Netanyahu’s new government, its agenda and challenges
February 3, 2023 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Tel Aviv-based think tank fellow, columnist and editor Shmuel Rosner presented the latest Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) webinar, speaking on “Netanyahu’s New Government, its Agenda and Challenges”. Read more
Looney Tunes
February 3, 2023 by Michael Kuttner
I remember as a youngster (last century) that one of the “shorts” always shown in the cinema before the main feature film was a series of cartoons called Looney Tunes. Read more
Shabbat BeShalach: Women at Sea
February 3, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
Rashi, commenting on this week’s amazing events at the Red Sea, quotes the Midrash ( Mechilta 15:22) that at the Red Sea, God was seen by the humblest maidservant in a more powerful way than even the greatest of the prophets. Read more
Knock at the Cabin: a movie review by Alex First
February 2, 2023 by J-Wire
Wen (Kristen Cui) is nearly eight years of age – a bright young girl collecting grasshoppers in a large jar so she can study them. Read more
US Mideast diplomacy isn’t advancing peace or democracy
February 2, 2023 by Jonathan S. Tobin - JNS.org
During U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Jerusalem this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did his best to act as if the U.S.-Israel relationship had never been better. Read more
South Africans expose the ‘Israeli apartheid’ fallacy
More and more these days, people are calling Israel an apartheid state…writes Paul Schneider. Read more
A Toast to Travel: a book review by Alan Gold
February 2, 2023 by Alan Gold
There’s a type of writing which used to be in newspapers called ‘travel porn’, which older readers may remember. Read more
The Russia-Iran axis may prompt the West to see Israel with new eyes
February 1, 2023 by Fiamma Nirenstein - JNS.org
Media claims that last weekend’s terror attacks in Jerusalem were an act of revenge for the deaths of nine members of Islamic Jihad during an IDF raid in Jenin are false. The attacks were a product of hateful ideology and antisemitic incitement. Read more
$10,000 available for filmmakers through JIFF
February 1, 2023 by Features Desk
The Jewish International Film Festival has a grant pool of $10,000 is available for the production of two short films incorporating a Jewish theme, character or story arc. Read more
Does Judaism have any list of banned books?
February 1, 2023 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
Ask the rabbi. Read more
My Old School: a movie review by Alex First
February 1, 2023 by Alex First
The true tale of 16-year-old Scott Brandon Lee (not the actor son of Bruce Lee) is remarkable. Read more
True Spirit: a movie review by Alex First
January 31, 2023 by Alex First
The story made world news. Read more
From Australia’s Jewish Past: Myer Blashki – internationally acclaimed artist
January 31, 2023 by Features Desk
Myer was born on 10 January 1871 in Carlton, Victoria and was the eleventh child of Philip, a jeweller, and his wife Hannah. Read more
On the other hand
January 30, 2023 by Michael Kuttner
It is already the end of January, and with another month and a half to go of official winter, Israel is experiencing the driest start to the rainy season in sixty years. Read more
A Different Generation
January 30, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
At a recent family gathering, I was surprised to hear how a negative image of my maternal grandfather had been passed down to some of his great, grandchildren. Read more
Feintooner
January 30, 2023 by Feintooner
This week’s cartoon: Senseless cycles of false equivalences Read more
Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine to control Jerusalem holy sites
January 30, 2023 by David Singer
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s surprise visit to see King Abdullah in Amman last week was made to assure Abdullah that custodianship of the Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem would be vested in the newly-created entity to be called the Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine – should the merger of Jordan, Gaza and part of Judea and Samaria be implemented (Saudi Solution). Read more
Netanyahu at bay, but what about the facts?
January 27, 2023 by Melanie Phillips - JNS.org
So, how’s Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faring in his supposed program to smash democracy at the behest of the religious extremists in his government? Read more
Henry Greener and Charlie Owen talk about Renee Geyer
January 27, 2023 by Henry Greener-The Shtick
Charlie Owen’s dedication to Renee Geyer. Read more
Glaring inconsistencies
January 27, 2023 by Michael Kuttner
Another week witnesses yet more mind-boggling contortions by so-called friends and declared foes alike. Read more
Can I reconvert to Judaism?
January 27, 2023 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
South African documentary on Holocaust survivor
January 27, 2023 by J-Wire Newsdesk
The Ritz Cinemas, Sydney and Classic Cinemas, Melbourne, will present a Q&A screening of the deeply moving documentary I AM HERE. Read more
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising shows young people can lead the fight against racism in Aotearoa New Zealand
January 26, 2023 by Danya Levy
Eighty years after Jewish youths fought for their lives on the streets of the Warsaw Ghetto, the family of an Auckland Holocaust survivor is calling on New Zealanders to reject hatred and treat everyone with dignity, no matter their background. Read more
In fractious times, remembering the Holocaust is as vital as ever
January 26, 2023 by Juliet Moses
In these fractured and fractious times, the one thing that people of different political stripes and ideologies seem able to agree on is that we are living in fractured and fractious times. Read more
Shabbat Bo: Mezuzah
January 26, 2023 by Jeremy Rosen
This week we read about the preparation of the Israelites to leave Egypt. They were told to prepare a lamb for each household to eat together on the night that the Egyptian firstborn would be killed, and they would be let free from slavery. Read more
What’s Love Got to Do with It? A movie review by Alex First
January 26, 2023 by Alex First
Jemima Khan, the former wife of Pakistani cricket captain and politician Imran Khan, has written a cross-cultural romantic comedy. Read more
Tar: a movie review by Alex First
January 25, 2023 by Alex First
Surely an Oscar awaits Cate Blanchett for her extraordinary multilingual, piano playing performance in Tar. Read more
The heat generated by many Israeli politicians needs to be turned down
January 25, 2023 by Ron Weiser
To opponents of Israel and her existence, it does not matter who is in government, or what Israel does, or how she behaves. It’s all the same to them. Read more
From Australia’s Jewish Past: The First Jewish Governor-General of Australia – Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs GCB GCMG
January 24, 2023 by Features Desk
Isaac was born on 6 August 1855 in Melbourne, the son of Alfred and Rebecca. Read more
Sunday: A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
January 23, 2023 by Alex First
Sunday Reed is a firecracker. Read more






