My connection with New Zealand begins with the fact that, due to various circumstances and accidents of history, there are around 200 clay tablets written in the cuneiform script from ancient Babylonia, Assyria, Sumer, Akkad, ancient Iraq and the ancient Near East held in New Zealand collections.

In the late 1970s, a group of New Zealand Jewish women dressed in black, stood silently in Vulcan Lane, Auckland, protesting on behalf of Soviet Jews. They wore gold medallions with the name of a Soviet prisoner inscribed within a Star of David, and held placards that read ‘Free Soviet Jewry’, ‘USSR Release Anatoly Sharansky’.

One of the many shocking factors of the past year is the reality inversion imbibed by so many when considering the conflict. Within days of the greatest massacre of Jews in a single day since the Holocaust, Israelis were being blamed for their own deaths. Even the sexual violence perpetrated against women and men was justified as “resistance”. 

Genende: If Australian Jews are reeling from the antisemitism unleashed by the war, our Kiwi cousins are feeling acutely isolated, under siege by anti-Israeli sentiments in the media and on the streets.

Our community played its part, and in WWI about thirty percent of all our men who were eligible to serve, volunteered, and sixty-five Auckland Hebrew Congregation (AHC) members went to the battlefields. Seven of them never came home.

A special Jewish Lives event, held 14 April 2024, saw the launch of a Jewish Heritage Walk app, a report on progress in the Jewish archives, and Jewish Lives’ plans for the coming period.

In February, the first-ever Indigenous Embassy opened in Jerusalem, and became the 100th embassy in Israel in the process. It represents a host of indigenous leaders and groups from countries from around the world.

NZ joined Hadassah International’s campaign on International Women’s Day, 8 March, to end the silence on the war crime of sexual violence against women, focusing the world’s attention on the gruesome reality that Hamas planned and systematically carried out acts of sexual violence against women and girls in Israel.

Speeches from the Israel Support Rally held in Aotea Square, Auckland, NZ, on 29 October 2023.

In towns and cities across the nation from Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Hastings, New Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill, Kiwis have come together to stand in solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community.

Aucklanders gathered in a solemn vigil on 10 October, three days after the horrific massacre of Israelis and other nationals that saw 1,200 brutally murdered and another 239 people kidnapped. In a moving candlelit event, songs and speeches expressed the sorrow of the grieving community.

Regular vigils, marches and rallies have been held in Christchurch and will continue until all the hostages have been safely returned.

Inspired by the Moriah School Button project, Jason Hagger explains how his students at Raetihi Primary School embarked on Holocaust project which culminated in a unique piece of art - “Death to Life”.

Habonim Dror Aotearoa New Zealand is the only socialist zionist youth movement in this country. This year it celebrates its 75th year.

Founded by Scots in 1848, this city on New Zealand’s South Island boasts the southernmost synagogue in the world, and thus for a Jewish traveller, the two cultures are inextricably intertwined.

A moving farewell event took place on 19 February 2023, to mark the end of an era. After fifty-five years on Greys Ave the Auckland Hebrew Congregation has moved on to a new site in Remuera in order to better cater to the needs of its growing community.

Fifty-six years ago the foundation stone was laid for the new synagogue on Greys Ave, home of the Auckland Hebrew Congregation. A year later the synagogue was consecrated. These photos from the archives give a visual narrative of those seminal events.

As Greys Ave goes up for sale, Sarah Bookman and Seth Schanzer reflect on what it means to lose a building from three perspectives: of having grown up in the space; of community members; and for the architectural community.

In Te Reo Māori the word hononga refers to the concepts of union, connection, relationship and bond. It’s easy to see why this word was chosen to name the vibrant community centre in Kawakawa, which was officially opened by the Prime Minister in October 2020.

“It's a big call, but these sweet and tasty Jewish treats are surely the best thing you can make with potatoes”, writes Sapeer Mayron.

The latest study on the views of New Zealanders regarding anti-Semitism was released last week, and highlights some areas of concern.

Here are some Jewish organisations, resources, centres and congregations that work with the New Zealand Jewish peoples to build community, preserve historical materials and chronicle aspects of Jewish life in New Zealand.

The recent Russian shelling of Kyiv hit the site of the 1941 Babi Yar massacre. Joanna Moss tells us of her trip to Kyiv in 2015 and her visit to the Babi Yar monument.

On the 60th Anniversary of the founding of B’nai B’rith Auckland Lodge 2345, we look back on six decades of activity and on the people involved both as office holders and as active participating members.

During the past 50 years Kadimah School has developed into a fine institution with enthusiastic support from parents and many in the community and having an envious reputation for outstanding academic achievement.

David Cohen explains the history of the Wellington’s Progressive Jewish Congregation, Temple Sinai, established in 1959.

The Jewish Lives website, launched in April 2021 provides a platform for people to learn about the contribution made by Jews to New Zealand. The theme of the Jewish Lives website is 'past-present-future'.

The Trustees of The Jewish Museum of New Zealand Charitable Trust have taken on the task of preserving and cataloguing the community’s historical archives.

Rachel Lerner tells us about the proposed move from Greys Ave to the new Remuera complex.