UIA Victoria together with The Jewish Agency for Israel has been honoured and privileged to co-host lone solider Isy Burke in Melbourne over the last week. Isy made Aliyah from Canada in 2022 and serves in the Iron Dome Unit in Eilat.
She won the hearts of the Melbourne Jewish community with her positive energy, her story, her spirit and her deep love and dedication to defending our homeland. She had an intensive program including media interviews, addressing students and youth at Mount Scopus Memorial College, Bialik College, Leibler Yavneh College, The King David School and Bnei Akiva.
The residents at Emmy Monash loved her visit and hearing about her story. Isy also addressed Young Leadership guests at a pre-screen of the Supernova documentary.
Isy shared her passion and story with congregants at Caulfield Shule, Blake Street Hebrew Congregation, Mizrachi Shule and Temple Beth Israel. She also met with many communal leaders, organisations and Shlichim during her visit. She MC'ed Yom Ha’zikaron tekes and was able to enjoy the festivities at the Yom Ha'atzmaut Festival.
The Lone Soldiers program, supported by UIA, is an important part of core work to strengthening global Jewry. About 1,300 new immigrant (Olim) soldiers, alone in Israel without their families, complete their army service each year and have to cope with the challenges following their service.
We provide ongoing and meaningful support to these young adults and you can read more here