Join us to celebrate the launch of Ruptured: Jewish Women in Australian Reflect on Life Post-October 7, a powerful new collection of essays by thirty-six Jewish Australian women. Michaela Kalowski will host a panel discussion with co-editor Lee Kofman and Sydney contributors Lisa Goldberg and Joanne Fedler.

About the book

In this powerful collection of personal essays, thirty-six Australian Jewish women, including Ramona Koval, Dani Valent, Kerri Sackville, Deborah Conway, Rachelle Unreich and Kylie Moore-Gilbert, reveal how their lives were turned upside down in the wake of October 7 attacks.

Our hope is that these essays, the opportunities they offer to hear and understand us, can become tools for repairing the rupture between our community and the world around us.

The world changed irrevocably on October 7, 2023.

From race-walker Jemima Montag's account of competing in the Olympics as a Jewish athlete, to actress Dena Amy Kaplan encountering hostility when she speaks against Jew-hatred, to author Elise Esther Hearst's attempts to find solace in making comedy, Ruptured showcases compelling true stories where narrators reflect on the profound rift created that day and their attempts to mend it.

Events details

7-8pm followed by refreshments and book signing by the contributors.

This event is held in partnership with NCJWA and NCJWA NSW

Speaker bios

Lee Kofman

Dr Lee Kofman is the author of six books, including a book on writing, The Writer Laid Bare (Ventura Press, 2022), memoirs Imperfect (Affirm Press, 2019), which was shortlisted for Nib Literary Award, and The Dangerous Bride (Melbourne University Press, 2014). She is the editor of Split (Ventura Press, 2019), which was longlisted for ABIA Awards – anthologies of memoir by prominent Australian authors. She also co-edited Rebellious Daughters (Ventura Press, 2016) and Ruptured (LJLA, 2025). Her short works have been widely published in Australia and overseas. Lee regularly speaks at literary events, judges literary awards, mentors writers and teaches writing.

Joanne Fedler

Joanne Fedler is the author of 15 books, a writing mentor and ocean swimmer. She has a Master’s degree in law from Yale, is a Fulbright scholar and was once named Asshole of the Month by Hustler magazine for her work to expose the impact of violent pornography on gender equality in South Africa. Her next writing retreats are in Portugal and Hydra in 2026. www.joannefedler.com

Michaela Kalowski

Michaela Kalowski is an interviewer, moderator & curator for writers and ideas festivals. Highlight interviews include Margaret Atwood, Amos Oz, Markus Zusak and Jane Harper. From 2020 to 2024 she curated Big Weekend of Books, ABC RN’s annual on-air writers’ festival. She produces an hosts a monthly books conversation event for Petersham Bowling Club. Michaela has conducted radio interviews and presented programs across ABC radio & TV. She is co-presenter and co-writer of a two-part podcast for ABC RN, tracing part of her family’s history, called Laya’s Way Home.

Lisa Goldberg

Lisa Goldberg co-founded the Monday Morning Cooking Club project, publishing four cookbooks from 2011-2020 which document and preserve recipes and stories from Jewish kitchens across Australia and the world. A fifth book - a ‘Jewish kitchen and tradition’ guide for the next generation - is due in early 2026. Lisa has a YouTube food show (“Walking up an Appetite”) and has become a social media advocate for the Jewish community since October 2023.

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