SBS Hebrew

איזי מן מספר מה היה בשבוע שעבר בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית. והפעם: הקיסר האתיופי היילה סילאסי נמלט לישראל, הבריחה הנועזת מהכלא שאורגנה על ידי האצ"ל, ועוד.

אחרי שנתיים לא פשוטות של ישראל באירוויזיון - חרמות, מחאות וקריאות בוז - המשלחת הישראלית מגיעה לוינה

For thousands of years, a defining element of the Jewish experience has been the capacity to sustain a sense of peoplehood and spirituality through numerous events of persecution and relocation. Nowadays, with changes occurring worldwide, and with public discourse in Australia becoming heated and - at times - violent, the resilience of that tradition is being put yet again to the test.

The first two days of public hearings for the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion have heard from 24 witnesses, all Jewish Australians with firsthand experience of antisemitism.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית. והשבוע: לכידתו של מוסוליני בסוף מלחמת העולם השנייה, 40 שנה לאסון הגרעיני בצ'רנוביל ועוד.

In the second part of this two part pre-recorded interview, award winning journalist and podcaster, Jonathan Freedland discusses with SBS the high-stakes landscape of Israeli politics ahead of the looming election, that is anything but routine. As the country stands at a critical crossroads, this vote is widely seen as a defining moment that will not only impact the country, but also the Middle East and the rest of the world. Freedland most pressingly points out that “democracy is on the ballot”.

In the first part of this two part pre-recorded interview, award winning journalist and podcaster, Jonathan Freedland speaks with SBS Hebrew about the recent surge in attacks targeting Jewish communities in London - not including the latest stabbing attack which took place in London this week. Freedland not only looks within confines of the UK, but also discusses attacks on Jewish people everywhere from Manchester to Bondi. He reflects on the growing sense of vulnerability felt by many and simultaneously examines the social and political currents driving this rise in hostility. We also hear Freedland offering a personal perspective on what it means to be an openly and proudly Jewish journalist at a time of heightened tension.

It can be in someone’s house, a community centre or even online - an initiative offering workshops to help community members and allies turn personal experiences into submissions.

In a conversation with SBS Hebrew, Iranian Australian journalist Shokoofeh Azar paints a bleak picture of Iran, describing a country battered by economic collapse. She provides a rare glimpse into Tehran’s ideological warfare, its use of paid protesters and the psychological toll of a society under siege. From three-month internet blackouts to the massacres in January, Azar reveals a nation feeling abandoned by Europe.

Peter Allen of the Australian Jewish Historical Society explores the deep-rooted history of Jewish participation in the Australian military, dating back to the First Fleet. He discusses the legacy of prominent figures like Sir John Monash and the societal challenges faced by Jewish servicemen, including instances of antisemitism and the intentional concealment of religious identity. Peter Allen also highlights "Operation Jacob," a current initiative dedicated to documenting soldier narratives and ensuring that Jewish war graves are correctly identified with the Star of David.

In this interview, we speak with Sima Shine, a former senior Mossad official and leading voice at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies about the rapidly evolving confrontation between Israel, Iran and the United States. As Washington intensifies economic pressure and military posturing, we explore the strategic calculus behind sanctions, blockades and the threshold for direct strikes on critical infrastructure such as Kharg Island. Shine unpacks whether economic warfare can achieve deterrence, or whether it risks tipping into a broader regional conflict. We also examine the role of Iran’s proxy network, including Hezbollah, the limits of ceasefire frameworks and how intelligence assessments shape decision-making in real time. Ultimately, the conversation asks: are we witnessing a controlled pressure campaign, or the early stages of a much wider war?

SBS Hebrew explores Israel’s constitutional crisis through the lenses of constitutional law expert Suzie Navot and University of NSW law scholar Noam Peleg. They examine the country’s unusual separation of powers, the impact of judicial reforms, concerns about democratic erosion, and the competing forces of protest, resilience and political fragmentation.

Dr. Joseph Toltz, a researcher at the University of Sydney, discusses the recovery and significance of ‘Out of the Depths’, a rare 1945 Yiddish songbook. Compiled in liberated Bucharest, the collection documents the immediate musical testimonies of Holocaust survivors.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית. והשבוע: המרד הערבי הגדול, משפט אייכמן, ועוד.

בערב חמישי האחרון צוין חג המימונה בקהילות יהודיות וישראליות בארץ ובעולם. בצל המלחמה ואי-הוודאות סביב הפסקת האש, בחרו בקהילות באוסטרליה להתכנס יחד, לפתוח את הדלתות ולחגוג את ערכי הרעות והכנסת האורחים, גם הרחק מהבית.

Sara Kowal is a researcher at Monash University specialising in international law and human rights. In this interview, she shares her perspective on Israel’s move to introduce the death penalty for certain terrorism - related offences, where she examines the legal basis for the law, how it may apply in the West Bank and also the broader implications for international humanitarian law. Additionally, Kowal discusses Israel's potential wider political and diplomatic standing globally, if this law comes into effect.

Tomer Peretz is an Israeli - American artist whose work has been deeply shaped by lived experience of conflict and trauma. Following the events of October 7, he volunteered with ZAKA which included unfathomable tasks such as entering homes where scenes of profound devastation had taken place. In the wake of that experience, Peretz turned to art not only as personal processing, but as a form of response and reconstruction which helped him reach what he calls ‘PTG’ - post traumatic growth. He went on to establish the LA - based “8 Project” an initiative that uses art residencies and workshops to support trauma survivors, offering creative expression as a pathway through grief, memory and psychological recovery. His work now sits at the intersection of art, trauma and healing, exploring how image - making can hold what language often cannot.

Nowruz marks the Persian New Year - a time for new beginnings, but for many in Melbourne’s Iranian and Jewish communities, this year’s celebration is shaped by worry for loved ones in Iran and in Israel. In this special SBS Hebrew feature, we bring you voices from this unique gathering - where people came together despite distance, uncertainty and grief, finding connection and shared hope for the year ahead.

Rabbi Allison Conyer is a highly experienced international Reform rabbi with a rich background in Jewish education, interfaith work, and community engagement. Though she was ordained as a rabbi in New York, she is the first woman rabbi in New South Wales. She joined Temple Beth Israel in March 2024, and with a diverse and rich background in psychology and leadership, she orchestrates a welcoming community.

Dr Anne Aly MP reflects on Australia's multiculturalism and makes the point that diversity is Australia's national identity, but urges that it is not something we should take for granted, "pluralism is not something we can take our eye off - it didn't happen by accident."

Dave Sharma knows Australia's Jewish community well. In conversation with Michael Bartura, Sharma reflects on his time as Australian Ambassador to Israel, how he can use his public platform to bridge different communities to one another and why he puts harmony at the centre of everything he does.

We speak with SBS Chief Foreign Correspondent Ben Lewis who examines the rapidly escalating Iran – Israel / US conflict and the growing global fallout. From maritime threats in the Strait of Hormuz to surging energy costs and mounting geopolitical tension, we explore the economic shockwaves of a prolonged blockade and the risks of further escalation across the Middle East. We also discuss whether Israeli and US actions signal strategic coordination between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, and whether the latest military moves are designed to pressure Iran or widen the conflict.

On the sidelines of Harmony Week, Rabbi Zalman Kastel, founder of Together for Humanity, shared with SBS Hebrew reflections on the urgent need for genuine harmony in an increasingly divided Australia. Addressing rising animosity and the "tokenism" of multicultural celebrations, he explores how social media fuels aggression. Rabbi Kastel emphasizes that while education must start at home, interfaith collaboration remains a vital tool for reclaiming our shared human spirit.

In a conversation with SBS Hebrew during Harmony Week, Allegra Spender (Federal Member for Wentworth) reflects on Harmony Week, warning that rising antisemitism—highlighted after the Bondi terrorist attack—requires urgent action. She argues that building connections, especially among young people, is key to restoring social cohesion and ensuring Australians can “disagree well” without deepening divisions.

SBS Chief Foreign Correspondent in conversation with Israeli opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, Sima Shine from the Institute for National Security Studies and Likud MK, Amit Halevi.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית. והשבוע, אובדן פצצת מימן בחוף ספרד, הנאום האחרון של מרטין לותר קינג, ועוד.

It's been almost three months since the Jewish community gathered to celebrate Chanukah at Sydney’s Bondi beach, and 15 people were killed in Australia's worse Terror attack. Images of 43-year-old Syrian-Australian father-of-two Ahmed Al- Ahmed tackling and disarming one of the gunmen, went viral around the world. In the run up to Harmony Week, Ahmed joined the SBS Hebrew and Arabic teams to talk about his journey from his childhood in Syria to his ongoing recovery, and share a powerful message on what it truly means to be Australian in a time of crisis.

משה לוי, אחד המוזיקאים העסוקים והמוערכים בישראל הגיע לפני חודש להופיע באוסטרליה יחד עם שלום חנוך איתו הוא מופיע מעל ל-4 עשורים ועם נכדו של חנוך - עמרי קרן. לפני כשבועיים, בדרכו לשדה התעופה גילה שהחלה מלחמה עם איראן וטיסתו בוטלה. מעז יצא מתוק וביום ראשון הקרוב יופיע לוי פה במלבורן יחד עם אוהד ריין וסימון סטאר.

Ramak Bamzar is an Iranian-Australian artist whose photography turns the faces of those killed in Iran’s protest movement into powerful acts of resistance against oppression. From Australia, she uses her work to defy the administration's violence whilst she expresses cautious hope that the recent death of Ayatollah Khamenei could open the door to a freer, more open Iran.

Afro-Brazilian Australian Jewish writer and academic Guido Melo says artificial intelligence systems may unintentionally reinforce antisemitic stereotypes. Speaking about his research using AI image generators, he found prompts about Jewish people frequently returned images that were male-dominated, culturally narrow, or aggressive. Melo says the issue reflects the data AI learns from online and highlights the need for stronger media literacy and counter-narratives.

On the sidelines of International Women’s Day 2026, veteran journalist Melissa Singer reflects on her career in journalism and the evolving Australian media landscape. Speaking about her work with Sunday Life, she explores how storytelling can reveal unexpected sides of public figures, the challenges facing Australian journalism, and the impact of algorithms and social media on public debate. Singer also offers advice for aspiring reporters navigating a rapidly changing media environment.

As we have just celebrated the festival of Purim this week, lawyer and journalist Nomi Kaltmann joins SBS to explore the historical and cultural parallels between the ancient Persian story at the heart of the holiday and present-day Iran. The Purim narrative, told in the biblical Book of Esther, recounts how a plot to destroy the Jewish people in the Persian Empire was ultimately thwarted through courage and political intervention. Kaltmann reflects on how this ancient story set in Persia, modern day Iran, continues to resonate today amidst rising tensions in the Middle East.

We speak with Ben Lewis reporting from Israel about the rapidly shifting dynamics of the Israel–US campaign against Iran. As the conflict escalates, Lewis examines the strategic objectives behind the military pressure on Tehran, the question of succession surrounding Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and how ordinary Iranians are coping with the backdrop of war. Our conversation also explores the differences in American and Israeli expectations about what comes after the campaign, the risk of a widening regional conflict with Hezbollah and what an escalating northern front could mean for the Gaza Strip.

We are in conversation with Mastaneh Nazarian, an Iranian born musician, composer and guitarist based in Melbourne. Mastaneh reflects on the war in her country of origin, her identity and perspectives on a more peaceful future.

SBS Hebrew caught up with Goldie, a SmartAid Global Goodwill Ambassador, as she prepares to join other influential Jewish Women -from filmmakers to journalists- to celebrate the intersection of International Women’s Day and Jewish Excellence.

Joel Burnie is a prominent Australian commentator, policy analyst and the Executive Manager of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC). Together we discuss the current and potential geopolitical and strategic fallout in Iran following the intense kintetic campaign led by the USA and Israel.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית

Jewish Australians are being urged to share their "lived experiences of antisemitism" as the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion began, setting out the parameters of its investigation.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית

In this episode, we welcome Professor Ben Saul from the University of Sydney who is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism, and his insights and experience are relevant to exploring the recent state visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. What started as an invitation by the Australian government and The Zionist Federation of Australia to enhance solidarity in the wake of the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack has become a point of contention, with both warm welcomes from the vast majority of the Jewish community and angry protests on the streets of Sydney and Melbourne about Israeli actions in Gaza. Professor Saul talks about the recent amendments to laws around the protests; and the issue of criticism of Israel in the context of rising antisemitism and the challenge of ascertaining what is hate speech and what is a legitimate free speech.

לכבוד ראש השנה הסיני הגיע SBS למסעדת Hoppy Dumpling לראות את הגרסה של המקום למנהג אכילת כיסונים (דמפלינגס) בראש השנה

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית

האירוע "Afternoon of Light & Solidarity" שהתקיים במלבורן לכבוד נשיא ישראל חתם את ביקורו בן הארבעה ימים באוסטרליה. הגענו למקום לדבר עם חברי הקהילה היהודית במלבורן ועם אנשי ציבור ולהביא לכם כאן את הקולות מהאירוע.

Norman Abraham Faifer was posthumously awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) 2026 for his contribution to the building and construction industry and to the Jewish community.

אנחנו ממשיכים לדווח על ביקורו של נשיא ישראל באוסטרליה - בדיווח היום - עימותים ואלימות משטרתית בהפגנות אתמול בסידני שהובילו למעצרם של כ-27 איש ובנוסף - נאומו של הנשיא הרצוג מול אלפי אנשים מהקהילה היהודית במרכז הכנסים הבינלאומי בסידני.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia has unfolded against a backdrop of grief, diplomacy and political tension. Speaking at the Bondi Pavilion, Mr Herzog commemorated the lives lost at the Hanukkah celebration on December 14.

רותם, שזכתה בתואר אלופת העולם לנוער בשנת 2015, הגיעה למקום הרביעי ב-2022 באולימפיאדת החירשים בברזיל, למקום השישי ב-2025 באולימפיאדת החרשים בטוקיו בדצמבר האחרון ולמקום הרביעי בתחרות של ה-AO 2026 שהסתיימה בראשון במלבורן, סיפרה לנו על המקומות האהובים עליה לשחק, על האתגרים השנה ועל התכנית שלה לשנה הבאה.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית

SBS Hebrew spoke to Chaya Barber and Yoni Paluch from the Jewish Care team to understand how the organisation supports families who are struggling with rising costs and mental stress, and how do they think this week's rate increase could further impact those in need.

In this podcast we discuss what exactly the role of an Israeli Trade Commissioner is, how the Commissioner helps accelerate Israeli business in a competitive environment abroad, how the Israeli economy is tracking in a mid-war status and what names of Israeli businesses we should keep an eye on! We also discuss the upcoming Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv which includes guests like Elon Musk, Miri Regev and executive director of group innovation at Volkswagen, Dr Nikolai Audrey.