Report 2018–19
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The University of Sydney sydney.edu.au Contact us Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies sydney.edu.au/arts/ hebrew-biblical-jewish Report 2018-19 +61 2 9351 5226 Supported by the Fund For Jewish Higher Education School of Languages and Cultures Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) is a globally recognised certification overseeing Cover image: Moses Joseph arrived in the colony in chains in 1827 and by all fibre sourcing standards. This provides guarantees for the consumer that 1842 became the President of the first Australian purpose-built synagogue, products are made of woodchips from well-managed forests, other controlled sources the York Street Synagogue. and reclaimed material with strict environmental, economical and social standards. In 1856 he donated the funds for this stained glass window installed in the University of Sydney Quadrangle. Department of Hebrew, Biblical Biblical Hebrew, Department of 2018-19 Report Studies Jewish and Supported by the Fund For Jewish Higher Education School Languages of and Cultures Contact us sydney.edu.au/arts/ hebrew-biblical-jewish 5226 2 9351 +61 Contents 2018-2019 Chair’s Welcome ���������������2 Department Faculty Member Notes .. 4 Conferences and Guests ................. 10 Our Students .................................. 14 Mandelbaum Program and Scholars in Residence ..................... 19 Mandelbaum House: Residential College ........................23 Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning .................24 Publications ....................................26 Communicating with Communities - HBJS on Social Media ��������������������28 A Doubter’s Guide .......................... 30 Australia obtains full membership in International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) ......... 31 The Ann Kirby gift ............................32 Supporters .....................................33 2018-2019 Chairs’ Welcome Welcome to 2018-2019’s Report of the Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies at the University of Sydney. sydney.edu.au The report is a chance to review the wide range of activities and achievements of our department’s staff, honorary associates and students. While we are only a small department example, how PhD candidate Will Allington in the university, we are recognized for was runner up in the 2018 university wide 3 being big on achievements, whether this Minute Thesis competition, and hear how is inside the university, for example being what students such as Noam Hayman, Dana the leading department for postgraduate Segall and Hila Tsor learned from us has led students in our School, or the international them to new exciting opportunities in their reputation of our research. We are the only lives. department in Australia that covers the full history of the Hebrew language from the We would like to thank Laura Curtis and ancient biblical period, through the Dead Yulia Berlin for their amazing work assisting Sea Scrolls, Rabbinic Hebrew, and Medieval Avril Alba in compiling this Annual Report. Hebrew, all the way to Modern Hebrew. We would also like to take this opportunity Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies Report 2018-19 We are equally strong in the history and to thank our many generous supporters literature of the same time span, from who together are responsible for the the ancient world of the Bible, all the way ongoing viability and health of the Fund through to Jewish history in the modern for Jewish Higher Education (please see period, as well as contemporary Jewish life ‘Our Donors’ section for further details). and identity. If you haven’t experienced it Without their support, our work could already, why not come and join our unique not be achieved, and it is only due to and vibrant research community? You can their generosity that we can plan for the also keep in touch through our department future growth and development of the Facebook page. Please visit and ‘Like’ department. us at https://www.facebook. com/ HBJSdepartment/ A/Professor Ian Young and Dr Avril Alba Out of the many highlights in the report, Chairs, Department of Hebrew, Biblical I would like to draw attention to some and Jewish Studies of the outstanding achievements of our students. Right from the beginning of their time with us, students tell us that there is something special about the intellectually The University of Sydney challenging but very supportive culture of our department that helps them achieve great things. When you turn to the ‘student achievements’ section you will find out, for Page 2 Fund for Jewish Higher Education The Fund for Jewish Higher Education − Casual lecturers as required Over the last decade, the (FJHE) was established in 1981 by six for Biblical Studies and Department of HBJS has eminent Jewish Australians to promote Classical Hebrew, Modern consistently topped the list of and encourage the full range of Jewish Hebrew and Jewish Civilisation, enrolled higher degree research studies at University level, including Thought and Culture. students’ of the 14 departments in Jewish History, Civilisation, Community the University’s School of Language Life, Literature, Language, Religion and Between 2016 and 2019 the FJHE also and Cultures. This has created a rich Philosophy. received very generous support from research environment, and many Since receiving a generous bequest Isaac and the late Susan Wakil, which of our graduates have continued to 2018-2019 Chairs’ Welcome from the late Felicia Einhorn in 2002, we gratefully acknowledge. maintain links with the department the major recipient of support from in their later careers. the FJHE has been the Department The Department of HBJS is well of Hebrew, Biblical & Jewish Studies regarded within the University I take this opportunity to thank our (‘HBJS’) at the University of Sydney, by academics and the university trustees, George Lucas, Stanley which is the only institution in Australia administration. In the context Roth AM and Deborah Ziegler for to offer a full program in Classical of the ongoing conflict between devoting their valuable time and Hebrew, Biblical Studies, Modern Israel and the Palestinians and efforts to the work of the FJHE. On Hebrew, and Jewish Civilisation, rising antisemitism in Australia and a sad note Professor Graham de Thought and Culture, including overseas, there have been increasing Vahl Davis AM retired as a trustee Holocaust Studies. In 2018-19, the FJHE polemical attacks against Israel’s due to ill health. Graham was one continued to support the following legitimacy as the nation-state of of the original six trustees who lectureships in that program: the Jewish people, denial of Jewish established the FJHE in 1981. Due to − Biblical Studies, Classical Hebrew peoplehood and falsification of the vision and foresight of Graham and Language of the Hebrew Bible Jewish history. Academia has been and his colleagues, Jewish Studies filled by Dr Gili Kugler from the both the source and the venue for at the University of Sydney is an Hebrew University of Jerusalem and many of these polemical attacks in established and well-respected Associate Professor Ian Young. Australia and overseas, including calls discipline. In Graham’s place we for the boycott of Israel (BDS). It is welcomed lawyer Deborah Ziegler − Modern Hebrew: The Malka therefore more important than ever as a new trustee of the FJHE on 28 Einhorn Lectureship in Modern to maintain a strong Jewish academic June 2019. Hebrew filled by Dr Yona Gilead. presence on campus both to rebut − Jewish Civilisation, Thought and propagandistic arguments by anti- At the end of 2018 our administrator Culture and Holocaust Studies filled Jewish and anti-Israel individuals and Laura Curtis moved on to brighter by Dr Michael Abrahams-Sprod and groups and to develop and maintain career opportunities and we Dr Avril Alba. Dr Abrahams-Sprod’s networks with other academics to welcomed Yulia Berlin in 2019 as our position is also generously supported maintain integrity of discourse about new administrator. by the Roth Charitable Foundation Israel and the Jewish people. and the Yarranabbe Foundation. Finally, I thank our office bearers − Teacher training program: The New subjects being offered in 2019 Emeritus Professor Clive Kessler, Jewish Studies and Hebrew were Holocaust Representation, Professor Konrad Kwiet, and Teacher Education program is a taught with the English Department, Professor Suzanne Rutland OAM, 50% Lectureship in the Faculty of and the Development of Zionism. as well as Dr Avril Alba and our Dr Education for Classical Hebrew/ A positive development has been Michael Abrahams-Sprod for their Modern Hebrew teaching methods, building relationships with other unstinting support during the year. to train Jewish Day School teachers. departments while formulating the new degree and maintaining close Peter Wertheim − FJHE Administrator: A part-time academic support for the Sydney administrator Ms Yulia Berlin. Jewish Museum. Chair, Fund for Jewish Higher Education Page 3 Department Faculty Member Notes 2018-2019 Dr Avril Alba Senior Lecturer in Holocaust Studies and Jewish Civilisation sydney.edu.au has spoken at numerous public and scholarly events in 2018-19 including delivering an address for the opening of the new Holocaust and Human Rights exhibition at the Sydney Jewish Museum on 15 February 2018, an exhibition for which she served as Project Manager/Lead CI with CIs A/Professor Jennifer Barrett and Professor Dirk Moses. The exhibition was one of the key research outputs from the Australian Research