25 August 2016
The “Maccabean”, the newspaper of the Perth’s Jewish community, is refusing to carry advertisements run by the New Israel Fund Australia.
The ads, promoting our 13 September screening of hit Israeli TV show “Magash Hakesef” (The Silver Platter), had been booked to run in two editions of the Maccabean.
The Maccabean sent a short e-mail with the subject line “NIF Advertising” to Executive Director Liam Getreu:
“Your request to place advertisements for the film night on September 13 has been considered by Maccabean management which has reached a decision that the Maccabean is unable to accept these ads.”
Although contact has been made with Maccabean management, so far noone has provided any further explanation.
“There is no excuse for censorship in the Jewish community. Community spaces should be marketplaces of ideas where all perspectives are welcome and given equal opportunity,” Executive Director Liam Getreu said.
Getreu continued: “Magash Hakesef deals with issues like poverty and economic inequality in Israel. Virtually every Israeli charity in the community is working to alleviate suffering, and this popular Israeli TV show shines a light on it in a powerful and unique way. The desire for social justice in Israel is universal – there is no reason for the Maccabean to censor it.”
“If Magash Hakesef attracted 1.5 million viewers when it screened in Israel, we think it’s an important enough documentary to be made available to the community here,” he added.
NIF Australia would welcome a discussion with Maccabean management to resolve the issue and ensure that our screening of Magash Hakesef can be advertised to members of Perth’s Jewish community.
For more information:
Liam Getreu
Executive Director, NIF Australia
[email protected]
0413 374 401
