We are AJA | Australian Jewish Association

We are AJA

Why AJA?

AJA is a membership-based community organisation guided by authentic Torah values, as well as centre-right, conservative Australian values.

By Torah values, we mean a public policy outlook that is informed by the principles of traditional Halachic beliefs. This does not translate into any sort of requirement on the personal lives of our members. We welcome members at all levels of Judaic observance, who share our devotion to Am Yisrael (the Jewish nation) and Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel).

By centre-right Australian conservatism, we mean advocacy for public policies that advance the cause of individual liberty, economic freedom, limited government, a strong national defence, and the primacy of Australian law.

Support for Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people is an indispensable pillar of our worldview.

Core Policy Principles

1. To be guided by Torah (in its broad sense) in policy development and advocacy;

In the formulation of policy, in interaction with other bodies, in advocacy and representation to decision makers and media, and in all activities of the organisation, the principles of Torah provide guidance.

AJA welcomes all Australian Jewish community members who support the AJA Mission and wish to join the Association regardless of their level of Jewish observance.

2. To work entirely within the laws, regulations and institutions of the Commonwealth of Australia, the States and Territories in which the organisation operates;

Support the principles of a liberal democracy.
Advocacy and representation to governments and in the media to be within established democratic structures and methodology.

3. Support Israel as the only nation-state and the cultural and religious home of the Jewish people. Support the right of Jews to live in security and peace in their traditional ancient biblical homeland.

Jerusalem is the eternal undivided capital of Israel and the entire city including Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount) should be administered by Israeli authorities.
The land of Israel includes the biblical Jewish heartlands of Judea and Samaria.
Support policies and initiatives to further develop and strengthen the relationship between Australia and Israel.

4. AJA will constructively engage with Governments, parliamentarians, government agencies and departments in policy and advocacy for the benefit of the Jewish community and Israel as well as present views directly in the media.

5. Will work with other groups in the broad Australian community and in the Australian Jewish community in formulating and pursuing common objectives.

6. Support as a priority the security of the Australian society in general and the special security needs of the Jewish community as well as the personal security of all individual peaceful and law-abiding citizens.

Cooperate with and support the work of our Defence Services, police forces and official security agencies.
Recognise and assist with the security needs of facilities within the Jewish community.
Oppose vigorously and publicly any ideology, culture or group which threatens the Jewish community or has anti-Semitic dimensions.

7. Not to affiliate with any registered political Party in Australia but may engage with, attend meetings, invite representatives and express views on the platforms of any Party.

8. Support mainstream conservative values in a manner consistent with the above stated principles including;

Freedom of speech as a core foundation principle of democracy and Judaism.
Natural family structure, recognizing every individual has the right of free choice to live how he/she chooses.
Support for the disabled, aged and other disadvantaged in our community.
Freedom of religion, provided that exercising such freedom does not have adverse impacts on others.
Strong, diverse vocationally orientated education systems.
Small government with principles of low taxation, low regulation and efficiency and accountability of expenditure.

Key People

David Adler

President

Dr David Adler is a medical graduate of the University of NSW, where he received the medical faculty prize for general proficiency and leadership.

Robert Gregory

Chief Executive Officer

Robert was born and raised in Sydney. He graduated from Bond University with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and was admitted to the legal profession in Queensland.

David Parasol

Treasurer

David Parasol is the Managing Director of CT Solutions Australia Pty Ltd. A Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience, David specialises in assisting family owned and emerging business enterprises.

Brian Levitan

A South African graduate in Theoretical Physics, Engineering and Business Management, Brian Levitan worked on the NASA Mariner Mars Mission.

Hilary Friedland

Hilary was born in South Africa and immigrated to Melbourne in 2001. She was owner and director of Hilary Falkow-Friedland Public Relations in South Africa. Her multi-national clients included, Holiday Inn, MGM - Metro Goldwyn Meyer, CIC-Warner Bros, El Al - Israel Airlines, IGTO - Israel Government Tourist Office and many more.

Daniel Lewkowitz

With a career in the security and risk-management arena spanning nearly three decades, Daniel Lewkovitz has been involved with security operations on every scale.

Terry Davis

Terry Davis arrived in Sydney from London in 1983 and is a member of the North Shore Synagogue congregation. He has been enthusiastically Zionist since his teens, as a member of the Federation of Zionist Youth in the UK. He is an occasional contributor to the letter pages of the Australian Jewish News and The Australian, with a distinctly right of centre worldview of domestic and Jewish matters.

Mark Friedgut

Mark Friedgut is the Vice Chairman of Kehillat Kadimah and is barrister at the Sydney Bar practising primarily in the equity, commercial, corporate, insurance and defamation fields, and has acted in constitutional disputes in the Federal, Supreme and High Court. Previously a barrister (advocate) in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mark has also practiced as a partner in a South African firm of solicitors, and was a litigator with Freehills in Sydney between 1992 and 2008.

Gideon Rozner

Gideon is the immediate former Director of Policy at the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), Australia's leading conservative think tank.

Ezequiel Trumper

USA Liaison

Ezequiel is an experienced commercial lawyer and company director with over 30 years’ Australasian legal experience. He has worked both in the corporate sector and in private practice. Ezequiel started his Australasian career in private practice and achieved Partnership in large established Australian law firms. Ezequiel also had distinguished career as a lawyer and senior executive in the private sector including 5 years as general counsel & company secretary of Airways New Zealand.

Tamir Aloni

Tamir was born in Israel and moved to Australia at the age of 13. He is a former member of the Brisbane Jewish community and has been residing in Melbourne for the past 20+ years. He was a past leader in Betar youth group and the current president of Betar Parents and Friends Vic. His career to date has been divided equally between the IT industry and currently the Defence industry specialising in business development.

Lev Cherkasski

Lev is a former National Executive Member and Director of AUJS as well as the former Branch President of the Caulfield Young Liberals.

Adam Kreuzer

Adam is a Registered Counsellor, Therapist and Human Resources Consultant with over two decades of experience passionately delivering quality behavioural and leadership development for individuals, teams, and organisations in highly complex scenarios and operating environments. Adam holds a current professional registration with Counsellors Victoria.

Courtney Schneider

Women’s & Children’s Officer

Courtney is a wife and mother of three children based in Melbourne. She has been working in industrial cyber security since 2016 and prior to that worked in management consulting since 2006. She holds a BA from Harvard College, a MA from Middlebury College and a MBA from Georgetown University. She is originally from the United States.

Others

There are many others across Australia who play a role in AJA activities behind the scenes. Some of these people are currently or formerly in senior leadership positions in the Jewish Community.

Religious Guidance

AJA is committed to Jewish tradition and practice and regularly seeks guidance from many of Australia’s most senior Orthodox Rabbis.