The Polgar Sisters have been chess legends for many years. Arguably corroborating the quintessentially Jewish argument that nurture is more important than nature! In recent months they’ve utilised both their brains and their hearts in order to support the plight of the Israeli hostages in Gaza.
News highlights from the past week (25th of March to 29th of March)
Peta Jones Pellach with the latest news from Israel as fot the week ending on the 31st of March
Shane Desiatnik from the Australian Jewish News reporting to SBS Hebrew Shalom Australia, on the latest news and current affairs in Australia.
Chana Shuvaly is a volunteer at 'Courage to Care', a non for profit organization that aims to promote acceptance of diversity across society by creating awareness of the dangers of prejudice, racism and discrimination, educating to challenge attitudes and behaviours, demonstrating that every individual can make a difference.
A major bridge in the United States city of Baltimore has collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship that lost power and rammed it. The incident sent a number of vehicles in the harbour below, leaving six people missing and presumed dead. US President Joe Biden has pledged that the federal government will pay the full cost of rebuilding the bridge.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing growing criticism from within his own country, following the deteriorating relations between Israel and the U-S. It comes as U-S officials explained their decision to abstain from a resolution vote made by the United Nations Security Council calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Why do we celebrate Purim ? What is the story in the book of Esther ?
An interview with Chana Shulvaly from Melbourne about some of her voluntary work, including a project that "aims to show the human side of the war with personal stories reflecting the spirit and soul of people, including those who were kidnapped and released"
Deborah Conway speaks to SBS Shalom Australia about her new upcoming shows. Songs From The Book of Life is a work of musical theatre written by Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier, based around her memoir 'Book of Life', a shimmering piece of autobiography told in eight scenes, around eight songs with Conway and Zygier exploring the nature of performing, a musical life, the notions of what people know and don’t know about a career lived over four decades in public.
News highlights from the past week (18th of March to 22nd of March)
There has been an increase in lesser known blood types in Australia, according to a new study published in Pathology. The findings reflect the genetic diversity of migrants coming to Australia.
"With a spiralling humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israel has been under increasing pressure from the international community and aid agencies to allow more goods into the territory. Israel has blamed the UN for not delivering supplies fast enough". Peta Jones Pellach reports to SBS Hebrew Shalom Australia.
The war between Israel and Gaza continues. When will it all end and how ? Prof. Rafi Mann, with the latest news and updates from Israel., reporting to SBS Hebrew.
Rahav and Moran Stela Yanai travelled from Israel to share their harrowing survival stories at the UIA Women’s Division events, held in Sydney and Melbourne this week. Shane Desiatnik from the Australian Jewish News, reporting to SBS Shalom Australia.
David was born in Israel but also has a family in Australia. David Horesh and his wife and young child happened to be not far from the infamous 'Zikim beach', near Ashkelon on the 7th of October. On the very same day David was called for reserved duty and fought for several months in the fiercest battles in Gaza.
Dr Dror Eydar is the former Israel Ambassador to Italy and to San Marino. He is a writer, researcher, musician, journalist and a Ph.D. in literature.
News highlights from the past week (11th of March to 15th of March)
Peta Jones Pellach with the latest news and current affairs from Israel
A Gaza ceasefire deal remains elusive, even as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins. Israel has not ruled out a military offensive in Rafah during Ramadan, and world leaders are renewing calls for an end to the fighting.
Shane Desiatnik from The Australian Jewish news says "As pressure builds within Labor, there is speculation a backflip is imminent on the government’s suspension of $6 million in UNRWA funding". It comes as Foreign Minister Penny Wong, addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, told a business lunch in Sydney on Tuesday that “unless Israel changes its course it will continue to lose support”.
Investigations are continuing to what caused a Boeing 787 to suddenly loose altitude during a flight between Sydney and Auckland. The incident, involving a LATAM Airlines jet, left more than a dozen people with injuries severe enough to be sent to hospital after they were violently flung around the cabin.
An interview with Professor Yuval Elbashan. Yuval is the former Dean of the Faculty of Law at Ono Academic College. He is an established author, lawyer, academic, social activist and much more. Why is there a split in the Israeli society ? Yuval suggests that "both sides, the Netanyahu government and the extreme protesters, share the blame for that catastrophic split, though evidently P.M Netanyahu, by virtue of his position, is largely to blame".
Giada Condello is a young professional, originally from Italy, and has been living in Israel for the last few years. Giada was stunned not just by the Hamas onslaught on October 7 but also "by the media bias and by the apparent lack of empathy towards the Israeli victims". Giada points out that "Israel ought to explain itself in a far more systematic and organised manner".
(English Interview) Dror Doron is a senior political analyst specialising in the Middle East, who has worked for the last 17 years for the Israeli government as a research and analysis expert. He currently lives in Sydney, Australia.
(English interview) The NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STRATTS) and The Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) agencies have launched 'Witness to War' a free and confidential multilingual telephone hot-line for people in Australia affected by overseas conflicts. The project is staffed by mental health practitioners and bicultural support workers, and staff can speak Hebrew, English and other languages with an i...
Gary Abrahams talks about 'Yentl'. Gender identity, religious and sexual politics, and traditional Yiddish culture collide in this bold and contemporary adaptation by Gary Abrahams, Elise Hearst and Kadimah Yiddish Theatre Artistic Co-Directors Galit Klas and Evelyn Krape. This new stage adaptation of Nobel Prize laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer’s iconic short story ‘Yentl’, is the first new adaptation since the pop culture phenomenon that was Barbra Streisand’s 1983 musical film.
News highlights from the past week (4th of March to 8th of March)
The link between diet and health outcomes is well documented. New findings, published by the British Medical Journal confirm that a diet high in ultra-processed food is linked to a number of health conditions.
"The negotiations to release the remaining 134 hostages are deadlocked with the Hamas delegation having left Egypt where talks are being held in order to consult with their leadership" says Peta Jones pellach, she adds that "Israel has offered a ceasefire for at least the entire month of Ramadan which begins on Monday, increase in humanitarian aid and the release of hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails"
