Seven SJWF sessions we’re excited about

The Sydney Jewish Writers Festival (SJWF) is back for 2024, this year boasting an impressive program of international speakers, up-and-coming writers and award-winning works.

Speaking to The Jewish Independent, SJWF director Anna Stern said it was an “honour” to curate this year’s festival, which interweaves the theme Genesis and its associations with creation, family and new beginnings.

“I’m thrilled to showcase some excellent international writers and thinkers, and to support and promote the works of local Australian writers,” Stern said.

“There are some special events at this year’s festival that I’m particularly looking forward to: announcing the winners of the inaugural Shalom Australian Jewish Book Awards on the final night of SJWF, a number of creative workshops, and two art exhibitions with works by guest authors.”

Here are seven sessions we’re looking forward to attending at this year’s Sydney Jewish Writers Festival.

1: The Jewish Books That Made Me

In this session, authors, academics and literary thinkers will unpack the writers who inspire them and the books they love returning to – leaving audiences with a curated Jewish reading list by some of the best in the business.

Moderated by passionate bibliophile Scott Whitmont, the panel includes Rabbi Dr Ariel Burger (Witness), Julia Levitina (The Girl From Moscow), Dr Lee Kofman (The Writer Laid Bare), Dr Nathan Wolski (The Hidden Farmacopeia), Marina Kamenev (Kin) and Miriam Hechtman (The Alphabet of Women). Plus, this session is free.

Session details: Sunday 25 August, 4pm to 4.45pm

2: The Unseen Work of Women: A Conversation with Marina Benjamin

Marina Benjamin’s impressive collection of works spans personal essays, memoir and creative non-fiction. She has told her family’s Iraqi-Jewish story of exile in ‘Last Days in Babylon’ and explored the experience of her mid-life years in her trilogy, ‘The Middlepause’, ‘Insomnia’ and ‘A Little Give’.

In this session, the international speaker joins literary critic and writer Tali Lavi from London, to discuss her observations of the invisibilities women must negotiate throughout their lives, and her search to unearth a more realistic and kinder form of feminism.

Session details: Sunday 25 August, 2.30pm to 3.15pm

3: Sparking Young Imaginations: Storytime with Jewish Authors and Illustrators

This fun – and free – session introduces youngsters, and the young-at-heart, to some of the finest Jewish children’s authors and illustrators in town.

Rotating every 20 minutes, audiences will hear from educator and counsellor Cathy Milwidsky (Why is Baby Joe Crying, Papa?); graphic designer and illustrator Beck Feiner (ABC Disability); author and speaker Susanne Gervay OAM (Who’s The Gang on Our Street); all-round creative and podcaster Tami Sussman (Tiny Tradies); young adult writer Suzy Zail (Arabella's Alphabet Adventure); and actress and teacher Amanda Lieber (My Giant Sea Shell).

Session details: Sunday 25 August, 10am to 12.30pm

4: The Changing Face of Jewish Patriarchy

What it means to be a Jewish father has changed dramatically over time, from the foundational biblical families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to today’s multi-faceted male role models.

In this thought-provoking session, rabbi Dr Ariel Burger, writer Jonathan Seidler and journalistic stalwart Michael Gawenda will reflect on Jewish patriarchy through the ages, discussing contemporary family roles and dynamics, the evolution of fatherhood, and the challenges many Jewish dads face today in navigating their identities. 

Session details: Sunday 25 August, 5.30pm to 6.15pm

5: The Long Goodbye: A Conversation with Keri Kitay

When Keri Kitay’s mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at just 54-years-old, her family changed forever.

In this session, Kitay sits down with novelist, poet and interviewer Magdalena Ball to discuss her debut memoir, The Long Goodbye, which chronicles her family’s experience with this disease, from the warning signs everyone missed, to reconciling the terrible prognosis and ultimately witnessing her mother fade away.

Session details: Sunday 25 August, 10am to 10.45am

6: Rituals in Stop-Motion: Short Film Screenings by Dr Anna Jacobson

This year marks SJWF’s first foray into exhibitions, with award-winning artist, writer and researcher Dr Anna Jacobson’s short films comprising one of the two collections on show.

Exclusively premiering at SJWF 2024, Rituals in Stop-Motion impressively tells the stories of Jacobson’s poems, ‘Separation Ceremony’ and ‘Festive Meal’, against the backdrop of intricate stop-motion artwork. The first film combines images of aromats used in the Havdalah ritual alongside Jacobson’s great-grandfather’s spice box, while the second documents her family’s 2020 Pesach seder through over 170 line drawings.

Session details: Sunday 25 August, all day

7: Australian Jewish Book Awards

SJWF's closing night promises to be one of its most exciting, with the announcement of the winners of Shalom's inaugural Australian Jewish Book Awards.

The awards aim to recognise excellence in contemporary Australian writing on Jewish subjects, and in doing so, support the local arts community, inspire future Jewish literature and strengthen Jewish life. Both The Jewish Independent Young Jewish Writers Award and the Leslie and Sophie Caplan Award for Jewish Non-Fiction will be presented on the night, which will conclude with drinks and canapes.

Session details: Sunday 25 August, 7pm to 9pm

The 2024 Sydney Jewish Writers Festival runs from 21 to 25 August at Bondi Pavilion. Find out more information and book tickets online.