Lecture: Is free will an illusion?
That question will sit at the heart of a major public lecture by internationally renowned Jewish philosopher Associate Professor Samuel Lebens when he visits Australia in July.
Rabbi Dr Lebens, from the University of Haifa, will speak in Sydney and Perth in a University of Notre Dame Australia program exploring Jewish philosophy, ethics and human responsibility.
Is free will an illusion?
Presented by Notre Dame’s Centre for the History of Philosophy, the visit will be led by the second annual John and Anna Belfer Oration in the History of Jewish Philosophy at The Great Synagogue in Sydney on 1 July.
In his lecture, Is Free Will an Illusion? Authoring the Story of Our Lives with Hasdai Crescas and Joseph Albo, Rabbi Dr Lebens will draw on two mediaeval Jewish philosophers to examine human agency, divine influence and moral responsibility.
The evening will conclude with a conversation between Rabbi Dr Lebens and ABC Radio National presenter Andrew West.
Sam Lebens
Rabbi Dr Lebens is the author of six books, including The Principles of Judaism, and almost 60 scholarly papers. A close student of the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, he has lectured widely in Israel, Britain and the United States and is regarded as one of the leading voices in contemporary Jewish philosophy.
Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton, Chief Minister of The Great Synagogue, said the visit was significant.
“Lebens is a superstar in the world of Jewish philosophy and ethics. His visit to Australia is a major event for the Jewish community and beyond, and his lectures will be highly stimulating, providing both intellectual engagement and spiritual inspiration,” Rabbi Dr Elton said.
The Belfer Oration was established in 2025 by Notre Dame and The Great Synagogue, with support from the Belanna Trust. The inaugural lecture attracted more than 350 people, including NSW Governor Margaret Beazley AC KC, NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell, Archbishop Anthony Fisher and leaders from Jewish and other faith communities.
Professor David Bronstein, co-director of the Centre for the History of Philosophy, said last year’s response showed strong interest in serious public discussion of philosophical and religious ideas.
“The remarkable response to last year’s inaugural Belfer Oration demonstrated the appetite for thoughtful, accessible engagement with the great questions of human life,” Professor Bronstein said.
“We are delighted to welcome Rabbi Dr Lebens, one of the world’s leading scholars of Jewish philosophy, to continue this important tradition.”
Rabbi Dr Lebens will also present a four-part series at The Central Synagogue in Bondi Junction titled After Bondi: A Light in Dark Times – Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ Jewish Vision of Hope.
Held on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 28 July, the series will draw on Rabbi Lord Sacks’ A Letter in the Scroll and explore identity, purpose, community and hope in the wake of the Bondi tragedy in 2025.
The series is presented in partnership with The Central Synagogue and the Central Academy and was established as an initiative of Ruth Magid and Robert Magid OAM.
The program will conclude in Perth, where Rabbi Dr Lebens will present his lecture on free will at Perth Hebrew Congregation in Menora on 9 July.
Professor Bronstein said the program reflected Notre Dame’s commitment to engaging different philosophical traditions and encouraging dialogue between faith communities.
“At a time when communities are seeking connection and understanding, these events offer an opportunity to reflect on profound questions with clarity, depth and hope,” he said.
All events are open to the public.
More information and bookings:
Sydney Belfer Oration at The Great Synagogue
Rabbi Sacks lecture series at The Central Synagogue
