Sydney Jewish Writers Festival
This year’s Sydney Jewish Writers Festival will be held at the Double Bay Library and will celebrate works of Jewish fiction and nonfiction by Australian authors.
About the program
Start your Sunday on June 19 with Coffee & Headlines with co-founder of Gen-Z media outlet, The Daily Aus, Sam Koslowski. Throughout the day, hear from Natasha Sholl about grief, loss and living; contemporary religion expert and academic, Dr Rachael Kohn; Shelley Davidow on an unlikely friendship between two women from opposite ends of the African continent; Ashley Goldberg on his novel set in a Melbourne Jewish school that is rocked by a scandal; and journalist Sue Smethurst on researching her Polish Jewish circus family’s Shoah survival. Sunday concludes with a lively panel discussion with our guest authors about The (Jewish) Books That Made Us (we can guarantee you’ll walk away with a fantastic reading list!).
We wrap up the Festival on Monday evening with concert pianist Simon Tedeschi discussing his new book, a combination of poetry and prose, fiction and fact, trauma, and testimony.
For young families
Two special book readings and crafts sessions will be run by talented local authors and illustrators, Lauren Briggs (Little Pago) and Beck Feiner (Prime Minister for the Day) on Sunday 19 June.
For 2-5 year olds: Little Pago is a book about an energetic and playful baby sea turtle living on the Great Barrier Reef. His creator, author and illustrator Lauren Briggs, is a visual storyteller with a passion for children’s picture books, literacy, the environment, and Indigenous education. She specialises in design, illustration, and photography, and uses children’s picture books as a vehicle to explore and share ideas about important social issues. Her two books: Stories for Simon (written by Lisa Sarzin) and Little Pagoare both calls to action with the hope of inspiring our next generation. Sunday 19 June 10.15-11.00
For 5-8 year olds: Prime Minister for the Day, written by author-illustrator Beck Feiner, challenges children to imagine what they were do if they were given control of their country for the day. All Beck’s illustrations and books shine a spotlight on social issues and tap into the mood of the time, promoting harmony and diversity. Her first book, Aussie Legends Alphabet, went on to receive nation-wide recognition and earned her an ongoing publishing deal. Beck has since published five more books which include: If I was Prime Minister, My Folks Grew Up in the ’80s, The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour, Big Love and My Favourite Teacher. Sunday 19 June 1.15pm – 2.15pm
Tickets – Book at https://www.shalom.edu.au/event/sjwf2022/ or phone 9381 4000.
- Full festival pass: $96 online/phone ($160 at the door).Valid for all eight sessions. Excludes children’s sessions.
- Individual sessions: $15 ($20 at the door). Spend more than $40 and you will automatically receive a 20% discount! Valid for online purchases only.
- Dine & Discover vouchers are accepted.
