Two recent books have offered new insights into the remarkable exploits and achievements of the ‘Dunera Boys’.  Leah Garrett’s X Troop recounts the story of a secret commando group made up of Jewish refugees in Australia and elsewhere, who returned to Europe to liberate concentration camps. The Passenger, a lost novel by Ulrich Boschwitz, a…

What can writers and stories contribute in our collective response to climate change? In what direction do they point us?  Rebecca Forgasz (moderator), Danielle Celermajer, Daniel Sherrell, Mireille Juchau

Natasha Sholl’s recently published memoir Found, Wanting, tells the story of Natasha’s attempt to rebuild her life in the wake of her partner’s sudden death, stumbling through the grief landscape and colliding with the cultural assumptions about the ‘right way’ to grieve. Natasha will be in conversation with Dalit Kaplan, who has had a few…

Join Elissa Goldstein as she chats with Canadian-American novelist, essayist and New Yorker contributor Rivka Galchen. Her range as a writer is vast and brilliant, encompassing everything from wry, psychological literary fiction to ruminations on motherhood, to reporting from the COVID frontlines in a New York City hospital. Galchen’s most recent novel, Everyone Knows Your…

Alice Zaslavsky, the friendliest voice in Australian food, leads the discussion with this team of highly respected culinary figures. How do we write about food? Who gets to write about food? What is it like being a caretaker of a cuisine? Alice Zaslavsky (moderator), Dani Valent, Joanna Hu, Tony Tan

Famed concert pianist, Simon Tedeschi, and New Zealand poet, Bryan Walpert, discuss the place of memory, music, poetry and prose in their creative and personal lives, in conversation with popular ABC RN radio presenter, Sarah Kanowski.

This event has replaced with ‘William Cooper: A life of activism’, featuring Daniel James. Sarah Krasnostein will be appearing in ‘The Passenger: Unearthing a Dunera Boy’s Story‘, at 10.00am on Sunday May 29.

Love, regardless is a collection of poetic narratives that celebrate love that endures.  As a culture we are inundated by romantic narratives which dramatise the passionate beginnings of young love and/or detail its devastating, torturous endings.  But what about couples who survive the years together and remain committed, devoted?  What do we know about their…

Yiddish performance, whether in theatrical, spoken or music form, is alive and well in Melbourne. Our panel of practitioners and researchers discuss what such performances tell us about ourselves, our past and our identity. Nicola Mensa Hearn (moderator), Galit Klas, Rebecca Margolis, Simon Starr

Don’t miss a session! The MJBW Sunday Day Pass provides entry into 6* sessions for the price of 5 at Glen Eira Town Hall on Sunday 29 May — plus a MJBW tote bag! There are 12 scheduled events during the day: 6 session slots, with 2 events running concurrently: half in the auditorium and…

Our panel of keen writers and readers review and discuss some of the less well-known books by Jewish authors, or on Jewish themes, which have given them great pleasure over the years. Expect a lively discussion of some unearthed and rare titles. Bram Presser (moderator), Andrea Goldsmith, Lee Kofman, Veronica Sullivan

Whether it’s Covid 19, domestic and international politics, war or fake news, conspiracy theories and rumours have abounded over the past two years. This panel of scientists and journalists examines reportage in times of crisis. Deborah Stone (moderator), Peter Doherty, Margaret Simons, Norman Swan, Zoya Sheftalovich

How tolerant are the various Jewish communities when faced with stories and articles that question or provide external insights into their ways of life? What have been the experiences of novelists who have provided narratives that question accepted norms, or of journalists whose articles have caused controversy and dissent? Bram Presser (moderator), Lisa Emanuel, Ashley…

Students from a range of schools will be reading out pieces of original writing, of any genre, fiction or non-fiction, including poetry. Readings will be no longer than 4-5 minutes each. Express your interest This is an opportunity for students read a short piece of original work (4-5 minutes — approximately 600-700 words) to an…

Join Howard Jacobson in conversation with Sarah Kanowski discussing his recent memoir, Mother’s Boy — an exploration of belonging and not belonging, of being an insider and outsider, and of being English and Jewish. Howard Jacobson is an international guest and will be appearing via live video-link.

On Sunday 29 May at Glen Eira Town Hall, we have a full day of panels, interviews and even a children’s program. One of our initiatives is to create what we are calling the Publishing Hub, a room between the Lunch Hub and Bookselling Hub, where authors can hold a book launch/reading/signing or other activities….

Special event to commemorate National Reconciliation Week. Daniel James, a descendent of Aboriginal activist William Cooper, in conversation with Simon Holloway, Head of Education, Melbourne Holocaust Museum, discussing Cooper’s extraordinary life of activism, including his protests against Nazi persecution of Jews. Daniel James and Dr Simon Holloway