NCJWA Women's Voices Webinar: Ruptured

Four of the key voices from the best-selling Australian book 'Ruptured: Australian Jewish women reflect on life post October 7' will reflect on the book, its inception, reception and their current lives.

Moderator Julie McCrossin AM is a veteran radio and television broadcaster who spent over 20 years with ABC Radio National, ABC TV and Network Ten. Julie has qualifications in the arts, education and law. In 2019, she was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community, particularly through LGBTIQ advocacy roles and to the broadcast media. Julie has travelled to Israel four times, including two trips hosted by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and a trip in 2024 to attend a conference on Holocaust Education at Yad Vashem. Julie is also a member of NCJWA's Allies Committee.

Dani Valent is a writer based in Melbourne. Known mostly for her food writing and restaurant reviews for The Age, she is also a longtime feature and travel writer, and speaker and host of the Dirty Linen podcast.

Simonne Whine is a project manager turned accidental activist. In the wake of October 7, she founded J-United, a grassroots activist movement mobilising thousands to combat antisemitism and strengthen Jewish identity. Through strategic action she has created platforms for unity, advocacy and empowerment, inspiring others to stand up and take action.

Tamar Paluch trained as an occupational therapist, with a focus on disability rights and community development. October 7 drew her into women-led activism, and she co-founded the InternationALL Women's Day platform and community writing initiative 'A Year Like No Other'. Ruptured is a culmination of these initiatives and her long-held passion for writing, especially on matters of grief, identity and memory. 

Lee Kofman is the Israeli-Australian author of nine books in English and Hebrew, including Imperfect (Affirm Press), which was shortlisted for a Nib Literary Award, Split (Ventura Press), which was longlisted for ABIA and the writing book, The Writer Laid Bare (Ventura Press). She has been teaching and mentoring writers for over twenty years.