Countering antisemitism with education
Sydney Jewish Museum’s redevelopment will feature world-first Peres Centre for Peace displays from Tel Aviv.
The redeveloped Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM) will be the first in the world to feature displays from the Peres Centre for Peace in Tel Aviv.
Members of the community were given the chance last week and earlier this week to see for themselves how the museum’s renovations are progressing at a series of capital appeal events showcasing its important work.
The events included speeches, demonstrations of the museum’s groundbreaking Dimensions in Testimony digital displays, workshops on how it is pivoting to reach younger minds in a new world, and a viewing of the actual construction area.
The redevelopment, which is expected to open in 2027, is being funded by a combination of government grants and major donor contributions. The project will see the museum expanded to include new, modern, tech-enabled galleries and educational spaces.
The new, expanded museum will showcase contemporary stories from the community, highlighting the significant connection between the Jewish community and Israel, and the diversity of Jewish culture in Sydney.
The purpose of the capital appeal is to help bring the displays and the museum’s programs to life.
SJM president Greg Shand told The AJN the sold out capital appeal events had been “very well received”, reflecting community understanding of the museum’s importance.
“I think it’s pretty clear from the response that we’ve been getting, that people actually understand very clearly how important it is for all of us that we have a very strong Sydney Jewish Museum, particularly having regard to what’s going on all around us,” Shand said.
He emphasised that the museum’s new Centre for Contemporary Jewish Life would attract different audiences with fresh reasons to visit the museum.
“There are going to be a whole category of new exhibits, and it will mean that there’ll be a whole new set of reasons for coming to visit the museum, and those will appeal to new audiences,” Shand said.
He also highlighted the museum’s role in combating antisemitism through education, particularly in the wake of October 7.
“Education and being informed is one of the most important antidotes that we have to counter antisemitism,” he said. “Most people are not familiar with the Jewish story, the Jewish culture and the Jewish people. There are too few of us, and this museum is one of the most important tools we have to communicate at a grassroots level with the broader community so they do understand.”
Shand said supporting the redevelopment “is incumbent on all of us”.
“We really need to make this as strong as possible for future generations,” he said.
“We’ve got to make sure that it is here for future generations, and we have to do everything possible to maximise its impact.”
Vice president Jonathan Gavshon told attendees at a capital appeal event last Wednesday evening, “The museum has served as a beacon of truth, tolerance and education ever since it was established 33 years ago.
“It is now at a pivotal point on its journey, developing a new Centre for Contemporary Jewish life, which will sit alongside our Holocaust Museum. It will significantly expand the museum’s reach and impact and will play a key role in the fight against antisemitism.”
Showing community members the build, SJM Foundation director Norman Seligman noted that “at the moment, we are bringing in about 55,000 visitors a year, of which 35,000 are school students, mainly years 10, 11, and 12, 95 per cent are non Jewish”.
“What we are really attempting to do is have exhibitions where you can bring your little grandkids, whether you’re Jewish or non Jewish, learn about Judaism, festivals, customs, food, music, art, whatever it might be,” he said.
“We really would hope to deal with about 70,000 school students by the time we get to 2032, and 100,000 visitors in total.”
Andrew Ross, the grandson of Holocaust survivors and representative of 3G Sydney, noted that Elie Wiesel once said, “Whoever listens to a witness, becomes a witness.”
“As grandchildren of survivors, we are those witnesses now, but one day, even we will not be here,” he said.
“Your generosity to this capital appeal ensures that the Sydney Jewish Museum and programs like 3G Sydney will continue so that future generations can become witnesses too, and ensure that our stories, both the tragic and the joyful, are never forgotten.”
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