Sydney Jewish Museum launches guide course

Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM) has announced a new course for volunteer guides and is keen to enlist new members for its team.

Toby Hammerman an eight-year veteran volunteer guide, said he was motivated to do the course and join the guide team after retirement, having seen “the amazing impact the museum has within the community and in broader society”.

Guiding is the heart of the SJM’s education program, said senior educator Lee-Anne Whitten.

“When our expanded museum reopens in 2027, we expect to double our annual number of visitors to 100,000 – most of them students,” she said.

“We’ll need twice as many guides help to share with them the museum’s rich collection of objects and inspiring stories.”

The new Generation to Generation course (G2G 2026) – in two stages – is an essential prerequisite to be eligible to become an SJM guide.

Stage One – The Holocaust – runs from February to July (excluding NSW school holidays) and is open to new guides only.

Stage Two – Centre for Contemporary Jewish Life – is open to new and current SJM guides. It is designed to give participants the knowledge and skills to guide in the museum’s planned, new Contemporary Jewish Life galleries as well as its existing Holocaust exhibition.

“Beyond the outreach aspect, as the son of a Holocaust survivor, the course has helped me understand the context of my father’s family history,” Hammerman said.

“It strengthened my desire to tell the story to generations who have little or no exposure. The course was stimulating, thought-provoking and gave me the tools to be able confidently to enjoy the guiding experience.

“I highly recommend it.”

Hammerman has particularly enjoyed the progression from story-

telling to object or artefact-based guiding.

“I also like the reaction of school students and other visitors as they become involved with the displays,” he said.

“After initial reservations about whether I had the inner strength to tell these stories and engage with young people of varying backgrounds, the techniques taught in the course and all the positive feedback helped allay those fears. I feel an emotional connection to my father and his extended family every time I enter the museum. I know they would have wanted their stories to be told.”

For more information visit: www.sydneyjewishmuseum.com.au/guide-course or email guidecourse@sjm.com.au