Our Big Kitchen director Rabbi Dovid Slavin greets the then-deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Sydney. Gillard became Australia’s first female prime minister on June 24.
Officials from across Australia’s Jewish community congratulated the country’s first female prime minister as she took office amidst a surprise intraparty power shift in Canberra.
Australian Jewish Community Congratulates First Female Prime Minister
Officials from across Australia’s Jewish community congratulated the country’s first female prime minister as she took office amidst a surprise intraparty power shift in Canberra.
Among those who issued congratulatory messages in the hours following the ascendancy of Julia Gillard – the former deputy prime minister who successfully challenged Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for leadership of the Labor Party and, consequently, Australia’s top elected office – were rabbis at the Yeshiva Centre in Sydney.
“We wish her the traditional Jewish blessing of mazel tov and much success in making Australia a good place for all Australians,” said a statement released by the Yeshiva Centre, which serves as the Chabad-Lubavitch regional headquarters in the state of New South Wales.
The statement noted that Gillard – who, like Rudd, is seen as a staunch supporter of Israel – had toured the Sydney facility as deputy prime minister, specifically spending time at Our Big Kitchen, a social welfare program directed by Rabbi Dovid Slavin.
Slavin, who had hosted Rudd on prior visits to Our Big Kitchen, also congratulated the new deputy prime minister, Wayne Swann.
Dr. Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, hailed Gillard’s positions on the Middle East and education.
Article continued at Chabad.org – “Unlike so many of Israel’s…
