Unsilenced: Lee Kofman's Fight Against Doxxing and Antisemitism in Australia's Arts and Creative Industry
Lee Kofman and her family survived Soviet persecution as refuseniks in the 1970s, but nothing could prepare her for what happened when she tried to support fellow Jewish creatives in Australia after October 7th. The acclaimed author and writing teacher created a WhatsApp group (later vilified as 'Zio600') for Jewish artists and academics, only to see the private conversations leaked and members' personal details publicly doxxed. She lost most of her teaching work overnight, but she won't be silenced. Lee caught up with Tami and Dash to discuss the chilling parallels between her childhood in the USSR and today's literary gatekeeping, and why she's channelling her energy into "Ruptured" - a powerful new collection of essays from Australian Jewish women. Article related to this conversation:https://thejewishindependent.com.au/reassembling-the-jewish-matryoshka-dolls-in-my-familyhttps://thejewishindependent.com.au/hate-on-becoming-a-bad-jewhttps://thejewishindependent.com.au/australians-love-hearing-about-writers-roots-unless-theyre-israeliMore information about Lee and Ruptured:https://leekofman.com.au/ruptured/You won’t regret subscribing to The Jewish Independent's bi-weekly newsletter: jewishindependent.com.auTami and Dash on Instagram: tami_sussman_bits and dashiel_and_pascoeX: TJI_auYouTube: thejewishindependentAUFacebook: TheJewishIndependentAUInstagram: thejewishindependentLinkedIn: the-jewish-independent
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Are We Raising Joyous (Jewish) Children? Two Melbourne Educators Think We Can Do Better
What happens when two passionate Jewish educators decide to reimagine what a Jewish day school could be? Adam Hyman and Eleanor Hasenfratz are bringing a radical new vision to Melbourne's Jewish community with Beit Hillel Community School, set to open in 2026. They caught up with Tami and Dash (both parents of kids in prep) to discuss their vision and why they think Melbourne's Jewish community is ready for this unique model of education. Article related to this conversation:https://thejewishindependent.com.au/an-alternative-jewish-school-for-melbourneMore information about the school:https://beithillelschool.com/You won’t regret subscribing to The Jewish Independent's bi-weekly newsletter: jewishindependent.com.auTami and Dash on Instagram: tami_sussman_bits and dashiel_and_pascoeX: TJI_auYouTube: thejewishindependentAUFacebook: TheJewishIndependentAUInstagram: thejewishindependentLinkedIn: the-jewish-independent
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Reclaiming Zionism Through Democratic Action, with Romy Zyngier
What does it mean to be a Zionist in 2025? Can diaspora Jews shape Israel's future from afar? Tami and Dash caught up with Romy Zyngier, research scientist, community builder, and head of one of the slates contesting Australian elections at this year's World Zionist Congress.Learn more: https://thejewishindependent.com.au/once-in-a-generation-chance-to-shape-global-jewish-life The Jewish Independent does not endorse the views of or encourage readers to vote for any particular ticket.Voting remains open until July 27th, requiring just $5 and a few minutes online. Visit this website to find out more. You won’t regret subscribing to The Jewish Independent's bi-weekly newsletter: jewishindependent.com.auTami and Dash on Instagram: tami_sussman_bits and dashiel_and_pascoeX: TJI_auYouTube: thejewishindependentAUFacebook: TheJewishIndependentAUInstagram: thejewishindependentLinkedIn: the-jewish-independent
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Why Jewish People Must Reclaim Zionism, with Adam Kirsch
In the aftermath of October 7, Zionism and 'Zionists' have been attacked on university campuses and within progressive circles around the world – sometimes with violent consequences. In this episode, Tami and Dash speak with Adam Kirsch, whose essay in The Jewish Quarterly argues that the Jewish people do not need to defend the term – they need to reclaim it.Adam Kirsch is an American poet and literary critic. He is on the seminar faculty of Columbia University's Center for American Studies, and has taught at YIVO.Adam's essay: The Z Word: Reclaiming Zionismhttps://jewishquarterly.com/essay/2025/05/the-z-wordArticles discussed in this episode:https://thejewishindependent.com.au/the-z-word-reclaiming-zionismYou won’t regret subscribing to The Jewish Independent's bi-weekly newsletter: jewishindependent.com.auTami and Dash on Instagram: tami_sussman_bits and dashiel_and_pascoeX: TJI_auYouTube: thejewishindependentAUFacebook: TheJewishIndependentAUInstagram: thejewishindependentLinkedIn: the-jewish-independent
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We Need to Talk About Cognitive Dissonance and Jewish Whiteness
In this episode of Ashamed to Admit (recorded prior to war breaking out between Israel and Iran) Tami and Dash unpack Lee Kofman’s essay about the phenomenon of Jews being perceived as white; the complexity, nuance and discomfort. Inspired by Tom Ben David’s piece for TJI, Dash reflects on the emotional gymnastics of holding two truths at once, while Tami recounts her surreal stay at Australia’s only kosher hotel. From Judea to St Kilda East, this conversation is full of tension, honesty and some much-needed laughter.Articles mentioned in today’s episode: https://thejewishindependent.com.au/this-and-this-holding-contradictory-truthshttps://thejewishindependent.com.au/am-i-white-im-not-sureTami and Dash on Instagram: tami_sussman_bits and dashiel_and_pascoeX: TJI_auYouTube: thejewishindependentAUFacebook: TheJewishIndependentAUInstagram: thejewishindependentLinkedIn: the-jewish-independentSubscribe to The Jewish Independent's bi-weekly newsletter: jewishindependent.com.auTami and Dash on Instagram: tami_sussman_bits and dashiel_and_pascoeX: TJI_auYouTube: thejewishindependentAUFacebook: TheJewishIndependentAUInstagram: thejewishindependentLinkedIn: the-jewish-independent
Are you ashamed to admit you're not across the big issues and events affecting Jews in Australia, Israel and around the Jewish world?In this new podcast from online publication The Jewish Independent, Your Third Cousin Tami Sussman and TJI's Dashiel Lawrence tackle the week's 'Chewiest and Jewiest' topics.
Australia