SBS Hebrew - אס בי אס בעברית

In this interview, we speak with Sima Shine, a former senior Mossad official and leading voice at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies about the rapidly evolving confrontation between Israel, Iran and the United States. As Washington intensifies economic pressure and military posturing, we explore the strategic calculus behind sanctions, blockades and the threshold for direct strikes on critical infrastructure such as Kharg Island. Shine unpacks whether economic warfare can achieve deterrence, or whether it risks tipping into a broader regional conflict. We also examine the role of Iran's proxy network, including Hezbollah, the limits of ceasefire frameworks and how intelligence assessments shape decision-making in real time. Ultimately, the conversation asks: are we witnessing a controlled pressure campaign, or the early stages of a much wider war?

SBS Hebrew explores Israel's constitutional crisis through the lenses of constitutional law expert Suzie Navot and University of NSW law scholar Noam Peleg. They examine the country's unusual separation of powers, the impact of judicial reforms, concerns about democratic erosion, and the competing forces of protest, resilience and political fragmentation.

Dr. Joseph Toltz, a researcher at the University of Sydney, discusses the recovery and significance of ‘Out of the Depths', a rare 1945 Yiddish songbook. Compiled in liberated Bucharest, the collection documents the immediate musical testimonies of Holocaust survivors.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית. והשבועהמרד הערבי הגדול, משפט אייכמן, ועוד.

בערב חמישי האחרון צוין חג המימונה בקהילות יהודיות וישראליות בארץ ובעולם. בצל המלחמה ואי-הוודאות סביב הפסקת האש, בחרו בקהילות באוסטרליה להתכנס יחד, לפתוח את הדלתות ולחגוג את ערכי הרעות והכנסת האורחים, גם הרחק מהבית.

Sara Kowal is a researcher at Monash University specialising in international law and human rights. In this interview, she shares her perspective on Israel's move to introduce the death penalty for certain terrorism - related offences, where she examines the legal basis for the law, how it may apply in the West Bank and also the broader implications for international humanitarian law. Additionally, Kowal discusses Israel's potential wider political and diplomatic standing globally, if this law comes into effect.

Tomer Peretz is an Israeli - American artist whose work has been deeply shaped by lived experience of conflict and trauma. Following the events of October 7, he volunteered with ZAKA which included unfathomable tasks such as entering homes where scenes of profound devastation had taken place. In the wake of that experience, Peretz turned to art not only as personal processing, but as a form of response and reconstruction which helped him reach what he calls ‘PTG' - post traumatic growth. He went on to establish the LA - based “8 Project” an initiative that uses art residencies and workshops to support trauma survivors, offering creative expression as a pathway through grief, memory and psychological recovery. His work now sits at the intersection of art, trauma and healing, exploring how image - making can hold what language often cannot.

Nowruz marks the Persian New Year - a time for new beginnings, but for many in Melbourne's Iranian and Jewish communities, this year's celebration is shaped by worry for loved ones in Iran and in Israel. In this special SBS Hebrew feature, we bring you voices from this unique gathering - where people came together despite distance, uncertainty and grief, finding connection and shared hope for the year ahead.

Rabbi Allison Conyer is a highly experienced international Reform rabbi with a rich background in Jewish education, interfaith work, and community engagement. Though she was ordained as a rabbi in New York, she is the first woman rabbi in New South Wales. She joined Temple Beth Israel in March 2024, and with a diverse and rich background in psychology and leadership, she orchestrates a welcoming community.

Dr Anne Aly MP reflects on Australia's multiculturalism and makes the point that diversity is Australia's national identity, but urges that it is not something we should take for granted, "pluralism is not something we can take our eye off - it didn't happen by accident."

Dave Sharma knows Australia's Jewish community well. In conversation with Michael Bartura, Sharma reflects on his time as Australian Ambassador to Israel, how he can use his public platform to bridge different communities to one another and why he puts harmony at the centre of everything he does.

We speak with SBS Chief Foreign Correspondent Ben Lewis who examines the rapidly escalating Iran – Israel / US conflict and the growing global fallout. From maritime threats in the Strait of Hormuz to surging energy costs and mounting geopolitical tension, we explore the economic shockwaves of a prolonged blockade and the risks of further escalation across the Middle East. We also discuss whether Israeli and US actions signal strategic coordination between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, and whether the latest military moves are designed to pressure Iran or widen the conflict.

On the sidelines of Harmony Week, Rabbi Zalman Kastel, founder of Together for Humanity, shared with SBS Hebrew reflections on the urgent need for genuine harmony in an increasingly divided Australia. Addressing rising animosity and the "tokenism" of multicultural celebrations, he explores how social media fuels aggression. Rabbi Kastel emphasizes that while education must start at home, interfaith collaboration remains a vital tool for reclaiming our shared human spirit.

In a conversation with SBS Hebrew during Harmony Week, Allegra Spender (Federal Member for Wentworth) reflects on Harmony Week, warning that rising antisemitism—highlighted after the Bondi terrorist attack—requires urgent action. She argues that building connections, especially among young people, is key to restoring social cohesion and ensuring Australians can “disagree well” without deepening divisions.

SBS Chief Foreign Correspondent in conversation with Israeli opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, Sima Shine from the Institute for National Security Studies and Likud MK, Amit Halevi.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית. והשבוע, אובדן פצצת מימן בחוף ספרד, הנאום האחרון של מרטין לותר קינג, ועוד.

It's been almost three months since the Jewish community gathered to celebrate Chanukah at Sydney's Bondi beach, and 15 people were killed in Australia's worse Terror attack. Images of 43-year-old Syrian-Australian father-of-two Ahmed Al- Ahmed tackling and disarming one of the gunmen, went viral around the world. In the run up to Harmony Week, Ahmed joined the SBS Hebrew and Arabic teams to talk about his journey from his childhood in Syria to his ongoing recovery, and share a powerful message on what it truly means to be Australian in a time of crisis.

משה לוי, אחד המוזיקאים העסוקים והמוערכים בישראל הגיע לפני חודש להופיע באוסטרליה יחד עם שלום חנוך איתו הוא מופיע מעל ל-4 עשורים ועם נכדו של חנוך - עמרי קרן. לפני כשבועיים, בדרכו לשדה התעופה גילה שהחלה מלחמה עם איראן וטיסתו בוטלה. מעז יצא מתוק וביום ראשון הקרוב יופיע לוי פה במלבורן יחד עם אוהד ריין וסימון סטאר.

Ramak Bamzar is an Iranian-Australian artist whose photography turns the faces of those killed in Iran's protest movement into powerful acts of resistance against oppression. From Australia, she uses her work to defy the administration's violence whilst she expresses cautious hope that the recent death of Ayatollah Khamenei could open the door to a freer, more open Iran.

Afro-Brazilian Australian Jewish writer and academic Guido Melo says artificial intelligence systems may unintentionally reinforce antisemitic stereotypes. Speaking about his research using AI image generators, he found prompts about Jewish people frequently returned images that were male-dominated, culturally narrow, or aggressive. Melo says the issue reflects the data AI learns from online and highlights the need for stronger media literacy and counter-narratives.

On the sidelines of International Women's Day 2026, veteran journalist Melissa Singer reflects on her career in journalism and the evolving Australian media landscape. Speaking about her work with Sunday Life, she explores how storytelling can reveal unexpected sides of public figures, the challenges facing Australian journalism, and the impact of algorithms and social media on public debate. Singer also offers advice for aspiring reporters navigating a rapidly changing media environment.

SBS Hebrew Mariel Olenski caught up with SBS Foreign Correspondence Ben Lewis for a deep dive on the situation on the ground in Israel.

As we have just celebrated the festival of Purim this week, lawyer and journalist Nomi Kaltmann joins SBS to explore the historical and cultural parallels between the ancient Persian story at the heart of the holiday and present-day Iran. The Purim narrative, told in the biblical Book of Esther, recounts how a plot to destroy the Jewish people in the Persian Empire was ultimately thwarted through courage and political intervention. Kaltmann reflects on how this ancient story set in Persia, modern day Iran, continues to resonate today amidst rising tensions in the Middle East.

We speak with Ben Lewis reporting from Israel about the rapidly shifting dynamics of the Israel–US campaign against Iran. As the conflict escalates, Lewis examines the strategic objectives behind the military pressure on Tehran, the question of succession surrounding Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and how ordinary Iranians are coping with the backdrop of war. Our conversation also explores the differences in American and Israeli expectations about what comes after the campaign, the risk of a widening regional conflict with Hezbollah and what an escalating northern front could mean for the Gaza Strip.

We are in conversation with Mastaneh Nazarian, an Iranian born musician, composer and guitarist based in Melbourne. Mastaneh reflects on the war in her country of origin, her identity and perspectives on a more peaceful future.

SBS Hebrew caught up with Goldie, a SmartAid Global Goodwill Ambassador, as she prepares to join other influential Jewish Women -from filmmakers to journalists- to celebrate the intersection of International Women's Day and Jewish Excellence.

Joel Burnie is a prominent Australian commentator, policy analyst and the Executive Manager of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC). Together we discuss the current and potential geopolitical and strategic fallout in Iran following the intense kintetic campaign led by the USA and Israel.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית

Jewish Australians are being urged to share their "lived experiences of antisemitism" as the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion began, setting out the parameters of its investigation.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית

In this episode, we welcome Professor Ben Saul from the University of Sydney who is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism, and his insights and experience are relevant to exploring the recent state visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. What started as an invitation by the Australian government and The Zionist Federation of Australia to enhance solidarity in the wake of the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack has become a point of contention, with both warm welcomes from the vast majority of the Jewish community and angry protests on the streets of Sydney and Melbourne about Israeli actions in Gaza. Professor Saul talks about the recent amendments to laws around the protests; and the issue of criticism of Israel in the context of rising antisemitism and the challenge of ascertaining what is hate speech and what is a legitimate free speech.

לכבוד ראש השנה הסיני הגיע SBS למסעדת Hoppy Dumpling לראות את הגרסה של המקום למנהג אכילת כיסונים (דמפלינגס) בראש השנה

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית

האירוע "Afternoon of Light & Solidarity" שהתקיים במלבורן לכבוד נשיא ישראל חתם את ביקורו בן הארבעה ימים באוסטרליה. הגענו למקום לדבר עם חברי הקהילה היהודית במלבורן ועם אנשי ציבור ולהביא לכם כאן את הקולות מהאירוע.

Norman Abraham Faifer was posthumously awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) 2026 for his contribution to the building and construction industry and to the Jewish community.

אנחנו ממשיכים לדווח על ביקורו של נשיא ישראל באוסטרליה - בדיווח היום - עימותים ואלימות משטרתית בהפגנות אתמול בסידני שהובילו למעצרם של כ-27 איש ובנוסף - נאומו של הנשיא הרצוג מול אלפי אנשים מהקהילה היהודית במרכז הכנסים הבינלאומי בסידני.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Australia has unfolded against a backdrop of grief, diplomacy and political tension. Speaking at the Bondi Pavilion, Mr Herzog commemorated the lives lost at the Hanukkah celebration on December 14.

רותם, שזכתה בתואר אלופת העולם לנוער בשנת 2015, הגיעה למקום הרביעי ב-2022 באולימפיאדת החירשים בברזיל, למקום השישי ב-2025 באולימפיאדת החרשים בטוקיו בדצמבר האחרון ולמקום הרביעי בתחרות של ה-AO 2026 שהסתיימה בראשון במלבורן, סיפרה לנו על המקומות האהובים עליה לשחק, על האתגרים השנה ועל התכנית שלה לשנה הבאה.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית

SBS Hebrew spoke to Chaya Barber and Yoni Paluch from the Jewish Care team to understand how the organisation supports families who are struggling with rising costs and mental stress, and how do they think this week's rate increase could further impact those in need.

In this podcast we discuss what exactly the role of an Israeli Trade Commissioner is, how the Commissioner helps accelerate Israeli business in a competitive environment abroad, how the Israeli economy is tracking in a mid-war status and what names of Israeli businesses we should keep an eye on! We also discuss the upcoming Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv which includes guests like Elon Musk, Miri Regev and executive director of group innovation at Volkswagen, Dr Nikolai Audrey.

Adam Louis-Klein is a writer, anthropologist, and musician, currently completing a PhD in Anthropology at McGill University. His work explores Jewish peoplehood, Jewish sovereignty, and contemporary forms of anti-Jewish hate, drawing connections between civilisational identity and the politics of indigeneity. SBS Hebrew talked to him about his work and understanding of the current times - in particular his analysis of Antizionism as a mythological phenomenon.

Maurice Joseph Kensell, better known as Joe, has received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 2026 for his service to the Jewish community and the preservation of history. Joe has spent decades compiling nearly 180 years of Jewish marriage records in Australia, creating a unique archive that fills gaps between religious and civil history. While documenting marriages, Kensell uncovered lesser-known aspects of early colonial life, from wartime unions and informal ceremonies to broader social conditions shaping the colony. His research also led to unexpected discoveries, including identifying the unmarked grave of Australia's first police detective, a Jewish convict.

SBS בעברית בדיווח מיוחד לקראת פתיחתו המתוכננת של המעבר היום - ה-1 לפברואר 2026, בשעות הבוקר לפי שעון ישראל.

Recently awarded an Australia Day Honour, Debra Korman credits her recognition to the sixty volunteers serving her weekly food van for 21 years. Beyond her communal leadership at Kehilat Nitzan, Debra shares the moving story of welcoming an Iranian asylum seeker into her family, whose journey to citizenship and reunion embodies her belief in kindness's ripple effect.

איזי מן מספר מה היה השבוע בהיסטוריה העולמית והישראלית

As Pride Month begins on Monday we spoke with David Klarnett, president of "Dayenu" - a Sydney-based group for the Jewish LGBTQ+ community and its allies - about the community feelings, the new arrangements for Mardi Gras and tips for celebrating Pride

In this conversation, Australian, Soviet, Israeli writer and editor Lee Kofman reflects on how she began her writing career in English, her third language, and what it has meant to claim her literary voice across cultures and countries. We talk about her early love of the classics such as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, and how reading shaped her ambition and how literature shapes her thinking. Lee also shares her thoughts on love, spirituality, philosophy and the uneasy but compelling intersections between sexuality and intimate relationships. We even talk about polyamory. Wide-ranging and intimate, this discussion explores writing as both craft and inquiry, a way of making meaning, desire and belonging intelligible.

במסגרת הסדרה שלנו על בדידות דיברנו עם תמי בן שאול, פסיכולוגית קלינית שעזרה לנו להבין איך הגירה משפיעה עלינו כמהגרות ומהגרים וגם על ילדינו, האם גיל משפיע על הגירה, מהן חברות קולקטיביסטיות לעומת חברות אינדיוידואליסטיות ועוד.

The 2026 Adelaide Writers Festival collapsed after the board dropped Palestinian Australian author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, triggering mass boycotts, resignations and a national argument over artistic freedom and cultural safety. Arts policy expert Noe Harsel and writer Joshua Dabelstein reflect on cancellation culture, its impact on antisemitism and, what a truly open, safe conversation might look like.

In a conversation with SBS Hebrew, Stand Up's Nick Gerstel reflects on the multiple meanings of January 26, from celebration to mourning. He discusses truth-telling, education, and the importance of dialogue, highlighting a long-running program connecting Jewish young adults with First Nations communities to foster listening, solidarity, and shared understanding.