SECURITY & ADVOCACY

With the rise of antisemitism globally, the security and safety of our community is of vital importance. JCA is committed to protecting our organisations, our Jewish institutions and our families. The NSW Community Security Group (CSG) is always there, providing physical security as well as insight and intelligence about threats to our community. Their efforts are complemented by the work of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies through their constant advocacy for our community in the media and Australian politics and their programs that promote a culture of tolerance and inclusion in NSW schools and across the broader Australian population. For detailed information about Security & Advocacy programs supported by JCA, please visit www.jca.org.au/programs

In the future we’ll look very diverse – religious diversity, background diversity – but, predominantly, what the Jewish community offers and will be able to offer my children is a sense of belonging.

INVOLVEMENT IS HOW I EXPRESS MY IDENTITY

At 27 years old, Josh has already had leadership roles in Jewish youth movements, AUJS, CSG, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and his local shul. As he sees it, the benefit flows both ways. Early on, he recognised the importance of not only giving back to the community but also of taking something away in terms of personal development. Joshua’s commitment to the Jewish community began during his days at Emanuel School, a time that was pivotal for him. “I think the Jewish education system is structured in a way now that allows students to find out what they believe and how they want to express their Jewish identity,” he said. “It provides a knowledge base, it provides the ability to foster your own identity, and then it allows you to find ways to express that.”

Moving through the Habo Shnat leadership program, and then on to his days at the University of NSW, Joshua saw opportunities for young community members to make an impact, but he also recognised challenges in building continuity in an organisation like AUJS. “We realised that as new students became more involved at a senior level, there had been little handover, so they had to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “So we started the AUJS Leadership Training Summit to upskill students to a level that would make the organisation grow and flourish more.”

For Joshua, this development and transfer of skills is at the heart of the special win-win opportunity available to young people in the Jewish community. “Our community is very unique in that – when you’re volunteering your time – you slowly realise that you’re gaining new skills, new knowledge and experiences that you wouldn’t usually get,” he said. “As Youth Chair at the NSW Ethnic Communities Council, I learnt about coalition building, as National Treasurer of Hineni Youth I learnt a lot about financial management, as a Board member of the Sephardi Shul I learnt about the workings of a Board, how it tries to manage a synagogue.”

Now, as part of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies executive, Joshua is expanding his knowledge of the political landscape, the existing coalition of inter-community relationships and the foremost issues affecting the broader Jewish community.

Engaging younger people is central to Joshua’s view of the future of community. “I think we’ve started doing it much better now,” he says. “Innovative programs such as JCA’s Jumpstart, NSWJBD's Jeremy Spinak Young Leaders Program and the Observership Program are showing youth that their voices are heard – that they can get involved and they can help on a number of organisations in a purposeful capacity. We’re showing them that they can actually make decisions, whereas it used to be the established side of the community that was always making the decisions.”

Joshua is well aware that many of the opportunities he’s had to serve and learn have been through programs and organisations –

Emanuel, CSG, AUJS, the Board of Deputies – that receive funding from JCA. He sees this as fundamental to the community’s future. “I think the way JCA funds the community – the way it’s structured and has made itself the foundation of the community – is one of the reasons why it will continue in the next 20 years.” By then, Josh will still be a young 47-year-old. Joshua Moses

2019-20 ALLOCATION $ 2,000,000

Key Impact Stats Over 30,000 hours of protection in 2019 Average 5 hours training for most CSG personnel attending mandatory weekly training sessions Approximately 280 operational and support staff, managed by a team of 8 full-time and 6 part-time staff ‘On-call’ 24/7, 365 days per year

SECURITY & ADVOCACY

SECURITY FOR THE NSW JEWISH COMMUNITY (INCLUDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JEWISH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN) This program is vital for the physical safety and protection of our community. Charged with the 24/7 oversight and operations that safeguard personal security and strengthen communal physical facilities, including implementation and support of our community’s response to COVID-19. Working closely with State and Federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies in analysing threats to the community and providing essential advice and resources necessary for threat management and response.

Program Provider NSW Community Security Group (CSG)

2019-20 ALLOCATION $ 1,562,000

Key Impact Stats 18 advocacy initiatives 23 events attracting 2,300+ participants in 2019 1,000+ media engagements on behalf of the community in 2019

Constant advocacy to promote respect for diversity and the importance of condemning racism, bigotry and antisemitism

JEWISH ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP IN MEDIA, POLITICS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY This essential service ensures that the voice of our Jewish community is heard at the highest levels of Federal, State and Local government. It is the peak program for community advocacy in the media on an ongoing basis, as well as in times of crisis. It is also an inclusive voice for outreach to communities of all faiths across Australia and delivers a powerful message against antisemitism, racism and bigotry.

Program Provider NSW Jewish Board of Deputies

JEWISH BOARD OF DEPUTIES