Alex Ryvchin
Alex Ryvchin | |
|---|---|
| Алекс Рывчин[1] | |
| Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry | |
| Assumed office February 2018 – present | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 18, 1983[2] Kiev, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic |
| Nationality | Australian |
Alexander Ryvchin (Russian: Александр Рывчин; born 18 July 1983) is a Ukrainian-born Australian author, advocate, media commentator, and lawyer. As Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, he advocates on behalf of the Australian Jewish community. He is a frequent guest on US, Israeli and Australia media.
Early life and education
[edit]He was born in Kiev, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (present-day Ukraine) in 1983 and his mother tongue is Russian.[3] His parents were both employed in the country as teachers, with his father teaching maths and physics and his mother teaching English.[4] The family attempted to leave for years and were refuseniks.[2] They were finally granted exit permits in 1987, spending 9 months in Ladispoli in Italy.[4][2] At the age of 4, Ryvchin migrated to Australia as a refugee, arriving on 10 January 1988 with his parents, brother and maternal grandparents.[5][6] When the family arrived in Australia they did not have a family or friend network in the country and were impoverished and did not speak English.[2] They were met at the airport by the Australian Jewish Welfare Society.[2] The family were embraced by Sydney's Jewish community and were offered advice and furniture for their home.[2] The family was also selected by The Sydney Morning Herald for a story on Jewish refugees from the Soviet Union arriving in Australia.[2] The family posed for photographs at Sydney Harbour and when a journalist called them a taxi home, they were unexpectedly reunited with a family friend from the Ukraine.[2] A photograph of Ryvchin's grandfather embracing the taxi driver appeared on the front page of the Morning Herald.[2] In their early days in the country, his father worked as a taxi driver and cleaner at Emanuel Synagogue and his mother was employed at a pie shop.[2] His grandfather, a mechanical engineer, became a volunteer bus driver for the Berger Centre and his doctor grandmother worked as a nanny.[4] They lived in Sydney's Eastern suburbs for its Jewish community, living in areas such as Rose Bay, Bondi and Randwick.[7][2] Ryvchin became an Australian citizen at the age of 7 and had his Bar Mitzvah at age 13.[3][7] He attended primary school at Rose Bay Public School in Rose Bay and Woollahra Public School, before attending Sydney Boys High School.[7][8] He graduated with a degree in law and politics from the University of New South Wales in Sydney.[9]
Career
[edit]He practised law at Mallesons Stephen Jaques in Sydney and Herbert Smith in London before serving as a spokesman for the Zionist Federation UK and being awarded an Israel Research Fellowship.[10][11][12]
In May 2013, Ryvchin was appointed Director of Public Affairs at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. In 2016, he spoke at the Babi Yar memorial in Sydney.[13] In the same year, he wrote about the Babi Yar massacre for Australian Broadcasting Corporation.[14] He was promoted to co-chief executive officer in 2018, becoming one of the youngest professional leaders in the Jewish world.[15][16] As part of his position, he regularly represents Australian Jewry in the national and international media. In 2021, he appeared on SBS to mark 80 years since the murder of 33, 000 Jews at Babi Yar.[17] He appears regularly on Sky News Australia.[18][19][20] He has also appeared on news and current affairs programmes for the ABC.[21]
In 2023, he was honoured by The Jerusalem Post and the Jewish National Fund as one of its top 25 young visionaries.[22]
In November 2023, he cut ties with Australian Jewish Association and said the group "has no representative status and in no way speaks for or reflects the views of Australian Jews".[23]
Writing
[edit]His writing on the Arab–Israeli conflict and Jewish history has been published in numerous international newspapers, including The Australian,[24] The Sydney Morning Herald,[25] The Guardian,[26] the National Post,[27] and The Jerusalem Post.[28] Ryvchin has also written on a number of occasions for The Spectator.[29]
Ryvchin is the author of two books on Israel. His debut book, The Anti-Israel Agenda – Inside the Political War on the Jewish State (Gefen Publishing House, 2017), is a collaborative work with other pro-Israel writers including Alan Dershowitz, Colonel Richard Kemp, Hillel Neuer and Professor Alan Johnson.[30] It was lauded by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as "the most important book on Israel since Alan Dershowitz's The Case for Israel".[31]
In 2019, Ryvchin published his second book, Zionism – The Concise History.[32]
He published the book The 7 Deadly Myths: Antisemitism from the Time of Christ to Kanye West in 2023.[33]
Views
[edit]Ryvchin is an outspoken critic of the anti-Israel movement referring to its activists as "self-righteous westerners" with "pretensions to heroism" who seek "redemption" by "slaying the Zionist beast".[34]
He has been a staunch critic of Palestinian terrorism, corruption and rejection of a negotiated end to the conflict with Israel.[35]
In 2018, he welcomed the decision of Scott Morrison's government to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel's capital.[36]
He is against the Russo-Ukrainian War and supports Ukraine. In 2024, the Russian government added his name to a list of Australian nationals sanctioned for “formulating the anti-Russia agenda”.[37]
He has spoken publicly of his love for Australia and his support for multiculturalism and integration which Ryvchin argues requires that "we accept the duty to uphold the freedoms granted to us and to protect the values underpinning our society – values such as democracy, tolerance, mutual respect."[38] He also participated in the 2024 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras with Dayenu, in solidarity with LGBT Jewry.[39]
In June 2024 he called on Senator Fatima Payman to resign after Payman accused Israel of genocide during the Gaza war and used phrase "From the river to the sea Palestine will be free".[40]
He also said Payman and Australian Greens "must be held accountable" and accused them of bringing antisemitism into the mainstream and have legitimized violent protests [41] and "deceitful rhetoric on genocide" and endangering Jewish community.[42]
In the wake of the 2024 Melbourne synagogue attack, Ryvchin called for a "serious and profound" government response to increasing levels of antisemitism in Australia.[43] He added that a "national crisis" should be declared on antisemitism and that there should be a ban on protests outside places of worship and schools.[43]
Personal life
[edit]He currently resides in Sydney with his wife and daughters. In 2025, Ryvchin was chosen to sit on the 150-person Voice of the People council.[44]
Target of antisemitic attack
[edit]In January 2025, his former home was vandalised and cars torched in an antisemitic attack.[45]
Works
[edit]- 2017: Anti-Israel Agenda: Inside the Political War on the Jewish State ISBN 9652299146
- 2019: Zionism: the concise history ISBN 978-0-394-50736-1
- 2020: A New Day ISBN 9780646817149[46]
- 2023: The Seven Deadly Myths ISBN 9798887191553
References
[edit]- ^ Австралийские антиизраильские активисты опубликовали «список евреев» lechaim.ru. 9 February 2024
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Alex Ryvchin Migration YouTube. 2021
- ^ a b Ryvchin, AlexanderI chose democracy, having lived the alternative. Those attracted to extremism chose, too The Guardian. 4 November 2015
- ^ a b c Saving others to save ourselves Executive Council of Australian Jewry. 5 November 2024
- ^ Alex Ryvchin Waverley Council. Retrieved on 1 December 2024
- ^ Dengate, Cayla (9 September 2015). "Syrian Refugees Spur Australian Migrants to Appeal for Compassion". HuffPost.
- ^ a b c ALEX RVYCHIN, Oral History Transcript Waverley Council. 21 May 2015
- ^ Rolfe, John (16 August 2024). "Sydney Power 100: Where the city's most powerful people went to school". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Global recognition for Alex Ryvchin The Australian Jewish News. 21 September 2023
- ^ "Alex Ryvchin". Alex Ryvchin.
- ^ Author - Alex Ryvchin Gefen Publishing. Retrieved on 1 December 2024
- ^ 25 ViZionaries: Alex Ryvchin - No. 6 The Jerusalem Post. 15 September 2023
- ^ Alex Ryvchin speech at Babi Yar Commemoration Ceremony in Sydney, 2016. YouTube. 23 ay 2017
- ^ Babi Yar: We Must Never Look Away, We Must Never Forget ABC. 23 November 2016
- ^ "Alex Ryvchin".
- ^ "Executive - ECAJ". ECAJ - Executive Council of Australian Jewry. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Did you know, over 33,000 Jews were murdered 80 yrs ago, within two days at Babi Yar, Ukraine? Alex Ryvchin (English) SBS. 7 October 2021
- ^ ‘Openly anti-Semitic’: Alex Ryvchin on social media discourse after October 7 Sky News Australia
- ^ ‘Things can slide very quickly’: Government’s ambiguous stance on Israel slammed Sky News Australia. 24 November 2024
- ^ Anti-Israel movement ‘more brazen’ amid Sydney vandalism Sky News Australia. 22 November 2024
- ^ Alex Ryvchin on ABC's The World program discussing Polish Holocaust law YouTube. 2018
- ^ [https://www.jpost.com/influencers/visionaries 25 Young Visionaries] The Jerusalem Post. 15 September 2023
- ^ Knott, Matthew (27 May 2024). "Sharma hosted far-right Israel group disavowed by other Jewish associations". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Ryvchin, Alexander (17 December 2014). "Greens ignore Israel's rights". The Australian. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ Ryvchin, Alexander (24 January 2014). "Attacks on Bishop unwarranted". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ Ryvchin, Alexander (28 November 2013). "Australia is right to challenge the UN's anti-Israel bias". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ Alexander, Ryvchin (24 October 2012). "Ignoring the real bloodshed in Syria by focusing on Syria". National Post. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ Ryvchin, Alexander (17 October 2011). "The right decision, 1027 times over". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ Author - Alex Ryvchin The Spectator (Australia). Retrieved on 1 December 2024
- ^ "Ryvchin – The Anti-Israel Agenda". anti-israelagenda.com.
- ^ "About". anti-israelagenda.com.
- ^ Ryvchin, Alex (2019). Zionism – The Concise History. Connor Court. ISBN 9781925826586.
- ^ Ryvchin, Alex (2023). The 7 Deadly Myths: Antisemitism from the Time of Christ to Kanye West. Academic Studies Press. ISBN 9798887193328.
- ^ "Reference at www.spectator.co.uk". Archived from the original on 29 December 2015.
- ^ "Terror comes again to Israel". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney.[full citation needed](subscription required)
- ^ Alex Ryvchin, Co-CEO of ECAJ: "Historical Aust Gov about Recognizing W Jerusalem as Israel's Capital" SBS. 23 December 2018
- ^ Opinion: Sanctioned by Russia – A story of sorrow and pride Executive Council of Australian Jewry. 5 July 2024
- ^ "Australian Citizenship Ceremony Speech". Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ). 2 November 2015.
- ^ Why I marched at the Mardi Gras The Australian Jewish News. 28 March 2024
- ^ Sky News Australia (17 May 2024). Alex Ryvchin calls on Senator Payman to 'resign' over use of pro-Palestine chant. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Canales, Sarah Basford; Hurst, Daniel (25 June 2024). "Labor senator Fatima Payman says each step 'felt like a mile' after crossing floor to back Palestine motion". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Massola, James (18 June 2024). "Labor senator Payman breaks ranks again on Palestine". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ a b Jewish leaders call for greater anti-Semitism response after synagogue attack ABC. 9 December 2024
- ^ "Aussies represent on Voice". Australian Jewish News. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ "Former home of prominent Jewish figure vandalised and cars torched in Sydney, in an anti zionist attack". 17 January 2025.
- ^ A New Day, A Children's Book to Foster Good Mental Health sydneychic.com.au. Retrieved on 1 December 2024
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The 7 Deadly Myths: Antisemitism from the time of Christ to Kanye West
by Alex Ryvchin
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (44)
A 2023Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Finalist in the Religion Category
"With clarity and penetrating insight, Alex Ryvchin unravels the mystery of antisemitism... Mandatory reading for anyone concerned with the ethical fate of the human race."
Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel
The 7 Deadly Myths traces antisemitism from its earliest origins to the present day and uncovers the dangerous conspiracy theories that have corrupted reasoning and led people and nations to diabolical acts. Exploring some of the most significant events in history and uncovering little-known villains, this book answers the questions of how antisemitism takes hold, how it is transmitted and how it inspires violence to the present day. Written in a clear and compelling style, this book is essential to understanding why this ancient hatred continues to plague society, inspiring pop stars, athletes and demagogues alike. It is a crucial resource for policy makers, students and the reading public seeking to understand racism and how it can be stopped.
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The 7 Deadly Myths: Antisemitism from the time of Christ to Kanye West (Second edition, revised and supplemented)
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Review
"With clarity and penetrating insight, Alex Ryvchin unravels the mystery of antisemitism, distilling the roots of this most tenacious and pernicious conspiracy theory into seven fundamental myths. By shifting emphasis from the 'why' of this puzzling and dangerous phenomenon to the 'how' of the mechanics of its transmission, Ryvchin points to the possibility of actually confronting and diffusing it. This highly intelligent and well-written work should be on the mandatory reading list of anyone seeking to understand the age-old phenomenon of antisemitism, but moreso, of anyone concerned with the ethical fate of the human race."
- His Excellency Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel
"[A] congenitally optimistic (or maybe just stubborn) Soviet-born Australian Jew has taken up the challenge of confronting this ever-present, baseless hatred. Endowed with both talent and passion, Alex Ryvchin... is well suited for the task. ... With an easy, entertaining style devoid of ponderous didactics, his footnotes unintrusive, he fits a plethora of information into improbably few pages. Indeed, Ryvchin does a remarkable job of getting straight to the core, and he is truly masterful in unmasking the nonsensical prejudices without excessive rhetoric. ... Intended as a resource for students, educators, and policymakers, this page-turner contains fascinating accounts of conspiracy theories, stunning in their absurdity. If calling the monstrous lies 'myths' seems overly generous, it does set the right tone for Ryvchin's appeal to reason. ... Only by exposing myths and lies is there any hope of healing, and the future of the Jewish people may become more tranquil. History has yet to prove whether this can occur, but miracles have been known to happen and may do so again."
-- Juliana Geran Pilon, Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs
"Extremely readable, enjoyable... and exquisitely written."
-- Thomas Klikauer, The European Legacy
"A smart, concise, and very up-to-date guide to the world's oldest hatred."
-- David Baddiel, author of Jews Don't Count
"Ryvchin is an invaluable resource in his knowledge of our challenges and what needs to be done to address them, as well as in his stalwart commitment to the future of Jewish community life. His book is clear, persuasive, and a pleasure to read. Ryvchin takes a complex and ancient hatred and shows us where it comes from, how it changes, and how it remains the same. Essential reading for educators, policy makers and anyone seeking to grapple with the dangerous rise in conspiracy theories and Jew hatred."
-- Ronald S. Lauder, President, World Jewish Congress
"Alex Ryvchin has made a significant contribution to the field of antisemitism studies. In a very readable narrative, he uses seven of the most powerful stereotypes about Jews to encompass the history of Jew hatred and in doing so lends perspective to what's happening now. At this moment in history when antisemitism has found new life around the world, this is a timely and important work."
-- Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director
"Carefully researched and graphically expressed, Alex Ryvchin's The 7 Deadly Myths systematically demolishes those antisemitic tropes, deeply embedded in Western culture, that are once again surfacing with potentially deadly implications. A trenchant warning of the sort that was all too easily ignored in Germany in 1933."
-- Victor Lieberman, Raoul Wallenberg Distinguished University Professor of History, University of Michigan
"Hostility to Jews and Judaism dates back over centuries.
"Antisemitism is the oldest, longest, most enduring, toxic and lethal of hatreds. Alex Ryvchin wrote a timely and significant work which unmasks and exposes the deadly myths that have bred, nurtured and advanced with metastasizing hatred. An essential read for the understanding of traditional and contemporary antisemitism, and the moral imperative to combat it as a threat to our common humanity."- Irwin Cotler, Founder & International Chair, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights
About the Author
Alex Ryvchin is co-Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the author of internationally acclaimed books on history and politics, Zionism The Concise History and The Anti-Israel Agenda, and a best-selling children's author. He writes for leading publications and speaks, debates, and teaches around the world, and is a regular commentator on TV and radio.
Product details
ASIN : B0BR6JH34J
Publisher : Academic Studies Press
Publication date : 14 September 2023
Language : English
Print length : 300 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8887191560
Item weight : 181 g
Dimensions : 15.24 x 0.69 x 22.86 cm
Best Sellers Rank: 102,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)7 in Religious Intolerance & Persecution
18 in Jewish Social Studies
62 in History of Religion
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4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (44)
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Alex Ryvchin
Alex Ryvchin is a writer, public speaker and advocate. He is the author of two acclaimed books of history and politics and a children's book and lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife and three daughters.
Roger Mendelson
4.0 out of 5 stars A complex history in readable formatReviewed in Australia on 29 January 2024
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Alex says little new but his summary spans over 2,000 years and is very readable.
His market is the inquisitive mind which seeks answers to antisemitism.
He presumes minimal prior knowledge and yet this is still a scholarly work.
Having read widely on this issue, I found myself agreeing with most of his points.
In the post October 7 world, this is a must read for those baffled by how many can apparently support organizations like Hamas.
ROGER MENDELSON.MELBOURNE
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