Newman Hirsh Rosenthal (1898-1986) was a pioneering educator, filmmaker and author. He wrote institutional histories and biographies (including that of Sir Albert Coates and Sir Charles Lowe), frequently contributed to daily newspapers, and reviewed many books about Jewish history and culture.
Newman Hirsh Rosenthal – Educator, Historian and Author Read More »
The stereotype of the Jewish mother has bedevilled society for generations. This post honours seven extraordinary Jewish Australian women who, as well as having children, contributed to Australian society in other siginifcant ways.
A Mothers Day Toast Read More »
Maurice “Moses” Abraham Cohen was a noted linguist and a pioneer of Jewish Education in Sydney. He also edited some of Sydney’s pioneer Jewish newspapers and campaigned for the rights of Indigenous Australians.
Maurice Abraham Cohen – Sydney’s First Jewish Educator Read More »
As far back as 1831, the London Beit Din was confronted with issues surrounding granting divorces, when one or other of the parties had been transported to Australia, which did not have a formal Jewish legal body. The first Beit Din, or religious Jewish court, was convened in Australia in 1864, for the sole purpose of effecting a divorce and arranging a gett, for a Jewish couple that wished to legally separate.
Jewish Divorce in the colony Read More »
On May 31 1870 Galician born Solomon Schlossman and his Polish born son-in-law John Davis discovered what would be the 9th largest nugget on the Victorian Goldfields, They named it the Viscount Canterbury.
Finding the Viscount Canterbury Read More »
When gold was discovered in New South Wales in 1851 by Edward Hargreaves, the area near Bathurst was actually given a Hebrew name – ‘’Ophir’’ – a name and place from the bible famous for its gold and wealth. Victoria’s gold rush began in 1851 and, over the next ten years, close to 600,000 people flowed into the region in search of their fortune. Many of these adventurers were Jewish.
Striking Gold in Australia Read More »
The Jewish Ladies’ Benevolent Loan and Visiting Society formed a committee that eventually became the Jewish Emigration Society. Donations came in, and in June of 1853, an advertisement was printed announcing the Society’s intention of sending 20 single Jewish female emigrants to Australia. What happened next was quite unexpected!
Goldfields and Immigration Read More »
