I'm a social justice activist with a reasonable knowledge of different interest groups - other than the major political parties - BUT I know nothing about Jewish activism in Australia.

For instance, can anyone tell me where Jewish political organisations have been at the forefront of fighting for Aboriginal rights? This s a claim Mendes makes and I wonder how much of this is part of myth making?

Overall I agree with Mendes, a united Jewish front needs to happen and have a more prominent public profile in this country. Otherwise the fundamentalists will inhabit this space

radical phil,
Are you sugesting that democracy has no common values that bring cohesion to a society? I would have thought that regardless of ethnicity, culture, or religion, a good functioning democracy has values that every citizen cherishes to unite all in one common secular culture.

(By the way I, though not Jewish, have close relatives that are Orthodox, and a nephew a University of Jerusalem trained Rabbi, so I have some sympathy for the plight of Israel.)

Radical Phil,
Quote, "As for cooperation between "races", this is the language of racists. We are all human beings - just different."

WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT?? I would have thought that there is a common set of values ie being human as one, that unite people of different ethnicity, religion, and culture to create a functioning democratic society?

You identify two races - Jews and aboriginals. Your comment regarding "racist language" identifies your sensitivity to race not mine. I, though not Jewish, have family Orthodox Jews, and a nephew a University of Jerusalem trained Rabbi, but have no racial persecution complex.

in refernce to Rainier's comment,

Mendes made no claims about Jewish organisations' activism on Aboriginal issues. He was talking about individuals.
As he put it:

"Jews have been individually active in a range of Australian political parties and social movements, including the environment movement; feminism, gay and lesbian rights; anti-war activism; trade unions; Aboriginal rights; and refugee issues."

"[Jews] don’t share socially conservative views on drugs, feminism, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, refugees or Aborigines. In many cases those same Jews who support Ariel Sharon and denounce Arab terrorism are passionate supporters of asylum seekers and are supportive of an apology to the Stolen Generation."

I don't know to what extent this constitutes organisational "activism" but ECAJ is a partner in the "Faith Communities for Reconciliation" initiative.

Regarding the relationship between Jews and Aborigines: a number of individual Jews - most prominently Lorna Lippman, Ron Castan, Jim Spigelman, and Colin Tatz - have been active on Aboriginal issues. However, Colin Tatz argues in his chapter in our new book, Jews and Australian Politics, that organized Jewish support for the Aboriginal Rights movement has been minimal compared to say Jewish support for black civil rights in the USA, or the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.

I think it is fair to say that Jews have been more prominent in other local social movements - the peace movement, the environment movement, and the women's movement to name a few. Some of this is documented in Jews and Australian Politics. See particularly the excellent chapter by Eva Cox and Barbara Bloch on Jewish Women and Australian Feminism.

Philip Mendes

Rad Phil and W howard, thanks for the reminder and analysis, cheers