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What We Do

The Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) Victoria aims to:

  • educate Christians and Jews to appreciate each other’s distinctive beliefs, practices and commonalities;
  • promote the study of and research into historical, political, economic, social, religious and racial causes of conflicts between people of different creeds and colour;
  • promote education in fundamental ethical teachings, for the benefit of the community, common to Christianity and Judaism, that relate to respect and understanding between people of different creeds.


Our symbol is the gift of the late Louis Kahan to the CCJ Victoria.
The shell is a symbol of eternity and of pilgrimage and contained in it are a number of things which are common to both faiths and traditions. The motifs of the tree of life, burning bush, and flames of spirit stand at the centre of the design. Behind the tree can be seen the cup of blessing, and surrounding the whole is the rainbow, the symbol of universal peace and a reminder to God and us of the covenantal promise.

Our People

Patron

Governor of Victoria

The Hon Margaret Gardner AC


Co-Chair

Alex Kats


Co-Chair

Rev'd Cannon Dr Colleen O'Reilly AM


Hon. Secretary

Mark David Walsh


Hon. Treasurer

Alan Samuel OAM JP


Executive Committee

Dr Philip Bliss OAM

Edwin F. Carter

Dr Marianne Dacy AM NDS

Rev’d Newton Daddow

Faye Haskin-Dubrowin OAM

Rysia Rozen OAM 

Thilo Troschke

Executive Officer

Elizabeth Parker

Honorary Presidents

Rev’d Daniel Bullock
Director of Ministries
Baptist Union of Victoria

The Most Rev’d Peter Comensoli
Archbishop
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese

The Most Rev’d Dr Philip Freier
Archbishop
Anglican Archdiocese of Melbourne

Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn OAM
Rabbinical Counicl of Victoria

Rev David Fotheringham
Moderator
Uniting Church of Australia (Vic & Tas)

Rabbi Fred Morgan AM
Temple Beth Israel

Bishop Lester Priebbenow
President
Lutheran Church of Victoria and Tasmania


Honorary Life Members

Gad Ben-Meir

William Clancy AM

Michael S. Cohen OAM

Albert Isaacs

Rabbi Dr John Levi AC

Sr Mary Lotton NDS

Walter Rapoport

Rev Graham McAnalley


Honouring those that have come before

CHAIR

Alex Kats  2020 – 
Thilo Troschke 2017 – 2019
Dr Philip Bliss OAM  2014 – 2017
Rev’d Gaham McAnalley 2011 – 2013
Walter Rapoport 2008 – 2010
William Clancy AM 2005 – 2007
Michael Cohen OAM 2003 – 2004
Rev’d Anne Amos 1998 – 2003
The Hon William Kaye QC AO 1991 – 1998
Rev'd Prof Robert Anderson AM 1985 – 1990
 

DEPUTY CHAIR

Mark David Walsh  2020 – 2023
Alex Kats 2018 – 2019
Dr Philip Bliss OAM 2017 – 2018
Thilo Troschke 2014 – 2017
Dr Philip Bliss OAM 2011 – 2014 
Rev’d Graham McAnalley 2004 – 2011

      

SECRETARY

Rysia Rozen OAM 2017 –
Albert Isaacs 2010 – 2016
Dr Philip Bliss OAM 2005 – 2007
William Clancy AM 2002 – 2004
Rev’d George Grant OAM 1999 – 2001
Sr Mary Lotton nds 1990 – 1999
Sr Rosalie Hanley nds 1985 – 1989
 

MINUTE SECRETARY  

Albert Isaacs  1998 – 2010

  
TRESAURER  

Alan Samuel OAM JP  2021 – 
Edwin F. Carter 2008 - 2021
Walter Rapoport  2005 – 2007
Livio Antolovich 2002 – 2004
Jack Opie  1996 – 2001
Fr William G Smith SJ  1985 – 1994

               
           
            
 

Our History

The Council of Christians and Jews in Victoria held its inaugural gathering on 28 February 1985 after a process of study and reflection by a small group made up of members of a range of Christian denominations and Jewish faith traditions. Among those also responsible for getting the CCJ Vic off the ground were Sr Shirley Sedawie nds, Rabbi Dr John Levi, Rabbi Ronald Lubofsky and Rev George Grant.

Since its inception it has been a force for tolerance and respect in our community. All the mainstream churches and Jewish religious groupings have been actively and publicly associated with the Council. Over the years the Council has conducted hundreds of public meetings on a variety of subjects, with high calibre speakers. We have produced a number of important documents and publications (see resources), as well as Gesher, our prestigious journal, which has been produced annually since 1990.

CCJ Vic has continued to grow and has been the catalyst for forming similar Councils across most Australian states, as well as a roof body, the Australian Council of Christians and Jews (https://www.accj.org.au/). Leading Christian and Jewish figures have been Honorary Presidents of the Council, and since 1985, every Governor of Victoria has proudly agreed to be Patron of the CCJ Vic.

The Council has initiated a number of innovative programs to promote interfaith encounter, including the Grass Roots Dialogue Project which brought interreligious engagement to rank and file members of churches and synagogues across the denominations.

Many current activities of the Council also include some Muslim representation, so that many of our pursuits now represent all Abrahamic faiths. CCJ Vic also co-operates closely with other organisations with similar aims.

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Address

Council of Christians and Jews Vic Inc.

Room 312, 619 St Kilda Road
Melbourne VIC 3004

Office Hours:

Mon & Wed 9.30 am to 5.00pm 
Fri 11.00 am – 4 pm

Call Us

0423 836 043