SBS Hebrew

Throughout August, adaptations of existing stories and new works created for the festival come to life on stage, showcasing Jewish culture in different forms.

Dr Ariella Heffernan-Marks reveals the process leading to the creation of Ovum, an AI-powered health assistant designed to help women understand their symptoms, organise their health information and become more confident advocates for themselves.

SBS Hebrew speaks to Rabbi Allison Conyer for another episode in our series "Hopes & Fears in the Jewish Sphere". Rabbi Conyer serves as a progressive leader within the Melbourne community, and has devoted her life to studying, spreading Judaism and engaging in social activities.

SBS Hebrew speaks to Rabbi Allison Conyer for another episode in our series "Hopes & Fears in the Jewish Sphere".


Rabbi Allison Conyer serves as the progressive leader within the Melbourne community, and has devoted her life to studying, spreading Judaism and engaging in social activities.


She was ordained in New York in 1998, and since then, she has worked in Australia and the United States for more than twenty-five years.



Currently, she is Senior Rabbi of Melbourne’s Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne, Australia.



Her professional practice and academic qualifications are particularly relevant to the series and questions in the domain of how Jewish identity forms, transforms and operates to belong within a rapidly evolving society such as Australia.



Our podcast series - Hopes & Fears in the Jewish Sphere



To better understand the pressures, changes and experiences of ‘the tribe’ at this moment in time, we introduced a new podcast corner called "Hopes & Fears in the Jewish Sphere".



Through conversations with specialists in psychology, philosophy, and religion, as well as community elders and leaders, this new corner will examine the interplay of Jewish spirit, identity and belonging.



We look to ask our guests questions such as:

• How do you perceive the current Jewish experience - locally and globally?
• How can we hold to an ancient sense of identity in a radically evolving world?
• Where can we find - and how do we exercise - hope?

Seven rounds of US mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon have raised hopes of a lasting peace, but a new study involving Monash University and Sciences Po questions whether negotiations alone can deliver stability. Dr Vanessa Newby explores the deep political, religious and social divisions within both countries and why a durable 'cold peace' may require more than agreements between governments. What would Israel and Lebanon gain from a stable relationship and can economic cooperation help turn an uneasy ceasefire into lasting peace?

SBS Hebrew spoke with comedian Tami Sussman, who together with Kate Lewis will present a live recording of their comedy podcast You Were Great in Shule!, exploring the funny, awkward and very familiar world of Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations.

After the terrorist attack in Bondi, Kahn ran to the beach searching for his wife and young daughter, who had attended the Hanukkah event. He told SBS Hebrew that in the days that followed, he began writing Hineinu as a way of processing what had happened through music.

Seven rounds of US mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon have raised hopes of a lasting peace, but a new study involving Monash University and Sciences Po questions whether negotiations alone can deliver stability. Dr Vanessa Newby explores the deep political, religious and social divisions within both countries and why a durable 'cold peace' may require more than agreements between governments. What would Israel and Lebanon gain from a stable relationship and can economic cooperation help turn an uneasy ceasefire into lasting peace?

Erica Frydenberg is an Australian psychologist and writer whose research interests include the topics of resilience, well-being and coping with adversities in life. She was born in Budapest and brought up in the Hungarian Jewish community in Sydney, and has been instrumental in outlining coping strategies through multiple books and research articles.

Erica Frydenberg is an Australian psychologist and writer whose research interests include the topics of resilience, well-being and coping with adversities in life. She was born in Budapest and brought up in the Hungarian Jewish community in Sydney, and has been instrumental in outlining coping strategies through multiple books and research articles.

Her latest book, which will launch next week, is titled “Do Not Forget Me Street: Remembering the Budapesti Schindlers”, and features the direct family history of Erica, who has discovered the story of her uncle Nandor Eichel, a lesser-known rescuer of Jews during the time of the Holocaust.


SBS Hebrew chatted with Erica to hear her story and explore a lifelong passion for purpose, resilience and courage.

Matrescence describes the deepest identity transformation a woman undergoes when she becomes a mother. What happens when matrescence collides with modern life - the impossible juggle of work and motherhood, the relationships that crack under the pressure, the fathers also navigating their own invisible transition?

The pianist and author spoke with SBS Hebrew about transforming his book "Fugitive" into a live performance combining music and spoken text, and how the shift from page to stage creates a different experience for audiences.