Back to Our Roots: Sydney’s Jewish festival celebrates arts, culture and sustainability
The inaugural Jewish Roots Festival, set to take place this weekend in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, promises a refreshing and inclusive celebration of Jewish culture and sustainability.
Organised by Shalom’s Adamama program, this half-day festival is part of Australia’s first Jewish urban farm, dedicated to nurturing community connections through culture, sustainability, music, and education.
“Our goal with the Jewish Roots Festival is to go back to our roots, using culture, community, sustainability, music, and Jewish education to create a space where Judaism becomes an integrated part of our everyday lives,” explained Shoshi Port, Program Manager at Shalom and the event’s organiser.
Amit Benita
The live music performances are set to be a major highlight of the Festival, featuring a vibrant lineup of artists, including local band Counter Collective and talent from both Melbourne and Israel. Festival attendees can look forward to a music jam session with Ayelet Hashachar, as well as performances by popular local artist Ben Goldstein, Israeli artists Shaya and Amit Benita, and interstate musician Ari Jacob. “I think the live music is different to a lot of the performers that we’ve had the pleasure of listening to (in the community) recently, and it is always lovely to hear new sounds,” said Port.
Beyond the music, attendees will enjoy a range of workshops, including yoga sessions, Jewish-guided meditation, and thought-provoking talks designed to deepen participants’ connection to Jewish identity.
The outstanding lineup of speakers includes Shaun Greenblo, Managing Director of Boody, Jewish artist and designer, Micaela Ezra, Dr. Orna Triguboff, sound healer Yifat Shirben, nutrition expert and yoga teacher, Allegra Goldman and meditation guide Mark Lang. “We’ve brought in some incredible people in their fields to inspire and challenge perspectives,” Port explained. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together and explore the many ways we can integrate Judaism into our daily lives.” There will also be a PJ Library Kids Workshop for the youngest attendees.
For food lovers, the festival will feature supervised kosher stalls, with both regular and pop-up vendors catering to a variety of tastes. “All the vendors on the day will be kosher,” Port confirmed, “and some are popping up just for this event. This will be particularly helpful for community members who keep kosher.”
The event will also feature stalls offering unique, sustainable options including the Sydney Jewish Writers Festival Book Swap, Adamama Clothing and Toy Swap, and Romano Judaica Art. Other highlights include Il Piccolo Dolce, Natalie Grunstein’s Personal Pieces Studio, Style-NV, Nava by Star.
Jewish youth movements will also participate, selling food to raise funds for their summer camps and programming. “It’s a chance for the community to support these groups and help kids who might not otherwise be able to attend camps,” Port explained.
The organisers hope to draw a diverse audience, including many who may not usually attend Jewish community events. “We’d love to see mainstream community members there, but the festival is especially designed to reach those on the fringes—those from all parts of Sydney who may feel that typical community programming isn’t for them,” Port noted. “This is very much an inclusive event.”
The festival will run at an Eastern Suburbs location from 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday, November 17, 2024. Tickets are priced at $25 for adults and $10 for children, with entry granting unlimited access to all workshops, talks, music, and activities.
For tickets and more information, visit the Shalom website at https://www.shalom.edu.au/.
