Stand Up's achievements, over 27 years, are your achievements too. When we say that we channel the collective energy and expertise of the Australian Jewish community to realise a just Australia for everyone, we mean it. We are proud of our programs that look 'outwards', beyond the Jewish community, that provide avenues to act on ancient and contemporary Jewish calls to pursue social justice, avenues that expand the horizons of Jewish people and make the world a better place. With your continued support, we can fulfil and continue the promise we’ve made to the Jewish community and the partner communities we work with: to relentlessly pursue and achieve justice.
At Stand Up, we're about more than just numbers. Our achievements are also measured through powerful stories and experiences, like this one from Nehama, a participant on our Derech Eretz program in January 2020:
Nechama on Derech Eretz in early 2020
I feel so incredibly lucky to have grown up in Australia - a land of great beauty, abundance, and opportunity. Australia is more than just my home, it is a sanctuary that was gracious to my family when humanity was not. While I'm so grateful to this country, I grew up quite unaware and detached from a history of intolerance that existed in my own backyard. I had never met or engaged with First Nations people and was unknowing of their culture, resilience, or triumphs.
Participating in Stand Up's Derech Eretz program was in a sense life-changing. I played, I talked, I listened, I saw, I learnt. I learnt about a rich culture of intriguing practices and stories, of connection and imagination, and of kind people. The Elders spoke to us about the tough times and the happy times, and the kids showered us in hugs and exhausted us with their endless energy.
This was a heartwarming and educational experience that deeply reminded me to care about and celebrate one another. We are sharing in this human experience - we are a collective - and we are entwined in each other's fates. While Australia's past cannot be altered, I hope that Australia - now and in the future, reflects the multi-cultural sentiments of respect and inclusion that make being an Australian so unique and beautiful.
