The Central Synagogue in Sydney, Australia, hosted a special event to honor business magnate and media proprietor Rupert Murdoch and his family for their long-time defense of the Jewish community and the people of the Holy Land of Israel.

Murdoch, 93, was accompanied by his Jewish wife Elena, his son Lachlan, and daughter-in-law Sarah, and was given nothing less than a hero’s welcome.

Rabbi Levi Wolff, the shul’s spiritual leader, praised the Murdoch family for their moral integrity and their courage to champion what is right.

“They are a family of great influence, but even greater is their moral courage to stand on the right side of history,” Rabbi Wolff said.

Murdoch mingled and spoke to a packed synagogue audience, receiving a standing ovation for his contributions over the years.

The event highlighted Murdoch’s expansive media legacy. As the founder of News Corp, Murdoch has built a global empire that includes leading publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Sun, and The Australian, as well as broadcasting networks like Fox News and Sky News Australia.

With his platforms playing a pivotal role in shaping public discourse on an international scale, his long-standing support for Israel has been widely recognized during the gathering.

Rabbi Wolff said that the pre-Chanukah event celebrated not just Murdoch’s professional achievements but also his commitment to moral values, making the occasion both a reflection of gratitude and a gesture of unity within the Sydney Jewish community.