Latest news with #Ryvchin
Sky News AU
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Washington murders highlight the need to ‘protect Jewish Australians'
Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin says there is no reason a similar event like the murder of two Israelis in Washington cannot happen in Australia. 'We've been warning about what is to come, the writing was on the wall for a long time, and there is no reason … why something like this can't happen in this country,' Mr Ryvchin told Sky News host Caleb Bond. 'It's going to take a hell of a lot of resolve from our security agencies and the police … and wider society to stamp this out and protect Jewish Australians.'
Sky News AU
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Artist Johannes Leak says Archibald Prize 'captured by the progressive left' after his portrait of Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin rejected
German-born Australian painter Johannes Leak has delivered a stinging criticism of the prestigious Archibald Prize, after his "striking" portrait of Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin was overlooked as a finalist. Mr Leak submitted a portrait of Mr Ryvchin, co-Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, to be judged by the 11-member Board of Trustees at the Art Gallery of NSW, but it was rejected as the 904 entries were whittled down to 57 finalists. It is not the first time one of Mr Leak's submissions to the Archibald Prize has been overlooked. In 2021, a portrait he painted of politician Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was also not selected as a finalist. His late father Bill was also regarded one of the best painters to have never won the prize, after multiple submissions. Mr Leak said he wasn't surprised the portrait, described by Sky News host Chris Kenny as "striking", did not progress to the finalist stage as he felt like it might not "fall in line" with the "particular agenda" of the Archibald. "Oh, look, I wish I could say I was shocked, you know, but the Archibald, I suppose, as an institution... I think it's an open secret, it's been captured by the progressive left," he said. "It's still an important portrait prize. It's still an Australian institution. And I thought, let's give it a go. But yes, I wish I could say I was shocked." Mr Ryvchin suggested himself being a "strong Jewish leader" and Mr Leak being a cartoonist for The Australian would not have aligned with "the kind of culture of these institutions". The prominent Jewish leader also said he felt for Mr Leak, and wished he got the recognition he "deserves", describing him as a "master". "I wish I could say that these things are entirely done on merit, whether it's the Pulitzer Prize, or literary festivals and awards, the Archibald," he said. "But I think we'd be kidding ourselves if we thought that politics and ideology didn't enter into it. I think it clearly does. But again, for me personally, regardless of the outcome, it's a huge honour. Mr Ryvchin has been one of the most recognisable faces on the frontline for the Jewish community in recent years, especially after war began in Gaza between Hamas and Israel in October 2023. As a result of his activism, Mr Ryvchin has been targeted in acts of antisemitism, including an incident where a Dover Heights property he previously owned was doused in red paint on January 17, 2025. While two cars parked outside the home was allegedly graffitied with antisemitic slurs, with at least one vehicle scrawled with "f**k the Jews", and then set on fire. Police confirmed they arrested and charged a 37-year-old man with accessory before the fact to damaging property by means of fire or explosion. Julie Fragar won the 2025 Archibald prize for her portrait of Justene Williams, another artist. Ms Fragar was announced as the winner on Friday, taking out the $100,000 prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales for the piece titled 'Flagship Mother Multiverse'. Among the 57 finalists were paintings of a number of celebrities including Nicole Kidman, Jackie 'O' Henderson, Katie Noonan and Hugo Weaving.
Sky News AU
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Portrait of Alex Ryvchin rejected by Archibald Prize
Sky News host Chris Kenny sat down with The Australian's cartoonist Johannes Leak and Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin to discuss their Archibald entry painting. When the Archibald finalists were announced on May 1, Leak's portrait of Ryvchin was not included. Mr Leak was inspired to paint Ryvchin due to him being an 'impressive advocate for his community' in the wake of the October 7 atrocities.
Fox News
12-02-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Australian health care workers threaten Israeli man, claim to have killed Jews in their care on camera
Two Australian healthcare workers are being investigated after threatening to kill an Israeli man on camera, claiming they had previously killed Jews in their care. The man and woman, who said they were doctors, spoke with the man via Chatrouletka, a website where strangers are matched internationally to have conversations. After the Israeli man revealed his nationality, the female worker said "it's Palentine's country, not your country you piece of s---," according to the video. As the Israeli man asked for peace, the conversation escalated, and the woman said "when the time comes, I want you to remember my face, so you can understand that you will die the most disgusting death." The pair went on to say they wouldn't treat the man, and would kill him if he came to their hospital. The man in scrubs said "you have no idea how many Israelis came to this hospital and…," while sliding his arm across his neck in a throat slashing motion. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns confirmed the two individuals are workers at Bankstown Hospital. Minns and Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the pair were identified quickly and were "stood down" by NSW authorities. "They have rightly been referred to the NSW Police for criminal investigation," Albanese wrote in a statement Tuesday on X. "Individuals found to have committed criminal antisemitic acts will face the full force of our laws." Albanese described the comments as "vile," and condemned the healthcare workers' actions. "The antisemitic video circulating today is disgusting," he wrote. "The footage is sickening and shameful. These antisemitic comments, driven by hate, have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia." A synagogue was fire-bombed in Melbourne on Dec. 6, which authorities are now investigating as a likely terrorist attack. Other reports indicate cars have been set aflame and buildings have been vandalized in Sydney Jewish communities. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) reported more than 2,000 antisemitic incidents in Australia since Palestinian militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Data was collected between Oct. 1, 2023 and Sept. 30, 2024. In a news conference on Tuesday, Alexander Ryvchin, ECAJ co-chief executive officer, said members of the community have felt unsafe at Australian hospitals. "Hospitals are a place where people should never feel unsafe," Ryvchin said. "It's the exact contrary. People should feel entirely comfortable that they'll be treated based on their condition and humanity, not in the way that we saw in that video." He added the incident was the "tip of the iceberg," and he believes there are many Australians with the same ideology. "Antisemitism has sadly taken root in Australia, and we need to expunge it root and branch," Ryvchin said. "There need to be consequences." On Wednesday, Australia enacted a hate crimes bill imposing minimum mandatory penalties for certain hate-related crimes, including six years for terrorist offenses, three years for financing terrorism and one year for displaying hate symbols. "There have been similar instances of such behavior in Sydney and Perth where perpetrators have been convicted and given only a token fine," the ECAJ wrote in a statement posted on its website. "That is also unacceptable because perpetrators come to regard such fines as merely the cost of "doing business" and not as a real deterrent." Though it has faced more intolerance, the Jewish population of Australia is substantially smaller than the Muslim population, which accounts for 3.2%, according to previous reporting. Jews account for just 0.4% of the population. The Australian Federal Police was previously tasked with conducting an operation that would "focus on threats, violence, and hatred" targeting the Jewish community, Fox News Digital reported. In addition, the Prime Minister allocated $25 million, about $15 million in the U.S., beginning in 2022 to increase security for Jewish organizations, according to a Reuters report. He also took a stand against hate speech and banned the Nazi salute. Fox News' Beth Bailey contributed to this story.
