SBS Hebrew

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית. והשבוע: הבליצקריג בלונדון, רכבת הנוסעים המודרנית הראשונה באוסטרליה "רוח הקידמה", ועוד.

Peter Allen of the Australian Jewish Historical Society explores the deep-rooted history of Jewish participation in the Australian military, dating back to the First Fleet. He discusses the legacy of prominent figures like Sir John Monash and the societal challenges faced by Jewish servicemen, including instances of antisemitism and the intentional concealment of religious identity. Peter Allen also highlights "Operation Jacob," a current initiative dedicated to documenting soldier narratives and ensuring that Jewish war graves are correctly identified with the Star of David.

In this interview, we speak with Sima Shine, a former senior Mossad official and leading voice at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies about the rapidly evolving confrontation between Israel, Iran and the United States. As Washington intensifies economic pressure and military posturing, we explore the strategic calculus behind sanctions, blockades and the threshold for direct strikes on critical infrastructure such as Kharg Island. Shine unpacks whether economic warfare can achieve deterrence, or whether it risks tipping into a broader regional conflict. We also examine the role of Iran’s proxy network, including Hezbollah, the limits of ceasefire frameworks and how intelligence assessments shape decision-making in real time. Ultimately, the conversation asks: are we witnessing a controlled pressure campaign, or the early stages of a much wider war?

SBS Hebrew explores Israel’s constitutional crisis through the lenses of constitutional law expert Suzie Navot and University of NSW law scholar Noam Peleg. They examine the country’s unusual separation of powers, the impact of judicial reforms, concerns about democratic erosion, and the competing forces of protest, resilience and political fragmentation.

Dr. Joseph Toltz, a researcher at the University of Sydney, discusses the recovery and significance of ‘Out of the Depths’, a rare 1945 Yiddish songbook. Compiled in liberated Bucharest, the collection documents the immediate musical testimonies of Holocaust survivors.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית. והשבוע: המרד הערבי הגדול, משפט אייכמן, ועוד.

בערב חמישי האחרון צוין חג המימונה בקהילות יהודיות וישראליות בארץ ובעולם. בצל המלחמה ואי-הוודאות סביב הפסקת האש, בחרו בקהילות באוסטרליה להתכנס יחד, לפתוח את הדלתות ולחגוג את ערכי הרעות והכנסת האורחים, גם הרחק מהבית.

Sara Kowal is a researcher at Monash University specialising in international law and human rights. In this interview, she shares her perspective on Israel’s move to introduce the death penalty for certain terrorism - related offences, where she examines the legal basis for the law, how it may apply in the West Bank and also the broader implications for international humanitarian law. Additionally, Kowal discusses Israel's potential wider political and diplomatic standing globally, if this law comes into effect.

Tomer Peretz is an Israeli - American artist whose work has been deeply shaped by lived experience of conflict and trauma. Following the events of October 7, he volunteered with ZAKA which included unfathomable tasks such as entering homes where scenes of profound devastation had taken place. In the wake of that experience, Peretz turned to art not only as personal processing, but as a form of response and reconstruction which helped him reach what he calls ‘PTG’ - post traumatic growth. He went on to establish the LA - based “8 Project” an initiative that uses art residencies and workshops to support trauma survivors, offering creative expression as a pathway through grief, memory and psychological recovery. His work now sits at the intersection of art, trauma and healing, exploring how image - making can hold what language often cannot.

Nowruz marks the Persian New Year - a time for new beginnings, but for many in Melbourne’s Iranian and Jewish communities, this year’s celebration is shaped by worry for loved ones in Iran and in Israel. In this special SBS Hebrew feature, we bring you voices from this unique gathering - where people came together despite distance, uncertainty and grief, finding connection and shared hope for the year ahead.