15–22 November 2026 | Melbourne & Sydney
What can a revolutionary Jewish movement from a century ago teach us about solidarity and political action today?
This November, the Jewish Council of Australia is bringing New York Times bestselling author, artist and journalist Molly Crabapple to Australia for four events spanning politics, history, art, music, and community.
Come to one event or join us at both
Molly’s new book, Here Where We Live is Our Country, tells the extraordinary history of the Jewish Labour Bund from 1897-1945 — a mass Jewish socialist movement that fought antisemitism, nationalism, Zionism and fascism, built unions, schools, cultural institutions and organised workers across Eastern Europe.
At its heart was the Yiddish idea of doikayt — “hereness”: that Jews should fight for freedom and dignity where they lived, in solidarity with others.
At a time when Jewish identity is so often presented as synonymous with Israel and Zionism, the story of the Bund offers another Jewish political inheritance: one of resistance to nationalism and racism, collective struggle, and an understanding that Jewish freedom is bound up with the freedom of others.
We’re bringing Molly to Australia to ask what that history means now — at a moment when Palestinian liberation demands our solidarity, the far right is growing internationally, and questions of nationalism, racism and belonging are again shaping our politics.
Across Melbourne and Sydney, there are two ways to join us.
In Conversation with Molly Crabapple
Our Sydney and Melbourne conversation events will take a deep dive into Molly’s book and the remarkable political world of the Bund: revolution in the Russian Empire, mass worker organising, fascism and resistance — and what these political traditions can offer us in the present.
Melbourne — 17 November | ACMI
Molly Crabapple in conversation with Sarah Schwartz
Sydney — 18 November | State Library of NSW
Molly Crabapple in conversation with Louise Adler
Here Where We Live: An Evening of Solidarity
Our larger solidarity events include a new conversation with Molly and also bring together Jewish, Palestinian artists, writers, musicians and organisers to explore what we can learn from the Bund for our work today: across struggles for Palestinian liberation, workers’ rights and racial justice; confronting the far right; and building resilient movements fighting for something better.
Melbourne — 15 November | Hope Street Radio
Featuring Molly Crabapple, Micaela Sahhar, Jafra Dabke and Jude Perl, with more to be announced.
Sydney — 22 November | The Underground
Featuring Molly Crabapple, Sarah Schwartz, Sara M. Saleh and Vox Canvas, with more to be announced.
Molly Crabapple is a Jewish Puerto Rican-American artist, journalist and author based in New York. Known for her political illustration and live-illustrated reportage, she has documented conflicts and human rights issues from Guantanamo Bay to war-torn Syria, and her artwork is featured in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.