Victorian Premier Praises Rabbinate

AUSTRALIA — Members of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria met this week with the Premier of Victoria, The Hon. John Brumby.

The meeting, which took place at Parliament House, provided the RCV with an opportunity to personally thank the Premier for his ongoing assistance and encouragement over recent years. Referring to the government’s support of the RCV, which since 2007 has amounted to over $200,000, RCV President Rabbi Yaakov Glasman expressed appreciation on behalf of the Victorian Rabbinate and enumerated the projects which were implemented as a result of the government grants.

Rabbi Glasman said that “over the past year, the RCV has launched a new, interactive website, formulated a Halachically compliant multifaith policy, engaged with community groups throughout Victoria, provided leadership training to both rabbis and rebbetzins and worked together with young members of the Jewish community. The success of all of these projects and the benefit they provide for the Jewish community is thanks not only to the commitment and efforts of the members of the RCV, but is a testament to the ongoing support received from the Premier and the Victorian Multicultural Commission, for which we are most grateful,” he said.

Responding to Rabbi Glasman, the Premier said that the State of Victoria is “proud to have supported the Rabbinical Council of Victoria to further expand its great programs and initiatives that will benefit the Jewish and broader community here in Victoria. I congratulate the Rabbinical Council of Victoria for its ongoing contribution to our community and for its support for our Government’s commitment to promoting cultural harmony,” he said.

Highlights of the meeting included the recitation of a prayer for the State of Victoria by Rabbi Ralph Genende, a cantorial rendition of the shehechiyanu blessing by Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn, a Torah discourse by Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant and a blowing of a shofar by both Rabbi Dovid Rubinfeld and the Premier himself.

The RCV meets annually with the Premier and looks forward to further strengthening its ties with state and community leaders.

For further information or photographs of the event please call RCV Executive Director Ari Morris on 0411 592 987 or email executive@rcv.org.au.