Jewish Poetry Project – The Door is Always Open

The Jewish Poetry Project – The Door is Always Open
Welcome! This year, Sydney Jewish Writers Festival invites you to experience a fresh take on the festival: the Jewish Poetry Project, an immersive, month-long outdoor exhibition of Jewish poetry under the theme The Door is Always Open. Wander around our five poetry installations and share space, ideas, and stories.
Explore Jewish poetry spanning centuries and continents, from ancient psalms to contemporary lyrics and haiku. Each poem reflects universal themes of love, grief, friendship, migration, and the moments that shape us all.
Pause, interact, and contribute:
- Hear poems come alive via QR codes
- Create your own verses on a magnetic-word wall
- Take a photo and share your favourite poem
Visiting with little people? Register HERE to receive our free printable kids’ activity pack and let them engage with the exhibition while you browse the poetry.
This is a space for everyone. Wander, reflect, and make your mark. The door is always open.
With thanks to
Yehuda Amichai (1924–2000)
One of Israel’s most celebrated poets, Amichai pioneered modern Hebrew poetry with his conversational style.
His work blends the personal and the collective, touching on love, war, memory, and Jewish identity, and remains internationally acclaimed for its intimacy and historical depth.
David M. Bader
Author of Haikus for Jews, Bader brings sharp humour and wit to Jewish traditions. His playful “chai-kus” combine the 5-7-5 structure of Japanese haiku with reflections on ritual, family, and everyday Jewish life, turning humour into cultural connection.
Emma Lazarus (1849–1887)
An American Jewish poet and activist, Lazarus is best remembered for The New Colossus, engraved on the Statue of Liberty.
Her work championed Jewish causes and immigrant dignity, offering a vision of inclusion, resilience, and compassion that continues to inspire.
Adi Keissar
An award-winning Israeli poet and founder of Ars Poetica, Keissar reclaims Mizrahi identity through poetry and performance.
Her collection Black on Black draws from her Yemenite roots, blending intimacy and bold cultural activism into a powerful literary voice.
Moses Ibn Ezra (1055–1138)
One of the great Hebrew poets of medieval Spain, Ibn Ezra wrote philosophical and liturgical poems that shaped Sephardi tradition.
His verse combines beauty, melancholy, and spiritual reflection. F ate Has Blocked the Way reveals his enduring legacy as both poet and thinker.
Leonard Cohen (1934–2016)
Internationally renowned Canadian singer, songwriter, novelist, and poet. Cohen’s work blends spirituality, love, and longing, with Anthem — “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in” — standing as one of his most enduring, spiritual contributions.
Yael Statman
Tel Aviv-based poet and developmental psychologist. Her acclaimed debut collection Concerning That Burning explores love, motherhood, loss, and the intersections of psychology and poetry, offering tender yet sharp insights into everyday life.
Rabbi Shelomo Halevi Alkabets (1505-1584)
Rabbi, kabbalist (Jewish mystic), composer and poet, Alkabets was born in the Ottoman city of Salonia. He later settled in Safed, where he made significant contributions to Kabbalah and spiritual life. Lecha Dodi is a hymn sung in synagogues worldwide to greet the Sabbath.
Joanne Fedler
South-African born, Fedler is the author of 15 books, a writing mentor and ocean swimmer. A Fulbright scholar who 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, Fedler shares a glimpse of her mother in The Gatekeeper.
Shoshana Gottlieb
Sydney-based Jewish writer and poet. Her work often explores tradition, community, and contemporary Jewish life, using humour and intimacy to connect with readers. Open is the Tent reflects her voice as part of the new generation of Jewish creatives.
Alex Skovron
Polish-born Australian poet and writer, Skovron has published multiple award-winning collections of poetry and fiction.
His work often explores themes of memory, migration, and imagination. House reflects his lyrical style and capacity to turn personal experience into universal resonance.
Anna Jacobson
Award-winning Brisbane poet, writer, and visual artist. Her works, including Amnesia Findings and Anxious in a Sweet Store, explore memory, mental health, identity, and creativity. Bondi Palimpsest captures her layered, intimate approach to place and experience.
Miriam Hechtman
Australian poet, journalist, and founder of Poetica, a live poetry and music initiative. Her poetry often explores Jewish identity, relationships, and belonging. I Am For reflects her deep engagement with voice, memory, and interconnection.
Jessica Chapnik Kahn
Argentine-Australian singer-songwriter, actor, and writer. Her creative work spans music, prose, and poetry, marked by emotional depth and cultural reflection. In Waiting by Windows, she brings together lyricism and vulnerability in an intimate poetic voice.
Marina Epstein
Ukraine-born and Sydney-based, Epstein writes with lyricism about spirituality, exile, and belonging. Her poem At the Wailing Wall, inspired by a 1985 visit to Jerusalem, captures both the holiness of the site and her personal journey toward faith and meaning.
Lior Attar (Lior)
Acclaimed Australian-Israeli singer-songwriter known simply as Lior. His music blends folk, world, and classical influences, with lyrics rich in spirituality, identity, and human connection. Daniel showcases his gift for weaving storytelling with melody.
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