ANNUAL REPORT 2015/5775-6

Transcription

1 The Australasian Union of Jewish Students National Assembly and Annual General Meeting: ANNUAL REPORT 2015/ Shalom College Beth Weizmann University of New South Wales 306 Hawthorn Road Kensington, NSW 2052 Caulfield South, VIC 3162 Phone: (02) Phone: (03)

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3 Page 3 Contents Welcome Note 4 Letters of Congratulations 5 Reports o Chairperson 8 o Vice Chairperson 11 o Treasurer 14 o Political Affairs Director 16 o Conferences Convenor 18 o Campaigns Co-ordinator 20 o AUJS New South Wales 22 o AUJS Victoria 27 o AUJS New Zealand 32 o AUJS Western Australia 36 o AUJS Small Regions 37 o National Shlicha 39 o International Programs 41 AUJS Executives

4 Page 4 Welcome Note On behalf of the 2015 National Executive, we welcome you to the 2015 AUJS Annual General Meeting and National Assembly! Please take the time to read the reports produced by the AUJS National Executive and professional staff highlighting the achievements of the past year, and to reflect on what has truly been a spectacular year for AUJS. AUJS has gone from strength to strength this year, breaking records along the way with the largest AUJS Summer, AUJS Winter, AUJS Ball and AUJS PTS in recorded history. We have engaged literally hundreds of thousands of people on social media, through our campaigns, and at AUJS events. In addition, we are proud to have launched the inaugural annual AUJS Sir Zelman Cowan Oration in Melbourne. Thank you to all involved this year who helped fulfill AUJS mission of providing meaningful Jewish experiences for Jewish students around Australia and New Zealand through engagement, enrichment, development and action. We have provided high quality religious, political, cultural, social and educational events, campaigns and resources to this end. In every AUJS endeavour throughout 2015, our core pillars of Judaism, Zionism, Activism and Pluralism were strongly present and respected. The work we have seen on campuses, in regions and nationally this year has been immensely innovative, creative, fun and poignant. We must also thank our community partners and friends for their support this year. Thank you to Danny Lamm and Ginette Searle at the ZFA, Robert Goot and Peter Wertheim at the ECAJ, Daniel Grynberg and Alain Hassan at the JCA, and Hilton Immerman and Brandon Srot at the Shalom Institute. We highly value the support of state-based community organisations like the Jewish Board of Deputies, Jewish Community Council of Victoria, and the various State Zionist councils. Many thanks also to Millie Phillips and the JCA Mille Phillips Education Fund, Leslie Burnett and the JCA Dave Burnett Leadership Fund, our sponsors and patrons in Melbourne, the Pratt Foundation, the Besen Family Foundation, Gandel Philanthropy, Arnold Bloch Liebler, FBI travel, and all other donors. Although our terms are sadly coming to an end, we are confident that this year has been an unmitigated success and that the next generation of AUJS leaders will lead this wonderful organisation with confidence in a positive direction. Dean Sherr Elenore Levi AUJS National Chairperson 2015 AUJS National Vice Chairperson 2015

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6 Page 6 September 24, 2015 MESSAGE TO AUSTRALIASIAN UNION OF JEWISH STUDENTS (AUJS) FROM DR DANNY LAMM PRESIDENT, ZIONIST FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA On behalf of the Zionist Federation of Australia, I am pleased to extend our greetings to the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) as you conclude another successful year. The ZFA recognises the outstanding efforts of AUJS in enriching Jewish student life in Australia and New Zealand. We congratulate you on a successful year of initiatives and cultural activities to promote Israel advocacy, activism and connection to Judaism. You have achieved great success in mounting campaigns supporting Israel in the past year in the face of aggressive and vicious campaigns to delegitimize Israel. You have also successfully engaged students in Jewish issues. The ZFA is proud to maintain a close relationship with AUJS. We are pleased to provide assistance to AUJS by arranging and supporting the national shlichut position. I wish to congratulate Rachel Adams on her productive first year as shlicha. We are proud to partner AUJS in your short term Israel programs endeavours. I commend AUJS President Dean Sherr and the entire AUJS Executive for your dedication, activism and accomplishments. I look forward to our continued partnership in the coming year, and I wish you hatzlacha raba for all your endeavours. Dr Danny Lamm PRESIDENT

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8 Page 8 Chairperson Report Dean Sherr A leader's job is not to do the work for others, it's to help others figure out how to do it themselves, to get things done, and to succeed beyond what they thought possible. Simon Sinek Nine months ago, at our team s first executive retreat, just before we cast our minds forward to all the wonderful successes we endeavoured to realise in AUJS 2015, Andrew Schnapp showed us a TedX talk entitled How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek. Sinek s philosophy is that great leaders ask themselves why before what or how they are inspired by the reason, not by the end goal or the path. AUJS is an organisation I have been involved with for the past four years, a relatively short time in the real world but a life-time in AUJS terms. I have experienced all the highs and lows the successes and failures; and worked with all kinds of people, some I got along with and others who I didn t. I have always said that AUJS greatest strength is not merely anything we do, but it s also the way we do it. We empower people, we educate them, we provide them. For some people, AUJS is a community they never had before. For others, it is a place to hone their skills as advocates and community leaders. AUJS provides such a wide range of opportunities, events and experiences across a broad range of areas, within our four pillars of Judaism, Pluralism, Zionism and Activism, that it becomes a way of bringing together completely different kinds of Jewish students with entirely dissimilar passions and interests but with, of course, the unifying commitment to the Jewish people. Every person who comes through AUJS learns something in a formative stage of their life that has the potential to shape the rest of their life. It gives them skills, knowledge, insight. It teaches them to work in a team, to create change for their community, to advance progress. It allows them to impact others, not just to produce a good product. That is its power. Having served on national, regional and campus Executives both as President/Chairs and as committee members, I have seen all kinds of leadership styles from the extremely competent micromanagers to the openly consultative and empowering. As the head of any Executive, you accept not any level of glory but the responsibility that comes with the knowledge that the buck stops with you, and that which does not get done which must be done, will inevitably necessitate your making it happen. That said, I believe the greatest challenge any President or Chairperson has is not to get things done, but to ensure every member of the team feels part of the team and is able to actively contribute towards the team s successes and grow as a leader themselves. Learning to let go sometimes and have faith in your team can be challenging, but ultimately far more rewarding when the results come. If there is one thing I have learnt, with time, over my AUJS journey, it is this.

9 Page 9 This year s National Executive is one of the most talented, intelligent and compassionate groups of people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Each has brought a unique perspective and talent to the table. Each is a strong and compelling leader in their own right. Naturally, this has resulted in clashes at times, as is entirely normal, nor have I been immune from this, but nonetheless we have been able to work efficiently and productively at all times and, truly, be not only a good team but to also be good friends. Our spoils have been an increase in engagement on campus, strong memberships, great on and off campus events including several 5-year records, and the strongest and most wellattended conferences I have seen in my four-year AUJS involvement. We have been bold and creative and have reaped the spoils of our endeavours. Across the board, I feel we have not only reached the highest raw numbers of attendees to different events, but we have actively engaged more Jewish students in a meaningful way than ever before. It shows in the largest Leadership Development Program (AUJS LDP) group we have sent in recent history (as far back as I can find), in some of the most active executives we have seen and in the numbers of people dedicating not just a few hours, but days in a row to AUJS on conferences and other opportunities. Indeed, AUJS Summer, Winter and PTS went fantastically and I was pleased not only to help organise them but to see our various organisers Andrew Schnapp; Cam Graf and Sam Khavin; and Julian Kowal succeed in organising what I would say are clearly the best AUJS conferences I have ever been on. We have also refocused our campaigns efforts to be more in-depth, targeted and engaging. We have shied away from headline poster campaigns and instead aimed to create in-depth educational resources alongside all our campaigns from our Israel Represent campaign to engage students with the Israeli elections to our incredibly detailed Peace Week, which looked at grassroots Israeli-Palestinian initiatives towards peace, in wide-ranging fields from arts to medicine to technology and everything in between. One of my goals as AUJS Chairperson was for AUJS to be a more broadly representative organisation and I feel that we have achieved that. We have, at all times, been conscious of pluralism when crafting statements, conferences, campaigns and even messages as small as a Facebook post. This means not wanting to disenfranchise people for their religious practices, political beliefs or any other personal ideologies, provided they of course fit into our wider mission and pillars. We were also clearly conscious of needing to improve our image in the eyes of certain kinds of people I believe we have done that. We have become somewhere different kinds of people can feel comfortable being with. We have worked in many cases with different youth community organisations on events, from youth movements to Moishe Houses and more. AUJS has a unique place in the community as the sole representative body for Jewish students, so the more Jewish students that we can reach and enfranchise, the better we are doing our job. We tried to make AUJS as visible in the community as it could be. We maintained active Facebook postings not only on AUJS activities but on issues important to the nation and to Jewish students. We were frequently covered in the Australian Jewish News and J-Wire; and I maintained the Campus Comment, a (semi)-monthly opinion column in the Jewish News. I was also able to write an opinion piece for The Guardian Australia on anti-semitism and the left, and I was interviewed by The Age, ABC Radio twice, J-Air once (as was Julian Kowal), all on AUJS activities, which was a great opportunity promote our work. Of course, we have continued as always to represent students on campus who have complained of anti-semitism or other ugly anti-israel incidents which clearly cross the line. We strive, always, to make university a safer and better place

10 Page 10 for Jewish students and, indeed, for students of all faiths, races and ethnicities. We dealt with countless incidents on a campus level and provided meaningful support to our campus executives, but most notably, we lead the charge against Associate Professor Jake Lynch at the University of Sydney for his appalling conduct at the Richard Kemp lecture at the University of Sydney, which was not an AUJS event. The images of Lynch waving money in the face of an elderly Jewish woman while AUJS leaders were maturely trying to defuse the situation shocked the community. We saw coverage not only in the Jewish press but we were quoted in The Australian, ABC, Daily Telegraph and The Guardian. We were also covered by New Matilda, but that was largely a mouthpiece for Lynch s supporters. We had meetings with the Vice- Chancellors office and remain determined to address the issue of an increasingly extremist culture at the University of Sydney which has left many Jewish students feeling unsafe and uncomfortable. Lynch received a formal warning from the University for his conduct and a message was sent to the community that anti-semitism is not a trivial issue. It helped start a broader conversation on this topic. Of course, this is only a summary of what AUJS achieved and, indeed, what my responsibilities as Chairperson involved my tasks for the AUJS Ltd Board together with Elenore and Micky, secretive as they sound, are more boring than anything else, but necessary to keep the organisation afloat and support the Union behind the scenes. But there have been countless hours working (and mucking around) with the executive that could even be mentioned here. They will not be forgotten easily. I would like to acknowledge firstly the community s support of AUJS, from our donors to our community supporters and friends, including but limited to the ECAJ and ZFA, the Shalom Institute, Hillel, the Jewish Agency, the JCA and indeed all of our supporters around Australia and NZ. The professional support of Rachel Adams keeps us from falling apart, the support of Rachel Flitman in Hillel makes us more creative and innovative, and our staff, Liraz Poorian, Hagar Shelly, Robert Klein and Jane Dinte are all invaluable to keep AUJS running. Most importantly, I want to thank our Executive, not just for their incredible work, but for being my friends and family this year and bringing their incredible talents and personalities to our team. Micky Fisher, for his boundless energy and enthusiasm; Julian, for his quirky but innovative thinking; Andrew Schnapp, for his unique perspective and tireless Summer efforts; Ashleigh, for her enthusiastic creativity; Avia Madar, for her endless positivity and incredible emotional intelligence; Sam Meyerson, for her extreme honesty backed up by her superb ability for accomplishment and achievement; and Maya Netzer, for giving NZ so much and never letting us forget they are part of the AUJS family. I also acknowledge the work of Daniel Brazil in Small Regions and Stephen Mintz and Tash Ross in WA, who could not join us at many meetings or retreats, but gave their all to their smaller but valued Jewish communities. Finally, and most significantly, to Elenore Levi, the strongest person I have ever met and the perfect partner for this year. We have shared so much and everything we achieved, we did together. None of this could have been possible without you, so thank you most of all.

11 Page 11 Vice Chairperson Report Elenore Levi You re fired! Donald Trump As a result of hard work (but still with a lot of laughs along the way), AUJS has grown significantly this year. We have cemented this organisation as a strong force on campuses, as well as in the Jewish and broader Australian/Kiwi communities. These successes were no mean feat and I am so incredibly proud to have been part of this process. My vision for the role of Vice Chairperson was to be someone who would take initiative on projects that needed to be completed, provide support and advice to others where sought, set an example of leadership to my peers, and foster a new generation of leadership within AUJS. While a lot of my time this year was spent completing important behind-the-scenes administration and AUJS Ltd Board work in order to keep AUJS chugging along, I ultimately put my heart and soul into the part of AUJS that I love: the Union. Even before my term as Vice Chairperson had officially begun, I threw myself into planning O-Week: This Is How We Jew It!. I created a campaign that highlighted the truly amazing work that AUJS does, what AUJS can offer its members, and displayed our fun, creative and unique vision for AUJS I was thrilled to see campuses embrace this campaign and I feel that AUJS stood out from the crowd with professional and fresh O-Week material. It was a positive start to the University year and the success of O-Week in attracting hundreds of new members undoubtedly set the tone for a thriving AUJS year. We also saw from the beginning of the year that upholding our core Jewish values and mission was firmly on the agenda. Literally hundreds of Jewish students attended AUJS Purim celebrations around Australia and New Zealand. Spearheading Dinner Detector for Pesach and Meal Matcher for the High Holydays, with the invaluable guidance of our Regional Presidents, allowed me to ensure that no Jewish student who sought our assistance in finding a Seder table or a Yom Kippur service was left stranded. When planning the programming for AUJS Summer 15+ and AUJS Winter 15, we were very conscious to ensure that there was emphasis placed on Jewish programming. This included a Q&A-style panel at AUJS Summer where a lively discussion about Judaism took place, sessions on Talmud and Chagim at Summer, my own session at AUJS Winter about Judaism s take on modern medicine, and Anita Berman and Caelan Macbeth s session on magic in Judaism also at AUJS Winter. Throughout the year, campuses were given advice about how to celebrate Chagim on campus, and I personally took every opportunity to ensure that AUJS policies (such as not using AUJS social media during Shabbat and Chagim)

12 Page 12 were communicated to and respected by AUJS Executives. The upcoming Jewish Awareness Campaign will cap off what I feel has been a year in which we have fulfilled our mission to enable Jewish students to learn about and express their Jewish culture, identity and heritage. Spreading the Jewish narrative and Jewish values is not limited to within Jewish circles. In this vain, I was also fortunate enough to represent AUJS and the Jewish community at interfaith events in Sydney, where it was evident that having a Jewish presence at these events was so important. We also placed a strong emphasis on advocating for Israel and educating both Jewish and non-jewish students about what is happening in Israel. This was clear in the Israel Represent campaign, which showcased the Israeli elections through explanatory resources including videos, memes and an interactive blog. The amazing contribution of AUJS leaders through NPAC to this campaign was fantastic to see. As has unfortunately become routine each year in AUJS, we also vigorously fought against BDS, spoke out against attempts to exclude the voices of Jewish Zionist students on in the dialogue about Israel-Palestine on campus, and supported students during incidents where they were attacked for their Jewish and Zionist beliefs. Our hasbara work did not go unnoticed and was highly publicised in Jewish and mainstream media. This year, AUJS has also been constantly active as the sole Jewish voice on campus and as an organisation that takes engaging its politically minded members seriously. We developed strong campaigns with the indispensible help of AUJS leaders around Australia and New Zealand, including Peace Week: Peace Starts With People, to educate others and ensure that our narrative and voice are heard loud and clear. Our responses to incidents on campus, such as the interruption of Colonel Kemp s lecture at the University of Sydney, were consistently strong, co-ordinated and effective. In addition, sending the largest contingent of AUJS students on PTS in September meant that even more Jewish students were exposed to new ways of approaching political dialogue and ways to voice their thoughts and concerns. Moreover, I hope that AUJS this year was a place where everyone felt comfortable, regardless of your background, schooling, core interests, or personal ideologies. We will never please everyone and that s a lesson that doesn t just apply for AUJS but also in any context. However, what we have strived to do this year is to make AUJS a safe and welcoming space for all. I had personally aimed to ensure that anyone I came across in AUJS felt part of our community and felt that their contribution was appreciated. From sending out customised mid-year thank you notes to all Executives, to persisting in sending out a monthly National newsletter detailing the activities of AUJS around Australia and New Zealand, to providing consistent one-on-one support for those in small regions, I sought to remind people that they are valued and

13 Page 13 that they are part of a broader community. One s working within AUJS is not just an isolated undertaking, but is rather part of a larger movement striving to collectively achieve a set of goals together for the benefit of all. The opportunities that AUJS and the Jewish community can offer us, as students, are tremendous. Few communities place so much trust in their youth to lead them into a brighter and stronger future. Few communities offer students programs that take them around the world, or a platform to have their voice and story heard. AUJS is an indispensible part of not just the Australian and New Zealand Jewish communities, but also the global Jewish community. We empower young Jewish leaders to express their identity and heritage, to bring Jewish life on and off campus in the way they want, and in turn inspire others to do the same. It has truly been an honour to represent AUJS at wonderful community events and programs this year. I encourage every one of you to seize the opportunities offered within AUJS to grow personally and professionally yourself, to affect the lives of other Jewish students, to stand up for what is important to Jewish people, and to ultimately make an impact in your community and beyond. Thank you to the amazing 2015 AUJS Executives and members around Australia and New Zealand who have worked so hard to fulfill AUJS mission. An extra thank you to Cameron Graf and Samantha Khavin, who stepped up and planned an exceptional AUJS Winter conference. I would like to thank my Shalom family for offering a welcoming and supportive work environment, with lots of laughs around the lunch table to brighten up even the most frantic of days! I am also incredibly grateful for the constant support of Jewish community leaders, including Peter Wertheim, Julie Nathan and Alex Ryvchin from ECAJ; Vic Alhadeff and Natalee Pozniak from JBD; Alain Hassan from JCA; and Glen Falkenstein from AIJAC. A huge toda raba must go to three beautiful Israelis who kept AUJS afloat this year, displayed inspirational strength at all times, and tried endlessly to teach me Hebrew: Liraz Poorian, Rachel Adams and Hagar Shelly. A very special thanks must go to the 2015 National Executive, who are hands down an insanely dedicated, hilarious, neurotic, driven, intelligent, and fierce bunch of people. Each member of our Executive produced amazing work this year and I could not be more proud to have been part of the journey with them. The growth of AUJS on each campus, in each region and nationally is a credit to each and every one of them. I will also never forget the mischief and mayhem of our Exec Retreats! Finally, thank you to Dean Sherr for being truly the most wonderful partner and friend to work with this year, without whom I would not have gotten through the year. Dean s tireless dedication and loyalty to this community, not just in AUJS but also in the political realm, is truly inspirational. I wish the incoming National Executive and all those involved in AUJS 2016 the best of luck. May you all continue to grow from strength to strength, and take the organisation to new heights!

14 Page 14 Treasurer Report Michael Fisher Money isn t everything, but it s definitely something Michael Fisher I have approached the Treasurer portfolio with an eye to having a key role not just in back-end, financial matters, but also in Union matters more broadly. A key goal of mine was to ensure our fundraising objectives matched our organisational objectives, and that our fundraising was effective enough not only that we could achieve our goals, but also have a solid foundation for growth. As Treasurer of the Union, I am Treasurer of the AUJS Ltd Board, which is the decision-making authority responsible for the effective financial management and good-governance of AUJS, employment of AUJS staff, sponsorship, and our breadth of international programs. Fundraising As Chair of the Sponsorship Subcommittee to the Board (SpoSC), I have been responsible for fundraising. This year has seen the launch of the first AUJS Annual Appeal, which had a focus on AUJS role as an organisation of advocacy. The Annual Appeal was deliberately designed to leverage parents of the many of the participants of AUJS international programs, as well as parents of current students, and other valuable donors. The Appeal was a fantastic success. Broadly, across all of our fundraising activities, we created relationships with various new donors, and set AUJS up for significant future growth. On behalf of AUJS, I am sincerely thankful to the various advocates within our community that allow us to obtain the financial support we need to grow. I am very thankful for the philanthropic organisations, Board of Patron members and other companies that can align themselves with our objectives. Risk Assessment The Financial Subcommittee to the Board (FiSC), this year assessed key organisational risks, found new areas to create value, and ensured that all the financials actually make sense. We finalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AUJS Ltd and AUJS Victoria, as well as between AUJS Ltd and AUJS NSW. The regions were previously unincorporated associations, open to various legal, insurance and other reporting risks. AUJS has now assumed the regions reporting obligations; ensured insurance coverage; and established financial and good governance policies within the regions.

15 Page 15 Accessibility of Conferences This year, AUJS has invested significant money to subsidise our conferences and make them accessible. Summer, Winter and PTS have had their cheapest ticket prices in recent history, and AGM the most generous flight subsidies. At the same time, the conferences have been of a high quality and seen great growth. AUJS Summer 15+, AUJS Winter 15 and AUJS PTS 15 were the largest Conferences in AUJS recorded history. Sir Zelman Cowen Memorial Oration This year, AUJS launched the inaugural Sir Zelman Cowen Memorial Oration, which I worked on closely with Daniel Nash (past National Chairperson) and Sam Meyerson (Victorian President) to effectively bring to life the memory of one of our most distinguished Australians and distinguished community leaders. It was fantastic to see hear the Chief Justice of the High Court, Robert French, delivered the inaugural oration. Concluding Remarks AUJS as an organisation plays a significant role in the community, which is sometimes easy to forget amid the nitty gritty of the work this year. The role of National Treasurer has significant obligations, and definitely is not the flashiest. However, it has been a fantastic learning experience. I thank all the Executives who made this year fun and worthwhile, as well as Rachel Adams who provided mentorship and support, and Liraz Poorian who worked around the clock to ensure the back-end operated smoothly. Lastly, I really appreciate the friendship and passion of Elenore Levi and Dean Sherr. I am very excited to continue my involvement in AUJS next year, and hope to leverage and tap in to the growth which this year s Executives have accomplished.

16 Page 16 Political Affairs Director Report Julian Kowal Central to the success of AUJS is our organisation s ability to adapt and evolve. We exist in a highly dynamic climate, in which what our members seek from our organisation, and the media by which we deliver certain messages, are constantly changing. The shifting face of AUJS is most applicable to the area of political affairs, where the landscape on campus, in the media, amongst the political elite and in Jerusalem can shift at ay moment. It was with this knowledge that as Political Affairs Director this year I aimed to grow our strength and impact through experimenting with a number of new initiatives. Even if new initiatives are not initially successful in AUJS, it is the philosophy of experimenting and thinking beyond what has been done before that will best allow our organisation to flourish. I was also incredibly lucky to have inherited a well-kept organisational memory bank and a highly professional culture and approach to political activism within AUJS. The National Political Affairs Council (NPAC) was created this year as a network of more than 50 AUJS leaders to engage in discussion about setting the future strategic direction of AUJS and to act as a strong support network for a wide range of campus, regional and national political initiatives. I hope in future years NPAC will continue to grow and will be used as a group, which can incubate and develop projects, empowering every AUJS member to be able to have a significant impact on campus at the National level of our organisation. The Israel Represent campaign, an informative website and mock election poll, was an online campaign that reached members solely by Facebook, or word of mouth. Thousands of AUJS members and students around the word engaged with the website and numerous AUJS and young community leaders contributed to creating the content.

17 Page 17 The largest ever delegation of 50 AUJS students who were able to engage with a wide range of senior leaders in a highly intimate setting on AUJS Political Training Seminar (PTS). This year s PTS was successful in large part to the standard and reputation set by previous political directors. Improvements were made on logistics this year, making the conference more accessible, which will hopefully allow similar sized delegations to attend PTS in the years to come. The role of AUJS as an advocate and representative of Jewish students was able to build on the success of past years, with AUJS being quoted or referenced in over 100 articles in the National and International media on the issue of the welfare of Jewish students, most noticeably in reference to the University of Sydney protest involving Jake Lynch. Throughout every activity this year, AUJS was highly consultative and democratic in the approach taken to handling political matters. This approach ensured that on all political matters any positions taken by AUJS truly represented the positions and interests of the wider membership. The consultative approach also facilitated a strengthening of the relationships between AUJS and the leadership of the wider Jewish community, whose support was integral to maximising the effectiveness and reach of our voice as an organisation. Above all, for me, AUJS is an organisation that develops and grows individuals. It is the privilege I have had to help others grow through encouraging others to become active in AUJS, which I will remember most from this year. To all of those who supported me this year on the National Executive and helped me grow as a person in ways well beyond Political Affairs, I will never be able to thank you enough.

18 Page 18 Conference Convenor Report Andrew Schnapp The Jewish people, ever since David slew Goliath have never considered youth as a barrier to leadership Senator J.F. Kennedy AUJS conferences are more than just social gatherings for young adults to mingle; they are breading grounds for innovative ideas. We provide Jewish leaders with invaluable networking opportunities, professional development and leadership training. For 2015, we launched a re-branding of the summer and winter leadership conferences. AUJS Summer 15+ was the largest national conference in many years with 70 participants from around Australia and New Zealand. AUJS Winter with 50 participants was equally successful. In each region, there were follow up events, further development sessions and opportunities for collaboration, all of which supported students to lead community engagement. AUJS Summer 15+ As National Conferences Convenor, my primary responsibility was the logistical planning and running of AUJS Summer 15+ held in regional Victoria. With a new model, the conference focused on the community and the core themes of Interact, Ignite, Invent and Initiate. I hope that the I-theme continues and becomes part of the branding image of AUJS Summer. A new mini-limmud style approach was adopted, providing participants with numerous sessions to choose from. There was something for every participant with topics ranging from Jewish Songwriting led by Melbourne artist Shannyn Gelbart, to Social Activism in Israel guided by Rinat Kedem, the former director of the Jerusalem Rape Crisis Centre. Summer also launched an important relationship with LGBTIQ support group Keshet Australia, with its President Jonathan Barnet, speaking about inclusiveness and community building. AUJS believes very strongly in making everyone feel welcome and so supports the No to Homophobia campaign. Participants left AUJS Summer 15+ motivated for the coming year and with many great initiatives and tools with which they could engage Jewish students on and off campus.

19 Page 19 AUJS Winter 15 AUJS Winter was set in crisp Bathurst this year, and followed on from the success of the newly revitalised Summer conference. It was co-coordinated by the wonderful Samantha Khavin and Cameron Graf, who wanted to create a conference which maintained the familiar elements of a relaxing mid-year retreat and the innovative edge of being peerled. Participants spent each morning captivated by peer-led Limmud mini-sessions on a plethora of topics, ranging from immersive discussions on religious Jewish law to real life skills such as networking and event planning, including a particularly memorable debate on the construct of the Jewish Bubble. Afternoons were solely dedicated to rigorous team challenges where participants battled for both physical and intellectual supremacy, including activities such as Model UN, Dodgeball and an Amazing Race! Night-time activities provided an excellent outlet for relaxing and socialising, with the conference team running a trivia night, theatre-sports and AUJS first ever party in a barn! AUJS Winter left participants rejuvenated and animated, with new experiences and friendships to carry them into Semester 2. I would like to wish next year s National Conferences Convenor the best of luck!

20 Page 20 Campaigns Co-ordinator Report Ashleigh Werner This year s AUJS campaigns have taken on a new approach. Campaigns throughout 2015 were created with a strong focus on the interaction between the Jewish community and the wider community within which it exists. This stance was taken as a way of both ensuring an increase in communication and interaction with the broader society, as well as our contextual environments, while inviting the wider community to understand and experience aspects of Judaism and the Jewish experience which they may have never have had the opportunity to be a part been part of. Our Yom HaShoah campaign, We survived together. We stand together, focused on commemorating Jewish victims of the Holocaust, as well as various other groups that were targeted and persecuted during the Second World War by the Nazis as well. This included those with disabilities, the Roma community, and members of the LGBTIQ community as well as Jews. The campaign offered a message of hope and solidarity, looking at how those communities have flourished since. It encompassed a Tree of Life motif, encouraging campuses to take on interesting and meaningful events. Campus Executives organised messages of solidarity written on tree leaves and peace canvases, asked Holocaust survivors to speak to students about their experience, and spread awareness about the Shoah on campuses around Australia and New Zealand. This message of hope was well received among campuses. Peace Week: Peace Starts With People this year revolved around the grassroots organisations and the people who used the contexts of their lives to create movements to bring about peace between Israelis and Palestinians. This campaign was aimed to show that there is no one way to achieve peace, and that by building bridges within your own life, you, yourself, are able to change an entire world or, at least, someone else s world. A unique characteristic of the campaign was the development stage. Usually campaigns are created and handed down to campuses as is. However, we wanted members to have maximum input and feel that it was their campaign too. Two committees were

21 Page 21 created, one for research and development, and one for implementation, and each group had input at every stage of the campaign creation process. This proved quite successful, and we had some incredible events, including an art exhibition, interfaith Shabbat, and Abraham Tent-style open dialogue sessions with other religious societies. A lot of positive feedback came from this model and this campaign. Currently, the next campaign, Jewish Awareness, is being created and finalised. This campaign will run under the title Unified, not Uniform, and aims to show how Judaism is unified in what we believe and who we are, but not uniform in the way we experience and share those beliefs. Through diverse food, religious practices, demographics, and geography, it is amazing to be able to see where our traditions have come from and how they have evolved, as well as seeing the unifying factors that unite us worldwide. These three campaigns make have made up the bulk of my role as the Campaigns Co-ordinator this year, and are incredibly important in bringing Jewish life and Jewish education awareness to campuses. I have enjoyed this role immensely and wish the incoming Campaigns Co-ordinator all the best for 2016!

22 Page 22 AUJS New South Wales Report Avia Madar, President You don't wanna mess up what you've done. It's like Jordan coming back: You're scared to mess up the legacy. Ice Cube Reading through the past decade of National reports, each and every year AUJS New South Wales comments on the diversity of the events provided, and the strong relationship between campus and state. AUJS NSW 2015 was certainly no different from previous years in that the Executive worked tirelessly to ensure that once again, the Regional events catered to our diverse regional membership base, and indeed, regional provides support to each campus. What does stand apart is the effort made this year to incorporate some aspect of Jewishness, culture or Zionism into all events, so that each event has a meaningful context to it. O-Week and School Visits O-Week is our primary opportunity to interact with new members. With our penchant for puns, free food, and posters of Jewish celebrities, a lot of emphasis was placed on making O-week stalls appealing, the efforts certainly seemed to pay off this year. Campus executives were trained on manning O-week stalls, and participated in an O-Bag packing day too. In particular, University of Technology Sydney doubled their membership base! AUJS also sent representatives to a number of high schools, where they presented on AUJS role on campus, ways to deal with campus anti-semitism, and to promote AUJS Israel programs. We also had a stall at the communal Yom Ha atzmaut fair to attract new members, and introduce AUJS to a younger demographic of school leavers. Regional Highlights Regional events provide an opportunity for all NSW campuses to come together, and each event appeals to different members, to try and ensure that all AUJS members will find something of interest to them. This year, the theme of the Purim party was When I Grow Up, and to incorporate a cultural element, attendees arrived in nostalgic costumes and could make Mishloach Manot for each other from the candy bar. Around 280 people attended the event, making it the biggest event of the year. AUJS put on a screening of The Green Prince, which gathered around 40 members at the Ritz cinema. The Green Prince was chosen in particular because while it is a great movie, it explored an educational topic, and furthered our understanding of the complexity of the Israeli political and social landscape.

23 Page 23 AUJS NSW Political Conference (NPC) provided an opportunity for members to spend the day at NSW State Parliament House, and discuss current issues with parliamentary members from Liberal, Labor and the Greens, as well as former High Court judge Michael Kirby. Two Shabbat dinners with the theme of Heritage allowed members to not only enjoy delicious three course meals and experience a variety of Friday night services, but also explore the unique family trees in the Sydney Jewish community. AUJS members from all backgrounds shared their family stories throughout the dinners, with the first dinner being hosted at the Sephardi Synagogue featuring stories from Indian, Iraqi, Yemenite and Egyptian AUJS members. The second dinner, accompanied by a Sydney Shabbat guide, will focus on all the youth-led services in Sydney, and again provide a platform for AUJS members to speak about their unique backgrounds. AUJS is joining forces with Maccabi and the ZYC for a night of social mixed netball. Each organization will send forward a team to compete in a netball game, followed by a celebratory BBQ for all. Executive Development This year, the Regional Executive had two retreats, to assist in goal setting, event planning, marketing and succession planning. These retreats are integral to ensure that the semester flows smoothly, and help to create a positive dynamic between members of the executive. To show appreciation for the dedication and time committed by all our volunteers across campus and regional executives, we organised the first ever Thank you event. Executive members were invited to a BBQ to socialise and share drinks with their counterparts from other campuses. JUNI and Hillel At the start of this year, AUJS NSW welcomed JUNI to campus as the Jewish religious chaplains, and since then, many campuses have done combined events to celebrate various festivals, allowing opportunities for Torah study, tefillin, and lots of cake. Hillel, as the cultural chaplains, also provided immense support and training this year to our executives. We have truly valued the strong relationships we have had with both JUNI and Hillel. A Final Note With our Regional AGM happening shortly, we look forward to handing over the reins to a new Executive, full of dedication and passion for the work of AUJS. Thank you to all of those who worked so hard this year to put on incredible events, and maintain and grow AUJS NSW. Best of luck to the new Executive!

24 Page 24 AUJS NSW on Campus University of New South Wales Cameron Graf, President 2015 heralded a new attitude at UNSW, with a purposeful and prescribed shift of focus to our members and their particular interests. O-Week was a huge success, with over 150 members joining, including many from AUJS Israel programs Academy and Aviv. By incorporating a survey as part of the sign up process, the Executive had access to unprecedented details, such as full contact details, social, cultural, educational and political interests. This allowed us to focus our events on what our members would genuinely be interested in, and avoid efforts that would not be appreciated; it also allowed more direct marketing as we could contact specific individuals who had expressed interest, rather than sending out blanket messages. Additionally with the decision to implement quality graphics, more engaging social media, text message notifications and photo uploads for most events, UNSW was definitely able to improve its marketing by a substantial degree. Over 2 semesters, we have had some of the most successful events in terms of numbers and diversity of attendees. Many at our several picnics and barbecues have commented on the friendly and welcoming atmosphere (and even live music), which created a perfect space on campus for Jewish students to come and mingle. They even remarked on the deliciousness of our Kosher sausages and homemade falafel! Our Megillah reading during Purim was well-received due to the inclusion of a more religious style event, as has the weekly Pizza & Parsha with JUNI from Semester 2, our High Holiday video message, and our events for the Holocaust Awareness and Peace Week campaigns. We have also held two Trivia Nights, a Dodgeball match with the Sikh Student Association, and jointly organised an Inter-University Pub Crawl with two other universities in the region, which strengthened AUJS position as a University society. Overall, we have seen a much higher number of Jewish students from UNSW engaging with AUJS through their strong attendance at Campus, Regional and even National events, which is a good step in the right direction. University of Sydney Iliya Borecki, President AUJS at the University of Sydney (USYD) has been incredibly active With seven events in the first semester, and a projected six in the second, we have been highly accessible to members. Events have taken place both on and off campus and have tried to target different areas that people would be interested in including social, religious, cultural and political events.

25 Page 25 AUJS at USYD started the year with Lunch with a Bunch of Jews, where members were able to meet and enjoy free felafel. Diverse events follow throughout the semester and include Speed Friending, a Chametz Picnic for Pesach, Holocaust Awareness Week, a BBQ and bonfire for Lag B Omer and Cheesecake on Campus for Shavuot. This pattern seemed to follow through with events in the second semester of To welcome back both new and old members, AUJS at USYD hosted a beer and bagels event on campus and hosted an inter-university back to school party off campus. Our most successful political campaign was Peace Week, which piggybacked off the success of Cheesecake on Campus and took place thanks to the hard work of particular members of the Executive. AUJS at USYD also joined forces with the Jewish Chaplaincy by celebrating the Jewish New Year with free honey cake on Eastern Avenue. AUJS at USYD has had to work hard throughout the year to react to issues that formed on campus, particularly in response to an incident that occurred at a talk on campus by Colonel Richard Kemp. AUJS at USYD has liaised with the Vice Chancellor on a number of occasions and has seen allegations of anti-semitism addressed immediately. Mandelbaum House has continued to be a friend of AUJS, providing hospitality and a venue for meetings this year. AUJS at USYD s social media drive has been constant in Newsletters have been sent out via and a Facebook page has been set up and has over 300 likes. Events with graphics and names were created on Facebook and mass text messages were sent out to members to remind them of upcoming events. Overall, AUJS at USYD has a very active year, and has become very involved and integrated into USU life. This is all thanks to the amazing, passionate and committed AUJS at USYD Executive. University of Technology Sydney Vail Bromberger, President AUJS at UTS enjoyed its biggest year in recent memory. Registered club membership jumped from 20 to more than 80 members in 2015, as well as the number of events run on campus amounting to more in just Semester 1 than in all of This was predominantly due to the extremely hard work of Natalie Sussman, Michael Garbuz and Raymond Salomon at Semester 1 Clubs Day. It was their insightful and enthusiastic engagement with every UTS student that saw our membership increase, especially with non-jewish members who became interested in what AUJS does after seeing our stall and speaking with our Executive. Furthermore, the types of events run were far more varied in 2015, extending on to include two trivia nights, events for Purim, Pesach and Shavuot, three campaigns and numerous inter-club events on campus. UTS attendance at AUJS NSW events and AUJS Summer/Winter was also increased in 2015, reflecting the renewed invigoration that UTS has seen in AUJS affairs. Special mention must go to Iris Vayzer (Events Officer) who organised a fabulous intervarsity pub crawl through Surry Hills. AUJS also co-organised the ActivateUTS Eurovision party,

26 Page 26 in proud support of Zionism with great success, no doubt in part due to the work done by Akshay Raj (Political Officer) on the political front. The overall function of the Executive was also a highlight for The Executive expanded from just four members in 2014 to eight in The finances of the club were also well managed, leaving the 2016 Executive in plentiful surplus, and gaining the recognition of our student union. Credit here goes to the meticulous work of Nathan Thomas (Treasurer) and Anton Mallach (Secretary) who managed all Executive meetings for the year. Needless to say, AUJS at UTS is in good hands for the years to come! Macquarie University Aaron Hyman, President It is with great pride that I can say AUJS at Macquarie University (MQ) has been very successful this year. Beginning the year at O Week s annual MQ Cultural Carnival, our pita and falafel was the most popular food. Booze & Jews was attended by 35 people and a new constitution was passed. AUJS MQ also took part in the campaign over Semester 1. Our strong relationship with JUNI began with Torah on Tap and our hugely successful Matzah Matter With You? pre-pesach stall. The highlight of Semester 1 was the Ask Big Questions: What is Happiness? Shabbat Dinner at Cremorne Synagogue, attended by 45 people. The Semester finished with a moving Holocaust Remembrance Campaign, a Kosher BBQ, raising money for a charity which supports improving literacy in Aboriginal communities, and a calming MacFlurry breakfast before exams. Semester 2 began with a smaller and more intimate Booze & Jews, before leaping into Peace Week, running a poster campaign unique to MQ and the Where is the Invention from? Game, which over 100 people took part in. We also ran another charity BBQ for the same charity, raising a total of $1100 over the year. Events for the end of the year include an inter-faith event with MUMSA, Atheist League and Christian Union, our AGM and one more social event. From a leadership perspective, it has been a mixed year. We have developed excellent relationships with the University and other student groups, and have further sought to bring MQ recognition within AUJS as a whole. However, there have at times been issues of communication and teamwork within our Executive, which have affected our abilities in these positions.

27 Page 27 AUJS Victoria Report Sam Meyerson, President 2015 has been an incredibly eventful and successful year for AUJS Victoria! It has been a fantastic experience leading a team of wonderful and enthusiastic individuals and I thank them all for their ongoing support and commitment to AUJS. AUJS is a unique organization and depends solely on the commitment of student volunteers, all of whom have numerous other commitments, and the success of this year is testament to their unwavering dedication to the organization. This year began with the AUJS Victorian Executive outlining particular goals for the year centred on increasing membership on campuses, increasing the breadth of our events and changing AUJS image in Victoria. I can proudly state that the AUJS Victorian Executive of 2015 has achieved all 3 of these things. The huge attendance at our events, the major increase in membership, the expansion of AUJS onto new campuses speak for themselves and once again I thank the Victorian Executive for their assistance in making these goals a reality. We began the year with a hugely successful o-week at 7 campuses marking the first o-week in many years at both Swinburne and RMIT. AUJS at Swinburne (SWUJS) was re-affiliated at the beginning of 2015 for the first time in many years. For the first time, we put up billboards advertising o-week across campuses and engaged in active social media promotion to make sure that Jewish students were aware of AUJS presence on campus. By March, AUJS Victoria signed up over 600 members across the 7 campuses, a fantastic 40% increase in membership since Currently AUJS at TAFE is undergoing the affiliation process at Moorabbin TAFE, an exciting new addition for the incoming executive of 2016, which will make a total of 8 campuses for next year. Following O-week, we decided to try a new tactic and invited 15 IBC returnees to a workshop with 10 AUJS leaders to discuss ways to expand AUJS and engage with a different crowd in Melbourne. This event was well attended and culminated in the brainstorming for possible events. One of the events that emerged from this session was the sports tournament we hosted in late September the first sports tournament AUJS Victoria has hosted in recent years. This workshop was a fantastic idea in my mind it gave AUJS the opportunity to be open-minded and speak to the incoming first year students and understand exactly what they wanted to see on and off campus. It also introduced the students to AUJS and the opportunities that we have to offer. A few weeks later we hosted the biggest AUJS Victoria Purim party in years with an awesome 350+ people in attendance. In Semester 1, we also co-hosted Israel s Birthday Bash with the other young Jewish community organizations which was also hugely successful with over 400 young people dancing the night away. Additionally, we hosted a Pitch Perfect 2 Premiere at the Classic for 60 students which sold out a great social evening for all who attended.

28 Page 28 Another thing we introduced in Semester 1, was the concept of cross-campus events at the same time. We identified that students at smaller campuses may relish the opportunity to be involved in a larger scale event as well as share an experience with their peers at other campuses. Thus began a fruitful relationship with Challah for Hunger whereby we co-hosted a Challah bake on a Wednesday night and then sold the challah at 6 campuses on the Thursday during the day. We raised a whopping $900 for disaster relief in Nepal and sold all of the challot. In May we hosted a cross-campus ball launch and sold 130 tickets to the AUJS ball in just 24 hours. The AUJS Ball is the flagship event of the AUJS calendar. This year was the biggest AUJS Ball in 5 years, with a wonderful attendance by 270 guests who enjoyed a spectacular evening of entertainment and socializing with their fellow Jewish university students from Melbourne and Sydney. It was hugely successful and we have received exceptionally positive feedback regarding this year s ball specifically relating to the affordability and the wonderful entertainment we had on offer including circus performers, a jazz trio, a DJ and makeup artists. All of these activities added to the glamour of the evening and definitely enhanced the atmosphere. A huge thank you to the Gringlas Family and our sponsors for their generous support which enabled us to cap the ticket price at $100, making it affordable and desirable for students. In Semester 2, we hosted another cross-campus challah bake with Challah for Hunger, raising several hundred dollars for youth homelessness in Melbourne. We also hosted two intimate political evenings one with Professor Alan Johnston and another with Israeli journalist Shmuel Rosner, co-sponsored by Masa. In conjunction with Chabad on Campus we co-hosted Shabbat 500, a wonderful evening attended by over 150 guests. In September we hosted the inaugural Sir Zelman Cowen Memorial Oration with guest speaker Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia Robert French AC. 380 tickets were sold but unfortunately 50% decided not to show up on the day. However, the event still went ahead successfully and the 160+ people who did attend enjoyed hearing from French and introductory remarks from Steven Skala AO. Finally, we oversaw the aforementioned sports tournament that was born out of the workshop with IBC returnees, and had 50 students playing competitive mixed netball and soccer at Bialik on a Sunday morning. The tournament was a huge success and everyone commented that they are looking forward to a rematch in has been a very busy year for AUJS and has hopefully set the foundation for the executive in 2016 to continue to flourish, succeed and grow. I wish best of luck to the incoming executive. AUJS Victoria Achievements in 2015: 41% increase in attendance at the 2015 AUJS Ball the biggest AUJS ball in 5 years! 40% increase in membership across campuses in Victoria 104% increase in attendance at the Purim party - over 350 guests Addition of AUJS TAFE and re-affiliation of AUJS at RMIT and Swinburne Launch of the Sir Zelman Cowen Memorial Oration with Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia the Hon Robert French AC

29 Page 29 AUJS Victoria on Campus Deakin University Sharon Barnett, President Deakin has had a mostly successful year, with our membership base nearly double what it was last year. Despite some challenges, we have come out on top with a few very successful and memorable events that have even attracted local state politicians. Deakin has always tried to stay in tune with the member base, and always made the effort to cater to the different needs of every single member, from offering a variety of different meal options to offering discounts to the AUJS Ball to make it more affordable. We look forward to seeing what next year brings and how Deakin grows. AUJS Deakin is on its way to becoming a larger campus that still has the feeling of a small, tight-knit community. La Trobe University Jessica Gittel Cornish, President AUJS La Trobe this year has gone from strength to strength, having the highest amount of on-campus activities seen in a long time. This year we ran two on campus BBQ s held in conjunction with Chabad, they were both well attended and enjoyed by our members. We also had a Krav Maga class run by our very own qualified instructor Jake Green earlier in the year, which was not only a great work out, but we all gained some new skills. Furthermore, we ran a challah bake sale where we sold out within an hour and all funds raised were donated to those affected by the devastating earthquake in Nepal. This year campus life at La Trobe has been much better than previous years; problems caused in the past by far left groups such as Socialist Alternative were not an issue this year. There was only one instance where inappropriate imagery was published through their student union website. However, after a complaint was lodged, the image was removed. Overall, it has been a good year for AUJS La Trobe.

30 Page 30 Monash University Caulfield Becky Litwin, President 2015 has been a great year for AUJS at Monash Caulfield! We have had our petting zoo event, which attracted a few hundred attendees, and we are planning even more events to happen this year in the warmer months, such as an ice cream day, and a soccer tournament. Our executive and committee this semester has been hard working and committed. We have appointed several people to committee in representative positions, expanding the leadership body of our club to 10 people! Monash University Clayton (MonJSS) Dylan Klein, President In 2015, my personal goal for MonJSS was to continue the positive trend that MonJSS had been having over recent years, in terms of brand image, attendance at events, and overall engagement with members. Without a passionate committee and fortnightly meetings, achieving this goal would have been impossible. Straight out of a successful O-Week, MonJSS was able to lift its brand image to a level of quality it hasn t been at before. This was achieved through hard work and strategic planning with social media & communications (Facebook, Instagram, Mailchimp, and bulk SMS). Attendance at all social, and most guest speaker events also sky rocketed, with MonJSS winning the most popular event: Free Falafel for Yom Ha azmaut at the C&S awards night. MonJSS was also nominated/short-listed for "best club administration", along with "best cultural club awards in its size category. Initiatives such as the special consideration letters over Jewish High Holidays, as well as the MonJSS group on Facebook further enhanced member engagement and reminded Jewish students at Clayton that MonJSS was always there for them. I am proud to have been involved in such a successful year, and have personally loved working alongside every member of the MonJSS committee, as well as those non-committee members who have put their hand up to help the club. For the future, I hope that MonJSS will continue from where it has left off at the end of 2015, continuing to further improve and provide even more value to Jewish students at Clayton.

31 Page 31 RMIT University (RUJSS) Jessica Worth and Talia Haber, Co-Presidents Throughout this past year, RMIT s AUJS executive has undergone a grand transformation, with a fabulous new Executive and plenty of fresh ideas. We endeavor to bring a new Jewish flavour to the city. We could not be more proud of how far we have come. With each event we meet new amazing Jewish students around campus and so far we have heard only positive feedback. From our Toasties for Tickets event to our lively and successful Challah For Hunger sales, RUJSS is motivated to keep growing and growing. Swinburne University (SWUJS) Stevie Gringlas, President This year was the first year of running AUJS at Swinburne University for many years. It has been a slow yet steady year for us but we have had a lot of success in the three events we had and we now have over 60 members. Next year we hope to increase SWUJS involvement and membership, as well as continuing to become a permanent part of life at Swinburne. University of Melbourne (MUJSS) Ethan Kravietz, President This year, MUJSS has met and exceeded all of its goals. Having achieved a membership base of 172 members, well above the previous year s 120, and achieved an approximate increase up to 400% event attendance, MUJSS has created a name for itself on campus. Our success is a tribute to the hard work that our executive team has put into every event. Their input, ideas and presence have been the driving force that has enabled us to surpass our previous year s figures. Our new approach to marketing is responsible for our increased event attendance, giving our society a fun atmosphere and creating a hype that spreads via word of mouth. The team at MUJSS spent the year experimenting with new styles of events to determine if we were truly serving our purpose on campus. From this, we have discovered what events attract the numbers and learnt about what it really takes to do something meaningful on campus. Our events have ranged from, Falafel lunches, bagel lunches, Jewish Chagim oriented events, study sessions, our infamous Extravaganza, picnics, movie nights, pre-drinks with MONJSS and Challah for Hunger partnerships. It has been a pleasure leading and working with the dedicated and passionate team at MUJSS, without which, there would be no society or Jewish presence on campus.

32 Page 32 AUJS New Zealand Report Maya Netzer, President Still not the Australia Union of Jewish Students, guys! Maya Netzer AUJS New Zealand has had a wildly successful year this year. All of our campuses ran large, successful events and our executives on campuses have a great deal to be proud about. The year kicked off as always with Orientation week and multiple successful events were run across New Zealand. The Presidents of the Executive have outlined their year s work in their campus report. This report, we feel, is a forum for a discussion to be opened about AUJS New Zealand s bigger picture. AUJS New Zealand has seen monumental growth and success. We re-affiliated ourselves in Dunedin; to hosted larger events with more attendance; hosted the first New Zealand-wide educational conference by teaming up with Limmud NZ; and in early October we took part in the Zionist Federation s Hasbara seminars, at which our executive educated our community and youth about being advocates for Israel. Our biggest struggle for the majority of the year was a financial one due to lack of funding, and through a lot of hard work and effort and the generosity of our local community we have managed to become more independent, boasting bigger, better events with local support. We suggest that in the coming years, official guidelines about requesting budget allocations be put in place and an internal dialogue needs to be had about making AUJS NZ a tax-deductible entity for our donors. This year, AUJS New Zealand has changed the face of the organisation in New Zealand, and completely rebranded. We couldn t have done this without the support of our community, and I d like to take this opportunity to thank the community Shlichim (Roni, Guy, Yaira and Aviad) for their tireless support of us. I d like to thank the Auckland Hebrew Congregation, the Zionist Federation of New Zealand, Limmud New Zealand, the Jewish Federation of New Zealand the Keren Or trust, and the Astor foundation and the Raye Freeman trust and all others who helped contribute whether financially or not to AUJS New Zealand s monumental success this year. Last but not least, I d like the thank my team of tireless Executives, especially my Vice President Caelan MacBeth, for never losing sight of our goals and always sticking to it when things seemed almost impossible. I would also like to thank AUJS National for increasing conferences flight subsidies, and maintaining a strong AUJS NZ presence on LDP. I'm incredibly excited about what my successors have in plan, I'm sure they will do a fabulous job.

33 Page 33 AUJS Auckland Gary Hofman and Steven Hofman, Co-Presidents AUJS Auckland provides a wide variety of political, social and educational activities to students and other community members. This year we have provided various events on campus to fulfil the different aspects of our organisation. To start the year off with a bang, AUJS Auckland had a very successful stall during O- Week. With This is How We Jew It, we were able to open up to more people on campus. Our peers were asked to answer questions like Who is you favourite Jewish movie star? or Who is your favourite Jewish musician? This campaign was met with such joy from all members of students and faculty at Auckland University. Our first event was the P-Party for Purim. People were asked to join us and dress in something starting in with the letter P. We had over 50 people join us into the wee hours of the morning, dressed up at Picasso, pterodactyls and Pie Man. As the Israeli Election was on everyone s mind, AUJS Auckland helped participate in the Zionist Federation of New Zealand s (ZFNZ) New Zealand Votes for Israel. Here people were able to learn about the political landscape of Israel and gain an understanding of everything going on. We also participated in and helped at the ZFNZ Yom Hazikaron and Yom HaShoah events, showcasing to the community our AUJS Auckland leadership. For Yom Ha atzmaut, AUJS members stood in the middle of the quad, blasting proudly Israeli music, handing out free falafel and SodaStream shots, taking the opportunity to talk to the campus community about who we are and what we are celebrating. The response was overwhelmingly positive from members of all facets of the community life. Everyone was happy to have falafel and a talk about Israel. AUJS members were then invited to join for an AUJS Yom Ha atzmaut BBQ Party. This was again very successful. A lot of meat was eaten and, with the help of the Auckland Hebrew Congregation Shlichim, we were able to run an Israeli Quiz as well. For Yom HaShoah, AUJS was privileged to host Shmuel and Fredja Rothbard, two Holocaust survivors. This was an emotional event and everyone felt privileged to meet them and ask questions. AUJS Auckland members came to the New Zealand Limmud Learning conference in record number. This was largely due to Auckland hosting a Friday Night Dinner and then on Motzei Shabbat, an after-hours Laser Tag game with all members engaged, involved and very competitive. In the coming weeks, we have our annual Sukkot dinner and are taking part in the ZFNZ Hasbara event, with other small events after exams in the woodworks. Overall, this year has been full of highlights and successes. A lot of credit for the success must go to the amazing team in Auckland, Gary Hofman, Jenna Bernstein, Josh Bannister and Sara Kisch. But a lot of thanks and credit must go to Maya Netzer, a tireless hero in the Auckland Jewish Community. We are very excited about AUJS Auckland next year!

34 Page 34 AUJS Otago, Dunedin Jeremy Singer, President AUJS Otago enjoyed a very relaxed and prosperous year. We re-affiliated with the local student body (Otago University Students Association OUSA) and continued a great working relationship with the Student Organisation liaison there. We were able to add several new members (which is great news for our small outfit). This year, we enjoyed multiple Shabbat dinners. Each was held at the OUSA Clubs and Societies building. The dinners were all well attended and were pot-luck, whereby attendees each brought a dish. We also held a Passover Seder (doubled as a potluck dinner) which was a great success. Attendance for the Seder was 18 people. The Seder was led by our Treasurer Jake Mills with technical advice from Ben Isaacs (member). We also held a low-key Rosh Hashanah celebration at my flat. This included food and general festivities. All our events ran as planned and it was nice to educate some of our non-jewish visitors about the faith s customs and traditions. The only blight on our record was missing out on the annual Holocaust Survivor speaker. This was a real pity, as previous years have drawn crowds of Unfortunately, the talk was scheduled for our winter break. This needs to be adjusted for next year, as it s the biggest event for AUJS Otago and tends to draw local celebrities (Members of Parliament and University officials in previous years), publicity and, most critically, helps educate the University s many uninformed students. The AGM was conducted hassle-free and the organisation is in the safe hands of the 2016 Executive: Alana Smith (President), Jake Mills (Secretary), and Joshua Mills (Treasurer). Both Alana and Jake were on the Executive this year, as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.

35 Page 35 AUJS Wellington Caelan Macbeth, President AUJS Wellington has had a phenomenal year with more events hosted this year than any year preceding! The year got off to a great start with the National O-Week campaign being executed at Victoria University; the stall attracted new Jewish members and also led to discussion between those running the stall and non-jewish students, staff and visiting politicians about the various beliefs in Judaism and Zionism. Soon after O-Week, AUJS Wellington held a small Purim gathering with kosher food and beers following the Megillat Esther reading at the Wellington Jewish Community Centre. This function enabled new and old members to meet and socialise early in the University year. The next event was a small get together on campus with a blood drive. Despite the inevitable discovery that no-one present was medically eligible to actually donate blood (consider that stereotype checked), it was fantastic to see a Jews gathered on campus to enjoy food and beverages. The first major on-campus campaign of the year was AUJS Wellington s Holocaust Awareness Campaign. For this event AUJS was proud to team up with the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand in running a stall staffed by volunteers from both organisations, engaging with students and staff about the atrocities that befell our people in the 20 th century. The stall was followed by a speech from local Holocaust survivor, Steven Sedley, about his experiences of the Holocaust. Following this, there was a candle lighting ceremony where representatives from all groups featured in the AUJS Yom HaShoah campaign lit numerous candles representing the groups of peoples victimised by the Holocaust. It was a very moving and deeply humbling experience to be able to contribute to the education of non- Jewish students about the Holocaust and to bring the numerous persecuted groups together to commemorate. Soon after, the earthquakes devastated the country of Nepal. The AUJS Wellington Executive responded by meeting with volunteers from AUJS and the community at large to bake various goods and then selling to the student body, with the proceeds going to the people of Nepal. It was fantastic to be able to help and represent the Jewish community in the process. To send off the first trimester AUJS got together at Hotel Bristol and put two teams of ten together for a Pub Quiz. A great and social evening was had by all.

36 Page 36 This year s Jerusalem Gay Pride March was tragically the target of an attack of religious fanaticism which led to the death of 16 year old, Shira Banki Z L. In response, AUJS Wellington gathered an intimate group of people, including government representatives and representatives of Amnesty International, to commemorate her blessed memory. The second major campaign was AUJS Peace Week. For this, Wellington was able to bake goods and have volunteers engage with students whilst giving these out. We had amazing discussions about the conflict in the Middle East and efforts to resolve the situation and make peace with many students from diverse backgrounds. All in all, it has been a wonderful and humbling experience to lead AUJS Wellington for the second year and see it s growth, as well as assist as Vice-President of New Zealand. A special thanks to all those who have helped run AUJS Wellington this year, especially Orli Ahava, Lauren Dershowitz, Noah Brookhammer-Lust, Olga Gutman, and Tadhg Cleary. A huge debt of gratitude is also owed to our regional President, and my team-mate, Maya in her excellent consultation and advice this year as well as her remarkable endeavours to find funding for AUJS New Zealand so our amazing events could be so well executed.

37 Page 37 AUJS Western Australia Report Natasha Ross, President AUJS WA in 2015 has had a challenging year, as there was not much of a transition period when Stephen and I took over, and manpower has been limited. We are such a small executive and, thus, it is very hard to organise large events. Our meetings this year have focused on re-establishing AUJS WA, empowering future AUJS WA leaders, and planning smaller events. This year, AUJS WA has also focused on reaching out to the wider WA Jewish community. We were involved in the Israel Matters Conference run by Habonim Dror, which featured influential speakers from Jewish communities around Australia. We also represented AUJS Israel Programs at the Zionist Youth Council (ZYC) Israel information evening. In addition, AUJS WA took party in the community Yom Hazikaron function where young Jewish students were invited to light candles for the fallen soldiers and victims of terror. AUJS WA also took part in a community remembrance ceremony at the Jewish War Memorial. On campus Avi Shchligel and I have been working with some students that are involved in the Young Liberals. We are, at the moment, supporting some Young Liberal members who are in the process of building pro-israel sentiment on the UWA campus! This is a massive achievement. Through this avenue, we are able to provide the Jewish students with safety on campus.

38 Page 38 Small Regions Report Daniel Brazil, Small Regions Chair Started from the bottom now we re here. Drake Graham AUJS in its smaller regions, namely Queensland and ACT, have grown exponentially this year! I cannot thank enough the dedicated teams working in both regions for their commitment to expanding and strengthening Jewish student life in these regions. In addition, thank you to the AUJS National Executive and AUJS professional staff for their continued support and advice this year. AUJS Queensland Daniel Brazil and Liam Baum, Co-Presidents After becoming unaffiliated and disbanding for one year over 2014, AUJS QLD has recommenced with new life and vigour in 2015! Our initial and enduring goals have been to reconnect the Jewish student community in QLD via educational, cultural, political and social activities and to provide an avenue for Jewish students to express their identity and heritage. Our main avenue for enabling this has been through events. In March, AUJS QLD held its first event: a social meet and greet event. This was an excellent event, which fostered a social, fun and friendly atmosphere, in which new friendships could be made. A Holocaust Memorial Day was coordinated in April with the University Queensland's School of Peace & Conflict. The event focused on remembering the tragedies of the Holocaust and hearing survivors stories. Following this, in May, we held our first Barefoot Bowls event. This was a great chance to unwind and chat over a drink, some food and bowls. This event attracted substantial new membership signups. We held our first Shabbat event in June - what better way to celebrate the end of semester than with a home cooked challah, over a delicious traditional meal with your extended (AUJS) family! In August, our Welcome Back to Semester 2 party was held. This event saw large numbers of new members. We had a great time, playing games, drinking and eating! This September, we will host a picnic in the park. This is great chance for members to get involved in a variety of activities: tug of war, frisbee, and soccer, three-legged races, as well as eat traditional Israeli food.

39 Page 39 Recently, AUJS UQ has re-affiliated with the UQ Union. It is now possible to market to Jewish students on campus. A campus committee has been formed, to plan events such as: a sausage sizzle, inter campus sports teams in association with other clubs, interfaith question and answer forums, and regular market stalls. Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is in the process of affiliation, expected to be complete by the end of the year, thanks to QUT s campus president: Louise Heller. Chabad Brisbane has received a Rabbi dedicated to growing the Jewish youth community. Through collaboration with Chabad, we aim to grow the collective strength of our organisations, and ultimately the Jewish youth community in QLD. It is also our intention to collaborate with the Brisbane Progressive Jewish Congregation through a camp at the end of the year, allowing students to experience Jewish culture and tradition together. We look forward to the continued growth of AUJS QLD in 2016! ANU Jewish Students Society Simon Gottlieb and Zara Shapiro, Co-Presidents Momentum at the ANU Jewish Students Society started strongly in 2015 at Canberra. A record number of sign ups at Market Day (ANU s O-Week) showed strong enthusiasm for the club, which has lasted throughout the year. We began with a Welcome BBQ in Term 1 to get acquainted with one another. This was followed by a Shabbat dinner at the home of Alon Meltzer, Rabbi of Canberra, later in the semester. Both events were well attended and successful. Special thanks goes to the Rabbi for his hospitality. In addition, there was an exciting opportunity for ANUJSS members to attend a guest lecture by international speaker Ken Lander, from the Technion in Israel. This reflects our burgeoning relationship with the ACT Jewish Community Centre and the newly appointed ANU Chaplain, the Rabbi of Canberra, Alon Meltzer. We look forward to seeing how ANUJSS grows from strength to strength in 2016!

40 Page 40 National Shlicha s Report Rachel Adams Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn. Benjamin Franklin In the year since my arrival to Australia, words have never rang truer about AUJS and the student leadership. Involvement is the key in making AUJS much more than a functioning organisation. We can tell and teach students anything, but it is the involvement of intelligent, creative, empathetic, and dynamic student leaders which has set the bar so high this year. I was lucky enough to be welcomed by students who were willing to involve me from the beginning. Whether it was taking me out for Yo-Chi within days of my arrival, or introducing me to Carlisle cafes on a sunny October day, I felt embraced by you from the moment you took over your new positions in this executive. You put your trust in the new and untested Shlicha from the beginning, and for this I am grateful. It allowed me to experience, learn, and ultimately put me in a position to help advise and involve more the student leaders. Long before my arrival to Australia, I thought long and hard about what I could bring to the organisation, what AUJS needs, and how I could empower you to succeed. Though the rewarding nature of the work has exceeded my expectations, I have a deeper understanding of the professional/student interaction within AUJS, and how to make it work. In an organsiation driven solely by student leadership, it is critical that you, the students, feel supported and yes, sometimes challenged, by the professional staff. As professionals, it is our job to help you to articulate, envision, coordinate, and ultimately enact all that you want to achieve in your tenure as leaders of AUJS. I hope that I have managed to balance on the fine line of professional and friend, mentor and sounding board, and at times the giver of tough love. The job of Shlicha seemingly begins and ends with Israel. Throughout the year, I have found it to encompass so much more. Whether it is helping to build programs, early morning airport pickups, playing the bad cop at conferences (we know how much I love to do that), late night phone calls about personal issues, or countless shopping trips to Coles for soft drinks, I have enjoyed every minute of becoming a part of AUJS. While my main purpose here is to promote and educate Israel on campus, I find the real joy of my work comes from the everyday interactions with you the students. It is through these relationships, which I have found the space to explore the challenge of how to deal with Israel both internally and on campus. This year I made it my goal to take the time to gauge where students are in terms of their own feelings towards Israel and how it should be promoted on campus. Too often, students are often told by others what should be done to combat anti-israel activity, without being asked themselves what they want and how they feel about

41 Page 41 current events. I hope that through our discussions at AUJS conferences-stump the Shlicha, Pluralistic Zionism, Café Dilemma in Advocacy, and many one on one talks, we have been able to better articulate where we can, as a Zionist and Pluralist organisation work to smartly and relevantly promote Israel on campus. As we see the atmosphere on campus continuing to grow hostile towards Israel and Zionism, we need to take a stand for ourselves and ensure that our voices are heard. We understand more and more that the key to winning this battle lies in two main areas-increased involvement of Jewish students in campus politics, and more engagement with those on the left. While both of these initiatives can seem at times impossible or extremely uncomfortable, this is the only way to ensure that our voices are heard and that we have the space to fight for our safety and freedom on campus. I was proud to see the beginnings of this with the Israel Represent election campaign, Peace Week, and AUJS reaction to the Jake Lynch incident at University of Sydney. In all of these situations, we were able to frame discussions and approach tough issues on our own terms, by using language and rhetoric which would appeal to the widest student audience. I look forward to spending the next year in continuing to build off of this, and to move to more proactive programs and initiatives. Thank you to the staff, students, and professionals who did everything in their power to always make me feel welcome and thought of. I am so privileged to be in a position where working with you has truly brought out the best in me. When people ask me how I am enjoying my time here, I answer that I am having much more fun than I should. Along with the fun and laughs, we have managed to achieve and exceed our goals this year. As I have said from my arrival, I have already had my four years as a student at university. Now this is your turn to make your time at university the best and most meaningful that it can be. How privileged you are to have access to an organisation such as AUJS which allows you to take leadership and initiative to a level unprecedented in many places in Australia, New Zealand, and around the world. Take advantage of every opportunity you are given, and make AUJS the organisation that you want it to be.