Zionist Federation of Australia
National roof body of Zionist organisations in Australia, founded in 1927; Australian representative of the WZO and the Jewish Agency
| Zionist Federation of Australia
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|---|---|
| Logo | 
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| Type | Zionist federation |
| Founded | 19–20 September 1927, Melbourne (as the Australian Zionist Federation) |
| Location | Australia |
| Key people | Jeremy Leibler (president); Alon Cassuto (chief executive) |
| Website | zfa.com.au |
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) is the national roof body for Zionist organisations in Australia. It says it represents more than 200 organisations, institutions and community groups, with six State Zionist Councils at the heart of its structure. It describes itself as "the official Australian representative of both the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel", with a permanent office in Jerusalem.[1]
The ZFA is Zionist by definition and by function. It calls itself "the representative body of the Australian Jewish community and its Zionist organisations" and "affirm[s] the Jerusalem Program as the ideological foundation of the modern Zionist movement", including "the right of every Jew to make Aliyah".[2] It lobbied the Australian government to support a Jewish homeland in the 1940s, organises emigration to 'Israel', runs Zionist education in Jewish schools, and its leaders have sat on the executive of the World Zionist Organization.[3]
History
On 19–20 September 1927 a national Zionist conference at the Windsor Hotel in Melbourne, chaired by Rabbi Brodie, voted unanimously to establish the Australian Zionist Federation. Brodie was elected president and General Sir John Monash honorary president. New Zealand joined the federation in 1939.[3]
Lobbying for a Jewish homeland
According to its own history, between 1942 and 1947 the federation played "a central role in securing Australian government support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland", particularly from H. V. Evatt. Evatt, then Attorney-General, became chair of the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine in 1947, "the body that ultimately recommended partition".[3]
Youth, war mobilisation and emigration
In 1948 the Federal Zionist Youth Council, now the Australian Zionist Youth Council (AZYC), was set up as the ZFA's youth arm.[3] During the 1967 war the ZFA ran nationwide fundraising and advocacy campaigns and registered more than 1,500 volunteers. 250 young Australians were selected to go to 'Israel' to fill civilian jobs left by those called up for military service. In 1973 it again coordinated fundraising, volunteer recruitment and "public advocacy on Israel's behalf".[3]
The ZFA welcomed its first aliyah shaliach (emissary for emigration to 'Israel') in Melbourne in 1969. By 1973 there were emissaries in both Melbourne and Sydney. In the late 1960s and early 1970s about 400 Australians a year emigrated to 'Israel'.[3]
Zionist education
The first Israeli education emissary was appointed to Australia in 1973. In 1985 the ZFA introduced Zionist education seminars into Jewish day schools in Melbourne, bringing young Israeli educators to Australia. The programme became annual and expanded nationwide.[3]
Links with the WZO
In 1978 Robert Zablud became the first Australian elected to the presidium of the World Zionist Congress. In 1988 Mark Leibler became the first Zionist leader from outside 'Israel' and the United States to be elected to the executive of the World Zionist Organization. In November 2024 Leibler and Frank Lowy received the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour from President Isaac Herzog, for their "unwavering support following the events of October 7".[3]
Leadership
Jeremy Leibler was elected president at the ZFA's biennial conference in November 2018, succeeding Danny Lamm.[4] He is a partner at the law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler and a Governor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The chief executive is Alon Cassuto.[5]
| Office | Holder | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Founding president (1927) | Rabbi Brodie | [3] |
| Honorary president (1927) | Sir John Monash | [3] |
| President (to 2018) | Danny Lamm | [4] |
| President (from 2018) | Jeremy Leibler | [5] |
| Chief executive | Alon Cassuto | [5] |
See also
- Zionist Movement Australia
- JNF Australia
- Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom and Ireland
- World Zionist Organization
- Jewish Agency for Israel
External links
Notes
- ↑ Zionist Federation of Australia, Who we represent, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ Zionist Federation of Australia, Our purpose, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Zionist Federation of Australia, Our history, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Emily Gian, Jeremy Leibler replaces Danny Lamm as ZFA president, J-Wire, 13 November 2018, accessed 23 October 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Zionist Federation of Australia, Our team, accessed 23 October 2026.