Hagada, 1938, donated by Vivien Brass, 12101

This German Haggadah belonged to Margarethe Arnhold who migrated to Australia in 1937 with her son, Peter. In 1938, Margarethe returned to Germany to bring her other son to Australia and collect treasured household goods left behind. 

This Pesach at the Museum we will be proudly displaying a selection of haggadot (the order of service for celebrating the annual Passover meal) from our collection. Be sure to visit us during this time and enjoy some matzah and charoset which will be offered to visitors. 

We are incredibly excited to present our latest Short Course series. Whether you are interested in Jewish music or would like to explore Judaism in the context of a multicultural world, or discover how Jesus the faithful Jew became a Christian, one of our seven courses is sure to tantalise and inspire you. With engaging teachers such as Rabbi Fred Morgan, Nathan Wolski and Paul Forgasz, this is a fantastic opportunity to experience stimulating adult Jewish education in a friendly and relaxed environment. Courses are filling up fast so don’t miss out and enrol today!

Click here to learn more and enrol online.

Hamsa, Hong Kong 1880, Brass, silver enamel, Private Collection

As summer turns into autumn, we become immersed in a visual display of falling leaves in orange, red and gold.  In this playful workshop, children will have the opportunity to take inspiration from the changing seasons to create works of art; autumn leaf creatures. Surrounded by the exhibition In Season and guided by artist Shelley Krycer, each participant will use a range of drawing and collage techniques to bring autumn leaves to life. For more information visit our website.

Cost: $12 General / $8 Museum members (Ticket includes entry to the Museum and workshop for one child and one adult)
Bookings essential: Click here to book

Israeli dolls, WIZO Home Industries, Israel, 20th century, Donated by Bernard Moses Joffe, 6839.6

To complement our permanent exhibition Calling Australia Home and as part of the 2014 National Trust Heritage Festival, take part in the Lygon St, Carlton Walk. Carlton was the centre of early Jewish community life in Melbourne. Visit the haunts of former generations and learn how they managed to establish a sense of belonging in a new land. For more information visit our website. 

Cost: $20 General, $15 Museum members, National Trust members and concession
Bookings essential: Click here to book

The Jewish Museum of Australia will be hosting an exciting study tour from 6–23 June 2014, focusing on the history of the Jews of Poland and Lithuania. The tour will be led by Paul Forgasz, who lectures in Jewish history at Monash University’s Centre for Jewish Civilisation. For information about the tour and to register please click here or for further enquiries email paul.forgasz@monash.edu

Registrations are still being accepted subject to availability of hotel rooms.

“I am still ok and living”, wrote Australian Jewish soldier, eighteen year old Idey Alexander from the French battlefields, to his sisters in Melbourne in the days following the Armistice of WW1. These words begin his letter home in which he also writes of travelling to Paris for Passover and touring Europe, before his demobilization and return to Australia.

This letter forms part of research now being undertaken at the Jewish Museum of Australia in preparation for an exhibition of Australian Jewish experiences of World War 1. This exhibition will be mounted in 2015 in concert with other events around the community, nation and the world to commemorate the Anzac Centenary.

Want to find out more? Click here to read the rest of Museum's Guest Curator Deborah Rechter's blog post. 

His first foray into modern Judaica, Robert Davidov, started creating modern Judaica for his family and friends. This Seder plate is made from brushed stainless steel and white acrylic, and it comes ingeniously flat-packed for easy storage.
The pieces are rich in symbolism but at the same time, very practical - the tiered design saves space at the Pesach table. The irregularly shaped acrylic pieces represent the hand-made matzah they are built to hold, and the stainless steel supports and upper tier feature laser-cut Hebrew words. White ceramic dishes for the symbolic foods sit neatly in holes in the upper tier.

Be sure to visit the Museum Shop for a wide range of beautiful Judaica, books and gifts. 

Jews have forever been people of the book, not just the book but every kind of book. Jewish hunger for the written word is legendary. Now in a new literary event, Melbourne celebrates books and writing by and about Jews. The Museum's Deborah Rechter will be involved in a program called 'Letters From the Collection'. The program will be launched Monday 7 April so keep your eyes peeled for more information and visit www.mjwf.com.au

This 2014 Oscar winning short film is about the remarkable Alice Herz-Sommer, a renowned concert pianist, a distinguished music scholar and, at 109, the oldest Holocaust survivor in the world. Alice is clear-eyed, witty and above all joyful as she shares with us the details of her remarkable life. Screening with Soldier in Art about the work of Arthur Szyk. Thanks to Classic Cinemas we have two double passes to give away. 

For your chance to win email marketing@jewishmuseum.com.au with 'The Lady In No. 6' in the subject line and your name and address in the body of the email.

This multi-award winning film tells the amazing true story of Jean-Marie Lustiger, the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, who maintained his cultural identity as a Jew even after converting to Catholicism at a young age and later joining the priesthood.

For your chance to win email marketing@jewishmuseum.com.au with 'The Jewish Cardinal' in the subject line and your name and address in the body of the email.

A one woman musical play about three generations of women, written & performed by Fiona Stewart. With only 2 Melbourne performances we have a double pass to give away nights on Saturday 3rd of May 8pm and Sunday 4th of May 8 pm at 16th Street Actors Studio, 715 Glenhuntly Rd, Caulfield South.

For your chance to win email marketing@jewishmuseum.com.au with 'Bijou's Secret' in the subject line and your name and address and which date you would like to attend in the body of the email.

Giveaways are for members only. Find out about membership by clicking here.