Labor’s Berger fellows
FOUR young Labor Party staffers will take part in the inaugural NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD) Berger Fellowship this year.
FOUR young Labor Party staffers will take part in the inaugural NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD) Berger Fellowship this year.
The program has been developed to enable participants to act as a vehicle for the Jewish community and Labor Party, attend major community events and provide advice on events of mutual interest.
It culminates in a week-long study tour of Israel.
The 2015 iteration will focus on the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has the backing of ALP NSW general secretary Jamie Clements.
JBOD president Jeremy Spinak said the innovative program will help forge connections with Australia’s future leaders.
“We applaud the participants for getting involved and extend the community’s appreciation to the Berger family for their exceptional generosity and vision,” he said.
Participant Darren Rodrigo, a senior adviser to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, said the fellowship was an opportunity “to really zero in on matters pertaining to the Jewish community”.
“I’m really keen on getting a better understanding of the Jewish community here in Australia,” he said. “I’m interested in actually visiting Israel and seeing what’s happening on the ground … I’m interested in getting properly informed.”
Edward McDougall, a senior adviser to Rockdale MP Steve Kamper and the national president of Australian Young Labor, said he is keen to learn more about Israel and Jewish culture, as well as getting the opportunity to engage with Sydney’s Jewish community.
“There are unique issues facing the Jewish community,” said McDougall, whose grandfather was a Czech Jew. “We’ve seen a substantial amount of anti-Semitism and racism in recent years and I think it’s important to address that.”
NSW Labor State Organiser Dave Latham said it was an opportunity to be a conduit between the party and the Jewish community. “It will provide voices within the party that have a complete knowledge and understanding of everything that’s going on,” he said.
“What we would like to see is many people from the Jewish community joining the Labor Party … It’s definitely a weakness for the party, we don’t have a great deal of Jewish members any more.”
The fourth participant is Trent Murray, co-convener of Australian Rainbow Labor.
The fellowship is supported by Joshua and Lesli Berger.
GARETH NARUNSKY
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