Fraser 1938-2024
November 4, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
At the end of September, I drove Fraser McEwing to the Opera House to review the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performing a program including Mahler’s Fourth Symphony. Read more
Fraser Beath McEwing 1938-2024
October 27, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
J-Wire has lost one of its closest friends with the passing of music reviewer Fraser Beath McEwing who passed away overnight at the age of 86. Read more
A conversation with conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya
July 10, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Lidiya Yankovskaya left her home city of St Petersburg in 1995 to seek a new home with her family in Albany, New York, escaping the rampant antisemitism sweeping the Russian city. Read more
Surviving Nova creates new objectives for Millet
June 23, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Millet Ben Haim hid in bushes after escaping a barrage of terrorists who were chasing her while she was trying to escape from the October 7 attack on the Nova Peace Festival. Read more
Sydney University deal removes encampment and riles the community
June 23, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Community response to a proposal accepted by Sydney University pro-Palestine students to remove encampments ahead of the upcoming semester has blasted the university’s administrators. Read more
JCA fills the Opera House
April 9, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Six months ago, pro-Palestinian supporters caused NSW authorities to block Sydney’s Jewish community from attending the area where the Opera House’s sails were a giant blue and white banner following the Oct 7 incursion into Israel by blood-thirsty Hamas terrorists. Read more
Broadway bound via Opera Australia
March 15, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Doron Chester has plans to head to Broadway, but before that, the ex-Moriah student will perform in Opera Australia’s production of West Side Story on Sydney Harbour. Read more
Oscar a bitter sweet pill for Zionist chief
March 12, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Yaakov Hagoel has posted on X his reaction to British filmmaker Jonathan Glazer’s prepared acceptance speech following being awarded the Oscar for the Best International Film Zone of Interest. Read more
An icon dies – Rabbi Raymond Apple passes away in Jerusalem
January 21, 2024 by Henry Benjamin
Sydney’s The Great Synagogue community has been saddened to hear of the passing of Rabbi Raymond Apple AO, who was the spiritual head of the congregation for over three decades. Read more
Don’t drink Coca-Cola says ABC’s TikTok channel
December 21, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
National broadcaster ABC has removed a post on its TikTok account promoting the boycott of Israeli goods. Read more
“Gas the Jews” – stat decs with the police
December 18, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
The Daily Telegraph has sighted four statuary declarations from witnesses who heard pro-Palestinian supporters chant “gas the Jews” outside the Sydney Opera House. Read more
Words of support from Boris and Scott
December 18, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
It was almost an impromptu event when UIA major donors received a week’s notice to hear former prime ministers Australian Scott Morrison and British Boris Johnson following their visit to the Oct 7 kibbutzim. Read more
Leigh takes Wagner into the 21st century
December 13, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
Two years after the wall dividing West and East Germany was destroyed, 21-year-old Leigh Haas farewelled her family in her native Glasgow to live in the burgeoning creative city of Berlin. Read more
A vigil of solidarity
November 12, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
David Ossip, president of The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, retold 5,500 participants at a solidarity vigil in Sydney that 240 human beings are sitting in dark tunnels, disoriented. Read more
Meanwhile back in Australia
October 23, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
In Melbourne, Nazi salutes are now illegal, a crane shows the Palestinian colours. In Sydney, an ugly beach incident and an unwanted musical interlude. Read more
A Shabbat at the beach but guests fail to show
October 22, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
There were two hundred chairs at one long table, with the photo of each guest at the back of a chair. Read more
Waverley Council deputy mayor votes against the condemnation of Hamas
October 18, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
The deputy mayor of Sydney’s Waverley Council has voted against a motion condemning the Hamas October 7 attack. Read more
10,000 attend Sydney support rally for Israel
October 12, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
Thousands gathered in Sydney’s east on Wednesday night to commemorate the deaths of civilians and show support for Israel. Read more
Israel is not alone
October 8, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
Support continues to be voiced for Israel from across the world. Read more
Two top appointments for Richard
October 3, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
Richard Shields has been appointed the NSW State Director of the Liberal Party and, in the same week, elected as Mayor of Woollahra. Read more
Mary-Louise McLaws b. March 17, 1953 d. August 12 , 2023
August 16, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
Australia has mourned the passing of epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws who has succumbed to a brain tumour at the age of 70. Read more
A cocktail definition for antisemitism mixed by La Trobe University
August 11, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
Melbourne’s La Trobe University has combined the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) definitions of antisemitism. Read more
Premier heralds new changes to assist the homeless
July 12, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
NSW Premier Chris Minns fronted the media in the back garden of Bondi’s Jewish House care facility. Read more
Back in Oz: Mamma Mia!
May 29, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
This show is not for you if you hate ABBA’s music, great singing, great dancing, great production and a custom-built heart-warming story incorporating lyrics sung by the Swedish four. Read more
NSW says Happy 75th Anniversary, Israel
May 4, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced the establishment of a helpline “to assist students and staff who experienced religious bullying in New South Wales schools. Read more
Sydney remembers its Jewish ANZACs
April 26, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
Sydney Jewish Community’s Annual Anzac Day Wreath Laying and Commemorative Service was held at the Sydney Jewish Museum with special guest Margaret Beazely, the Governor of New South Wales. Read more
Rabbi Leon Dee calls April10 Dees Day
April 11, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
His wife and two of his daughters were murdered in Israel on Friday. A family of seven was to become a family of four. He talks to the media. Read more
Meet Luke Gabbedy…and see him perform in Madama Butterfly
March 30, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
The Handa Opera’s Madama Butterfly is currently nightly on Sydney Harbour, necessitating two casts to perform on alternative evenings. Read more
$5 million NSW govt grant takes Hakoah funding to $75m
March 21, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
At Sydney’s Hakoah AGM, president Steven Lowy announced a further grant of $5m taking total funding to date $78m. Read more
The Rocky Horror Show: reviews by Henry Benjamin
February 24, 2023 by Henry Benjamin
With a massive musical intro, it was time again to see the Roxy Cinema candy seller part the curtains and send us off on to the wild ride that is The Rocky Horror Show. Read more
