On the other hand
June 29, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
Some semblance of normality has returned to daily life after two weeks of interrupted sleep involving running to and from the bomb shelter. Read more
Shabbat Korach
June 26, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
Unpredictability Read more
Israel-Iran conflict: snippets
June 16, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
New Israeli Naval Air Defence System Used for First Time, Downs Eight UAVs Read more
Explosions in Tel Aviv, new strikes by Iran, Israel
June 15, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
Israel’s citizens have been told to be ready to take shelter, with a barrage of missiles from Iran on the way, in response to Israeli strikes. Read more
Updates 10:35
June 15, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
The conflict continues: Read more
Magen David Adom speaker’s visa cancelled
June 8, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
American-Israeli Hillel Fuld was preparing for this week’s visit to Australia, where he was to speak at Magen David Adom events in Sydney and Melbourne, but the Australian government cancelled his visa. Read more
Sydney’s new cemetery consecrated
May 26, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
The largest Sydney cemetery to be established in 100 years will provide 28,000 double-depth graves for the Jewish community. Read more
Honouring those who rescued fellow Jews in the Holocaust
May 23, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
A symbolic cornerstone was laid on Wednesday for the Jewish Rescuers Grove, a first-of-its-kind memorial honouring Jews who risked everything to save fellow Jews during the Holocaust. Read more
Sydney University Student council calls for the abolition of Israel
May 16, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
At a general meeting of Sydney University’s Student Representative Council, anti-Israel students turned their backs when a Jewish student condemned Hamas. Read more
Sussan Ley reassures the Jewish community
May 13, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
Sussan Ley has been elected as the first woman to lead the Liberal Party in the Australian parliament. Read more
Leaders congratulate Labor on election victory
May 4, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
OBK and SmartAID support for California
January 10, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
Yossi Segelman worked with Rabbi David Slavin in Bondi’s Our Big Kitchen for 12 years before moving to Los Angeles, where he established a sister OBK and now working around the clock offering support wherever needed by those affected by the wildfires. Read more
Two Australians recipients of Israel’s Presidential Medal of Honour
January 9, 2025 by Henry Benjamin
President Isaac Herzog has presented the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour to seven leaders from around the globe in recognition of their longstanding contributions to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
Read more
Friday night with the Murdochs
December 24, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
A packed Central Synagogue in Sydney where Rabbi Levi Wolff publicly thanked media giant Rupert Murdoch for his support for Israel and the Jewish community. Read more
JNF Blue Box needs emptying?…call Paul
December 18, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
“I’ll travel anywhere to collect for JNF”, says Sydneysider Paul Lowinger. Read more
Vice Chancellor watches as a new mezuzah is affixed to Miriam’s door
December 13, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Vice Chancellor Mark Scott watched as Miriam Itzkowitz’s grandfather affixed a new mezuzah after someone ripped off and stole hers in the students’ quarters at Sydney University. Read more
Anthony Albanese announces $8.5m for the Sydney Jewish Museum
December 11, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
The Albanes Government will gift $8.5 million to the cost of rebuilding the Sydney Jewish Museum. Read more
Crisis point – ECAJ calls for action
December 9, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling for action rather than words. Read more
Antisemitic incidents top 2000
December 2, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
It took only two days for the ugly repercussions of the October 7 Hamas invasion of Israel to make themselves known not only in Sydney but throughout Australia and worldwide. Read more
Fraser 1938-2024
November 4, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
At the end of September, I drove Fraser McEwing to the Opera House to review the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performing a program including Mahler’s Fourth Symphony. Read more
Fraser Beath McEwing 1938-2024
October 27, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
J-Wire has lost one of its closest friends with the passing of music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing who passed away overnight at the age of 86. Read more
A conversation with conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya
July 10, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Lidiya Yankovskaya left her home city of St Petersburg in 1995 to seek a new home with her family in Albany, New York, escaping the rampant antisemitism sweeping the Russian city. Read more
Surviving Nova creates new objectives for Millet
June 23, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Millet Ben Haim hid in bushes after escaping a barrage of terrorists who were chasing her while she was trying to escape from the October 7 attack on the Nova Peace Festival. Read more
Sydney University deal removes encampment and riles the community
June 23, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Community response to a proposal accepted by Sydney University pro-Palestine students to remove encampments ahead of the upcoming semester has blasted the university’s administrators. Read more
JCA fills the Opera House
April 9, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Six months ago, pro-Palestinian supporters caused NSW authorities to block Sydney’s Jewish community from attending the area where the Opera House’s sails were a giant blue and white banner following the Oct 7 incursion into Israel by blood-thirsty Hamas terrorists. Read more
Broadway bound via Opera Australia
March 15, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Doron Chester has plans to head to Broadway, but before that, the ex-Moriah student will perform in Opera Australia’s production of West Side Story on Sydney Harbour. Read more
Oscar a bitter sweet pill for Zionist chief
March 12, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Yaakov Hagoel has posted on X his reaction to British filmmaker Jonathan Glazer’s prepared acceptance speech following being awarded the Oscar for the Best International Film Zone of Interest. Read more
An icon dies – Rabbi Raymond Apple passes away in Jerusalem
January 21, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Sydney’s The Great Synagogue community has been saddened to hear of the passing of Rabbi Raymond Apple AO, who was the spiritual head of the congregation for over three decades. Read more
Don’t drink Coca-Cola says ABC’s TikTok channel
December 21, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
National broadcaster ABC has removed a post on its TikTok account promoting the boycott of Israeli goods. Read more
“Gas the Jews” – stat decs with the police
December 18, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
The Daily Telegraph has sighted four statuary declarations from witnesses who heard pro-Palestinian supporters chant “gas the Jews” outside the Sydney Opera House. Read more