Community

NCJW NSW is proudly affiliated with important organisations within the Jewish community of Sydney and beyond, as well as women’s advocacy organisations globally.

Jewish Community Affiliations

NCJW NSW is a founding member of JCA (Jewish Communal Appeal) of which we sit on the Board of Governors.

We are also involved with the  Wolper Jewish Hospital, which our organisation helped found over 60 years ago, and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.

We regularly partner with other local Jewish organisations such as many Sydney synagogues, Stand Up, COA and JEWSi on like-minded issues and initiatives. 

Through the national body of National Council of Jewish Women Australia (NCJWA) we also support the state of Israel where possible, through initiatives to assist vulnerable women and children.

As a constituent of NCJWA, we belong to the International Council of Jewish Women (ICJW). ICJW supports the work of UN Women and is involved in the programming of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women in New York each year, which our members have the opportunity to attend as delegates. The ICJW has consultative status at the United Nations as an NGO with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and maintains permanent delegations in New York, Geneva, Vienna, and Paris. The ICJW is also represented at the Council of Europe, the European Women’s Lobby, the International Council of Women, the World Jewish Congress, and many other international and regional organisations.

As one of the illustrious organisations that contribute to the bedrock of our Australian Jewish community, we aim to support Jewish issues, but also to support and advocate for wider issues, that, to quote founder Dr. Fanny Reading, “concern common humanity” and to do so as proud Jewish women.

Women’s Advocacy Affiliations

 As a women’s organisation we have affiliations with key feminist organisations that promote women’s advancement, inclusion, diversity, LGBTQIA+ rights and social justice:

The National Council of Women (NCW) NSW which aims to promote the interests and advancement of women and advocates to ensure all people, especially women and children, have an opportunity for full and free development.

Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association (PPSEAWA) NSW which has consultative status at the United Nations with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Through the national body of National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (NCJWA) many more women’s, children’s and First Nations rights are advocated for.

Additional Programs

NCJW NSW is proudly home to the following other initiatives:

Charity Fund

Our founder Dr Fanny Reading MBE had a vision for our organisation that included outreach to the both the Jewish and the wider Sydney community.

It has been our tradition to donate funds to local charities through NCJW NSW’s separate Charity Fund and to donate to a worthy charity of the Boards’ choice, or when there is an emergency such as a bushfire or drought appeal.

The charities we have been able to help are those which benefit from the small bequests, in recent years this has included Dress for Success, Jewish House and Jarrah House.

Representatives of the chosen charities attend our AGM to receive the donation and are able to speak about their work to our members. It is also an opportunity for them to connect with the work of NCJW NSW and form new awareness and alliances.

To donate to the Charity Fund please email admin@ncjwnsw.org.

Connecting

Connecting is a program of NCJW NSW that meets online on alternate Sunday nights. The group sessions are led by Gael Hammer, executive board member, former educator and counsellor. It began during COVID to alleviate social isolation and this program has continued to flourish well after. It’s an intimate place for women to chat about their joys and sorrows, for support, to share puzzling issues, and have uncritical acceptance.

Any woman is welcome to join without obligation. For more information or to join, email Gael.

Library & Book Club

The Rebbetzin Jana Gottshall Memorial Library was opened at our Woollahra Fanny Reading Council House in 2011, as a gift of the late Rebbetzin’s family. This Jewish community library houses an outstanding collection of almost 500 titles on Jewish women’s issues including Jewish feminism, Jewish women’s place in religion, Jewish women’s life cycles, Jewish women in Israel, Agunot, Jewish women in the Holocaust, Jewish women in the Arts and many other topics. 

Over the years we have hosted many Book Club events such as book launches, guest authors and have partnered with Shalom’s Sydney Jewish Writers Festival.