MELBOURNE: A culture on the up in the city down under

Australia’s first Jewish settlers were swindlers, robbers and prostitutes: who knew? This is just one of many stories from ‘down under’ that features in our special Melbourne issue. We meet the musicians, performers, writers and artists at the heart of the city’s Jewish cultural revival; uncover its rich Yiddish history and hear from the activists who are putting refugee and aboriginal rights at the heart of their Jewish identity. Nearer home, we examine the burst of creativity coming out of Israel right now, especially in its TV shows, fiction and technology. Read an exclusive short story by Lynne Reid Banks, which offers a reflection on the Russian ‘refuseniks’ who emigrated to the country. Plus, we speak to Ida&Louise, a duo reviving female Jewish poetry through music, explore Jewish feminist fantasy fiction and discover the stories of India’s Bollywood Jews.