Recognising change makers
IF you know someone in the Jewish community who is making the world a better place, applications are now open for the B’nai Brith and JNF Jewish Changemaker Awards 2016.
IF you know someone in the Jewish community who is making the world a better place, applications are now open for the B’nai Brith and JNF Jewish Changemaker Awards 2016.
The B’nai B’rith Alfred Dreyfus Unit and JNF Australia are honouring individuals in our community who have made a difference – and, in the process, inspiring others to get involved and make contributions to society.
For the first time this year nominations can be submitted online, and all nominees will enter a draw to win a trip to Israel.
JNF national executive assistant Etty Ayalon told The AJN while JNF promotes growing the future of Israel through the “outstanding projects that we support, we are aware of the need to grow and nurture our future here in Australia”.
“The B’nai Brith and JNF Jewish Changemaker Awards are our way of doing exactly that,” she said. “This is the community’s opportunity to nominate its passionate volunteers showcasing their contribution to the Jewish community, Australian society and Israel through their various activities.” Ayalon said the awards are an opportunity to “celebrate our young activists, encourage them to continue their advocacy and help pave the way for recognition of our future leaders”.
“From year to year the Jewish Changemaker Awards have grown in momentum. This year will be the most prestigious event yet with each nominee going into a draw to win a trip to Israel,” she added.
Ernie Friedlander, the vice-president of the Alfred Dreyfus Unit, remarked, “It is most refreshing to see, in our materialistic world, decent young people coming forward, giving up their valuable time to do such wonderful deeds.”
He added: “At times we seem to forget how much Jewish people have and will contribute to the Australian society.”
The awards are split into two sections: youth (14 to 18) and young adult (18 to 35), with categories of Contribution to the Jewish Community, Contribution to Australian Society and Contribution to the State of Israel.
The B’nai Brith Award for Leadership is an additional category in the young adult section.
Last year, it was won by NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president Jeremy Spinak.
Other winners in 2015 included the Online Hate Prevention Institute’s Andre Oboler, Joshua Koonin, who organised an Israel study trip for young political aspirants, as well as Gina Simon, Boris Sherman, Lucy Steigrad, Sam Mart, Steven Ligoff and Ciaran Frazer.
EVAN ZLATKIS
To nominate, visit www.jnf.org.au/changemaker.
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