Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation (ACJC)

📚✨ Our ACJC reading group enjoyed an enriching session with Visiting Scholar Dr. Michael Cohen from Tulane University. Michael introduced the unique contributions of the Grant Center for the American Jewish Experience, sparking great interest.

We discussed his paper, ‘Economic Life,’ which argues for the centrality of economics in social history, focusing on American Jewish experiences. Debates covered Jewish economic propensities and the historical marginalization of women, highlighting their crucial roles.

The session was intellectually stimulating, packed with rich examples and anecdotes, leading to diverse and engaging conversations among students. Thank you, Michael, for a thought-provoking session! 🙌

What a busy semester it's been! 🎓✨ From launching the mystical Yiddish album "Songs to Infinity" with the Bashevis Singers and Nathan Wolski, to insightful talks with Professor Jeffrey Veidlinger on the Holocaust, and celebrating Rebecca Margolis’ new book on Yiddish supernatural lore, we’ve had a wealth of enriching events. Highlights also included the Melbourne Yiddish Seder Project, important discussions on preventing institutional child sexual abuse, and a powerful Q&A on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Plus, an inspiring three-day workshop on Migration Studies, and a moving concert featuring music and images by Jewish WWII internees and refugees. Here’s to learning, growth, and community!

In our second Reading Group, ACJC HDR students gathered to discuss Professor Rivke Margolis's fascinating work on why we're "programmed" to laugh when we hear Yiddish on screen. Her paper, "'Oy with the poodles already!': Yiddishisms and Non-Jewish Characters on American Sitcoms," delves into Jewish comedy, Yiddish studies, sociolinguistics, and audio-visual translation. It suggests how Yiddish is given to characters for comedic purposes, challenging stereotypes and surprising audiences. The lively discussion explored the use of Yiddish by non-Jewish characters and its broader implications, enriching many HDR students' projects.

Recap by HDR Student Annabel Noar, whose PhD research explores how Jewish families maintain Hebrew in New Zealand.

Over the next couple of days, we are celebrating Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, which marks the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

The captivating tale of Ruth, is customarily read during the joyous festival of Shavuot. Ruth’s journey from Moab to the heart of Judaism embodies themes of loyalty, kindness, and inclusion, resonating through the ages.

Ruth’s story stands as a rare beacon of female representation in ancient texts and echoes through history, inviting us to ponder the depth of the agency and resilience of the female characters throughout the Book of Ruth. As we celebrate Shavuot, let us also celebrate the enduring legacy of Ruth, a testament to the timeless values of love, justice, and faith.

Chag Sameach! ⛰️🌸🌾

This semester we were thrilled to kick off our inaugural Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation reading group sessions, diving deep into the insightful work of our ACJC academics and visiting scholars. In our first session, led by the brilliant A/Prof and ACJC Director David Slucki, we delved into the profound impact of Jewish Holocaust survivor networks in postwar America. Together, we explored the resilience, cultural preservation, and advocacy that these networks embodied, fostering a sense of community and remembrance. Here’s to many more enriching discussions ahead! 📚✨

Dive into the enchanting world where Yiddish meets cinema, as Rokhl Kafrissen and Rebecca Margolis unravel the spellbinding journey of Yiddish language in film. From nostalgic echoes to modern marvels, join us as we explore the vibrant afterlife of cinematic ghosts and the cultural magic they evoke.

Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-art-of-allowing-yiddish-ghosts-to-come-back-the-yiddish-supernatural-tickets-883820429697?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join us as we delve into the complexities of the Malka Leifer case and its implications for Jewish community safety. Prof. Philip Mendes and Marcia Pinskier share insights on preventing institutional child sexual abuse, while Liana Buchanan explores universal child safety standards.

Sign up now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-malka-leifer-case-and-the-jewish-community-tickets-883816608267?aff=oddtdtcreator

What happened, what is happening, and what may happen in the Middle East? All students are invited to have their questions answered by Dr. Daniel Heller.

Monash University’s Dr. Daniel Heller specialises in the history of Israel and Eastern Europe. He is the unit coordinator of The Arab-Israeli Conflict and The Modern Middle East at Monash.

Exploring the rich tapestry of Passover through the lens of film and TV! 🎬 From timeless classics to modern interpretations, join us on a journey through the cinematic legacy of this ancient holiday. 📽️✨

STAFF SPOTLIGHT 🔦📝🎉
At the ACJC we are so privileged to have THE greatest faculty! Get to know our amazing team and learn a little more about the incredible people who make the ACJC the remarkable place it is 🙌

This week we’re excited to introduce the one and only Dr Daniel Heller 👏👏

It's everyone's favourite chag - PURIM!! We hope you have a day of joy, happiness and Hamentashen! Read on to learn more about one of our favourite Purim traditions, the Purim Shpil!!🎭🎉

STAFF SPOTLIGHT 🔦📝🎉
At the ACJC we are so privileged to have THE greatest faculty!! Get to know our amazing team and learn a little more about the incredible people who make the ACJC the remarkable place it is 🙌

This week we’re excited to introduce the one and only Dr. Nathan Wolski 👏👏

We’re so fortunate to welcome Professor Jeffrey Veidlinger to Monash next week!

In partnership with the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, please join us for a panel discussion about the Pogroms of 1918-1921 in Ukraine and the Onset of the Holocaust.

Register here: https://mhm.org.au/event/pogroms-foreshadowing-the-onset-of-the-holocaust/

Join us for our next Jacob Kronhill Program, a conversation between visiting scholar Professor Jeffery Veidlinger and Monash’s own Associate Professor Paula Michaels. This session explores some of the ways in which Jewish history has affected the ways we talk about the Russian war on Ukraine and the ways the war is likely to impact the Jewish future.

Register now: http://tinyurl.com/JeffUkraine

Join our next Q&A with Dr Daniel Heller for an opportunity to ask all things Israel, learn more about what actually happened historically and what is happening currently in the Middle East.

Register and submit your questions here: https://forms.gle/faDtcS5Dur6tvufFA

Shabbat shalom 🤍

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve seen a rise in antisemitism around the world, and especially on university campuses. In an effort to combat this and come together as a community, we’re holding a conversation about Israel on Campus: Staff & Student Perspectives with panelists Dr Daniel Heller, Paris Enten and Jess Smithson.

This event is a chance for university students and young professionals to come together and discuss how to talk about Israel, how to educate about Israel and what to respond in tough conversations.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/CampusIsrael

If you have questions, we want to help you find answers. Come join the ACJC and Dr Daniel Heller for a Q&A, chat and chance to come together! Shabbat shalom 🤍

PS Location available upon registration

We at the ACJC are devastated by the barbaric war crimes by Hamas against innocent civilians in Israel and want to express our deep sorrow for all the lives lost. We are thinking of all our families and friends affected and hoping for a swift end to the violence.

We’d like to share readings from the Jewish tradition that might provide some solace.

We’re so excited to announce the return of our ACJC study tours 🌏✈️

Our first tour back in June 2024, Final Journey, will explore part of Europes’ Jewish heritage before, during and after the Holocaust.

Join our information session on October 16 to find out more 🗓

Wishing you all a Gut Yontef and Shana Tova 🍏🍎🍯🐝

Join us tonight for a night of music and history with a side of Yiddish and good vibes 🎶✨

Entry is FREE 🥳🎉

Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/jewish-music-past-and-present-tickets-680782216937

Please join us for the next instalment of our Yiddish seminar series arts, a panel discussion on the Yiddish writer Ida Maze, including new projects that reinvigorate her work.

The seminar will be in Yiddish. Sun 9 July, 10.30am, Melb time (Sat 8 July, 8.30pm, EST). Register through the QR code below.

Are you interested in learning about N**i readings of the Talmud? Join Dr Simon Holloway at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum on 1 June - details below…

Learning Torah with the Fuhrer: N**i readings of the Talmud - Melbourne Holocaust Museum The Melbourne Holocaust Museum invites you to join Dr Simon Holloway (Manager of Adult Education) for this lecture exploring N**i readings of the Talmud. Between 1933 and 1945, German publishing houses produced a large body of scholarly literature that sought to vilify and discredit the Talmud. Ofte...

This will be a fascinating discussion at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum next week. Booking details below

“All Thinking is Dangerous”: Reflecting on the Legacy of Hannah Arendt - Melbourne Holocaust Museum The Melbourne Holocaust Museum invites you to an expert-led panel discussion reflecting on the legacy of historian and political philosopher Hannah Arendt. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Hannah Arendt’s publication of Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil. Arendt’s cov...

We are devastated at the loss of our former Director, colleague, and friend, Associate Professor Mark Baker.

Mark was Director of the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation at Monash University for ten years (2008-2018) and Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and Holocaust & Genocide Studies. He played a pivotal role in turning the ACJC into Australia’s leading centre for Jewish intellectual life. He also pioneered overseas study tours to Israel, Europe and Africa that had a transformative impact on hundreds of students.

Mark was one of Australia’s leading Jewish public intellectuals, often serving as a commentator for major Australian news outlets on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, antisemitism and the Holocaust.

His vision and charisma left a deep impact on Monash University, and on Melbourne’s Jewish community. He will be greatly missed by the current and past members of the ACJC.

Our thoughts are with his family in this very sad time.

Come and listen to Holocaust survivor John Lamovie at MHM on Sunday

Hear a Witness: John Lamovie - Melbourne Holocaust Museum Join us at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum for the rare opportunity to hear first-hand from a Holocaust survivor. John Lamovie was born into a Polish Jewish family in Paris in 1936. After the German invasion of France in 1940, his father left Paris to avoid arrest and joined the resistance. John’s ...

Please join us on Thursday 27 April at 8pm to hear from the inspiring Prof Marcin Wodzinski, world-renowned scholar of Hasidism

Our new Director, A/Prof David Slucki, chats with Anna Game-Lopata from +61J about his vision for the future of Jewish Studies at Monash and in Australia. We invite you to join us in shaping the public conversation about Jews, Judaism, and Jewish life and culture in Australia.

https://plus61j.net.au/editors-picks/non-jewish-students-flock-to-learn-about-jews-at-monash-university/

Non-Jewish students flock to learn about Jews at Monash University - +61J The Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation (ACJC) is growing and and the vast majority of students are not Jewish. ANNA GAME-LOPATA talks to new director DAVID SLUCKI.

We can’t wait for this Sunday! Join us at the Melbourne Jewish Food Festival! 🥯

We're so excited to be joining some of undzere fraynd this Sunday for the Melbourne Jewish Food Festival! Don't miss out!

Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre and National Library Sholem Aleichem College Jewish Labour Bund Melbourne Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation (ACJC)

Shana Tova! All of us at the ACJC wish you a happy, healthy and sweet New Year 5783. We look forward to seeing you at our events, online and in-person, in the coming year 🍎🍯