Notre Dame University and The Great Synagogue unite for Jewish philosophy study
The University of Notre Dame Australia has joined with The Great Synagogue Sydney in a new partnership aimed at deepening understanding of Jewish philosophy and its history in Australia.
The University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Synagogue on 21 July, agreeing to work together to promote academic and public understanding of the history of Jewish philosophy in Australia. The Belanna Trust is also part of the agreement and has funded a key project in this partnership called the John and Anna Belfer Oration in the History of Jewish Philosophy.
University of Notre Dame and The Great Synagogue sign MOU
The Belfer Oration will bring a distinguished scholar of the history of Jewish philosophy to Sydney each year to deliver the Oration and participate in academic activities at Notre Dame’s Centre for the History of Philosophy.
The inaugural Oration was held last month at The Great Synagogue, bringing hundreds of guests from multiple faith communities to the historic place of worship to hear a lecture on the medieval Jewish philosopher Saadia Gaon, delivered by Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton.
Notre Dame’s partnership with The Great Synagogue supports the Centre for the History of Philosophy’s new academic initiative, focusing on the study of the history of Jewish philosophy, and strengthens its specialisation in the History of Philosophy within the Abrahamic Traditions.
Co-Director of the Centre for the History of Philosophy, Associate Professor Nathan Lyons, said this partnership between a Christian and a Jewish institution was the start of a “really enriching intellectual journey”.
“Philosophy is core business in the three Abrahamic traditions, and we want our Centre to create a new space for these traditions to learn from each other – we all think better when we think together,” he said.
Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton has welcomed the launch of the new Jewish philosophy initiative, describing it as a valuable opportunity to spotlight the depth and richness of the Jewish intellectual tradition. “I am delighted that The Great Synagogue is one of the partners that has established the Belfer Oration in the History of Jewish Philosophy and particularly honoured to be asked to give the first oration,” he said.
“This is an opportunity to highlight the riches of the Jewish philosophical tradition, for the Jewish community, and to share it with the wider community,” he said, thanking the Belanna Trust and the University of Notre Dame Australia for their support. “I’m looking forward to this oration becoming a central part of the Jewish and the wider Australian intellectual calendar.”
The partnership between Notre Dame and The Great Synagogue will include adult education offerings in Jewish philosophy.
Notre Dame will launch a new history of Jewish philosophy course in Semester 1 2026, which will be open to external students and will be taught by Senior Research Fellow in the History of Jewish Philosophy, Dr Raphael Dascalu.
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