Australia Jewish group raises record donations for Israel

United Israel Appeal raises USD 42.5 million for Jewish State in 2006; ‘it shows that when Israel is under attack, Jews respond,’ outgoing federal president Stanley Roth says

Dan Goldberg, AJN|Published: 11.30.06 , 18:44

The United Israel Appeal (UIA) of Australia raised a record USD 42.5 million for the Jewish State in 2006, reclaiming its position as the largest donor country per capita in the Diaspora.

Outgoing federal president Stanley Roth said the figures, tabled last Sunday at the federal AGM in Melbourne, were a significant rise on the previous record of USD 38 million in 2002, at the height of the second intifada.

"It far exceeds anything we have ever done," he told the AJN this week. "It shows that when Israel is under attack, Jews respond.

"Jews realize when Israel is in strife, we are all in strife. We are in the same boat."

Roth, who was succeeded by Victoria's Jack Smorgon at the helm of the organization, said USD 39 million had already been donated to Israel this year.

He said he was "very proud" that the organization had managed to keep costs stable, enabling 93 cents in each dollar donated to reach Israel.

This year's record haul included the annual appeal, the emergency appeal launched during Israel's war against Hezbollah as well as wills and bequests, Roth explained.

Victoria raised the largest amount - a record USD 21.5 million - with NSW raising USD 19.75 million - also a record. The rest came from the smaller states.

Hailing the UIA as the largest fundraising organization in the country, Roth said Australia is not just the highest UIA contributor per capita in the Diaspora, but, in absolute terms, among the top two or three. (American Jews do not contribute directly to UIA, and are therefore not counted in the ladder.)

Greg Masel, world director-general of Keren Hayesod-UIA, confirmed Australia had returned to the top of the UIA tree after a two- or three-year break.

The former executive director of the UIA of NSW told the AJN from Jerusalem that Australia is the "jewel in the crown" of UIA.

"Whenever there's a sense of danger, concern or crisis, Australian Jewry has stepped up to the mark above and beyond and achieved amazing results."

Masel said he believed KH-UIA would raise in the vicinity of USD 200 million in 2006 - a world record in the last 30 or so years.

Roth, who was made honorary life president last weekend, said when he began his tenure in 2001, the UIA raised USD 18.7 million - less than half of the figure raised this year.

He said the intifada, the withdrawal from Gaza, the war against Hezbollah and the threat from Iran impacted on Australian Jews.

"Jews in the Diaspora, and in particular in Australia, almost live our lives vicariously through Israel."

Conceding he was not the "pin-up boy for other Jewish organizations", Roth said he "fought zealously ... to maintain the UIA's pre-eminent status" in Australia. "If people get upset, so be it," he said, adding that he was driven solely by raising as much money for Israel as possible. "I'm not going to back off from that."

'You are priceless'

UIA NSW chair Penny Hurst hailed the "truly outstanding results" of the NSW appeal at its AGM on Monday night.

Shadow foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd was scheduled to be the keynote speaker - but withdrew on Monday afternoon because the Cole report into the AWB kickbacks scandal was tabled in Federal Parliament.

Apologising to the 300-strong audience, Roth read a letter from Rudd, who said since Herb Evatt's support for the United Nations Partition Plan in 1947, "Labor has never hesitated in supporting Israel".

Roth said the UIA had foreshadowed a late cancellation and prepared "an insurance" policy in the form of IDF Brigadier-General (retired) Shuki Shichrur.

Roth was feted at the AGM, with Hurst saying his passion for Israel was "infectious and an inspiration". She said it was under his leadership that the Australian campaign had "flourished".

Mark Leibler - who was Roth's predecessor as federal president and is now world chair of the board of trustees of Keren Hayesod-UIA - also praised the UIA of NSW on Monday night for the "extraordinary success that it has become".

He said the "magnificent results" were a reflection of Roth's "truly outstanding leadership" of UIA.

"I commend with pride the admirable and immediate mobilization of Keren Hayesod communities around the world. But I particularly applaud the contribution of UIA Australia - once again, you have demonstrated that you are priceless beyond compare to Keren Hayesod and Israel."

UIA NSW president Harold Finger was re-elected president and Roth was re-elected vice-president.

Finger was presented the Louis Klein Award for "outstanding leadership on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people".

Martha Novak was presented the Max Freilich Award for longstanding service to Israel and the Jewish people through NSW UIA, and Marc Bauer was selected for the Donny Lambert Award for inspiring and ensuring the continuity of Israel and the Jewish people through the Young Leadership Division. A certificate of appreciation was awarded to Darryl Jackson on completion of his term as Young Leadership chairman.