applies to racism against any group: was a person or institution targeted because they are Jewish?
- Israel and Zionism are not the same as Jewish identity Many Jews are not Zionists. Blurring the difference holds Jewish Australians responsible for the actions of a foreign government, and that makes us less safe.
- Racism is fought best together We support a whole-of-society approach, such as the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Anti-Racism Framework, that addresses every form of racism rather than ranking them.
- Free speech and protest are protections, not threats Laws that suppress political expression have not reduced antisemitism anywhere they have been tried.
- First Nations people have always led the struggle against racism here During the twentieth century, when antisemitism was far more widespread in Australia, Aboriginal activists were among its fiercest opponents. Racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is structural and foundational, and we support their calls for truth-telling, justice and treaty.
Our members are all signatories to the Jewish Council of Australia’s core principles.
Jewish Voices is a member of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Alliance Australia.
Who we work with
We work alongside other Jewish organisations that share our commitments. We work closely with the Jewish Council of Australia and the organisations of the #OzJewsSayNo coalition.
In November 2025 we joined the Australian Jewish Democratic Society, Doykeit Magandjin, Emet Australia, the Jewish Council of Australia, Jewish Women for Peace Action Ready Group, Jews Against the Occupation ’48, Jews for Justice and Jews for Palestine WA in an open letter to the Federal Government. Our work on how antisemitism should be defined drew on a research collaboration convened by the Jewish Council of Australia. After the Bondi attack we stood with Muslim, Christian and other faith and community organisations in an interfaith statement of solidarity, and in July 2026 we joined the Australian BDS Alliance.
Our members have been involved in the coalition that developed Understanding Antisemitism in Australia (understandingantisemitism.org), a public guide to recognising antisemitism accurately.
Independence
Jewish Voices is a volunteer community group. We receive no government funding and are not affiliated with any political party. We do not claim to speak for all Jewish Australians; we speak for our members.
Join us
If you are Jewish and these values are yours, you are welcome here.