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Queensland Jewry on show

By Gareth Narunsky November 10, 2015, 12:00 am Edit
JQ150 patron Gerald Moses with Queensland MP for Mansfield Ian Walker at the event.
JQ150 patron Gerald Moses with Queensland MP for Mansfield Ian Walker at the event.

THE Queensland Jewish community’s recent “JFEST QLD” cultural festival “surpassed everyone’s expectations”, according to Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies (QJBD) president Jason Steinberg.

The festival was the first in a series of events planned for JQ150, a  celebration of 150 years of organised Jewish life in the Sunshine State.

Held at Brisbane’s Mount Coot-tha Botanical Gardens, it featured a performance by the ConKlezmer Orchestra led by acclaimed composer/pianist Yitzhak Yedid, as well as Jewish comedy, Israeli dancing and a variety of Jewish food.

Children enjoyed face painting, storytelling and other activities while an array of stalls represented the range of organisations within the Queensland Jewish community.

“There was a constant stream of people … there were well over 500 people who came throughout the day,” Steinberg told The AJN.

“We sold out of a lot of food and the event just had a really fantastic vibe to it. It was a really nice way to celebrate our 150th anniversary.”

He said it was also fantastic to see many members of the wider Queensland community in attendance.

“They were happy to see stalls from Betar and AUJS and JIFF and Maccabi, all of our core organisations … it was a really nice opportunity for people to learn about the community,” he said.

“The big thing that everyone said was how much fun it was and how nice to was to have that opportunity to come to a Jewish celebration.

“We had Ian Walker, the Member for Mansfield, he made the special effort to come along, and the Queensland Police Multicultural Liaison Officer, Jim Bellos, also came along – just on their own steam, to support the community and to be part of it. And that was really welcomed.”

GARETH NARUNSKY

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