In my new gig as program director of Sydney Jewish Writers Festival I get to curate author events - what a good gig! The last event for 2022 is an in-conversation with author Anita Jacoby and Michael Visontay at Gertrude and Alice Bookstore. Anita's intriguing memoir, published earlier this year is "Secrets Beyond the Screen".… Continue reading Secrets Beyond the Screen
‘Be the Mountain’ Sydney concert with Tibetan musician Tenzin Choegyal and special guest Nadav Kahn I am so looking forward to hosting this night! Huge thanks to Marina and the team at Emanuel Synagogue for jumping on board to co-host. Tenzin is a remarkable performer and human - it is an honour and thrill to be… Continue reading Be the Mountain – Tenzin Choegyal in Sydney
Really enjoyed interviewing Ari Folman about his latest animation feature Where is Anne Frank screening at Sydney Film Festival. https://plus61j.net.au/editors-picks/bringing-anne-frank-to-life-in-animation/
With thanks again to Mark Ulyseas, Publisher/Editor of Live Encounters Poetry & Writing magazine for publishing three of my poems. This is the third time I have been published in this journal and it is always in the company of brilliant poets which is both thrilling and humbling for me. See below for my three… Continue reading Three Poems in Live Encounters
Tada! Is that enough to sum up over three years in the making? Yeah I reckon so. Bookface of me with my first book-editing credit for an anthology comprising 26 excellent women. My poem “Dear Letter P” (see below) was the jump starter for this rather epic project that has already been performed live and… Continue reading The Alphabet of Women
https://plus61j.net.au/australia/maggie-and-i-are-like-jewish-fugitives-walking-in-the-same-direction/ From their bohemian roots in New York, poet Magdalena Ball and her composer uncle Ricky Gordon have become artistic mentors to each other Magdalena Ball, 57, is a novelist and poet who moved to Australia from the US more than 30 years ago, and now lives in West Lake Macquarie, NSW. She has recently written… Continue reading Both Sides Now – Magdalena + Ricky
This was written for Emanuel Synagogue's Simchat Torah celebration. I was given the word 'sacrifice' to contemplate and then present to the congregation. When I say sacrifice My mind races to a hilltop Beyond the bushes Beyond the fire Beyond the mother’s gaze Stones, knife, altar A son, a father, a god, a test And… Continue reading Sacrifice
Justine Sless and Noè Harsel co-host Sless to Harsel, an Instagram TV show where they share their enthusiasm for books and writing (Plus61J August 31, 2021) JUSTINE I was born in 1967 in Silksworth, a mining village in the north of England. When I was two years old, my parents separated. My mother re-partnered very… Continue reading Justine + Noè
https://plus61j.net.au/editors-picks/melissa-is-kind-and-wise-and-judaism-is-part-of-the-ambience-of-our-friendship/?fbclid=IwAR1rloKLVw64zpaDhfsS20Xh2gOFj0835lvQdNw6uoqbDa6v4S9aMTrbDvQ https://fb.watch/6QJTMPgT0A/ Greenpeace Australia chief David Ritter and human rights academic Melissa Castan have ‘an affinity’: they can stop a conversation and two weeks later take up where they left off David Ritter, 50, is the CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific. Melissa Castan, 55, is an Associate Professor of Law and a Deputy Director of… Continue reading David + Melissa
Hungarian-born John Havas tells MIRIAM HECHTMAN how his daughter Bianca helped him get back in touch with the Jewish roots he had buried John Havas, 78, worked in finance for many years and now volunteers his time to coach others. Bianca Havas, 46, John’s daughter, is a leadership facilitator and consultant. They both live in… Continue reading John + Bianca
Moving Trains Productions 