Ashamed to Admit

Lee Kofman and her family survived Soviet persecution as refuseniks in the 1970s, but nothing could prepare her for what happened when she tried to support fellow Jewish creatives in Australia after October 7th. The acclaimed author and writing teacher created a WhatsApp group (later vilified as 'Zio600') for Jewish artists and academics, only to see the private conversations leaked and members' personal details publ...

What happens when two passionate Jewish educators decide to reimagine what a Jewish day school could be? Adam Hyman and Eleanor Hasenfratz are bringing a radical new vision to Melbourne's Jewish community with Beit Hillel Community School, set to open in 2026. They caught up with Tami and Dash (both parents of kids in prep) to discuss their vision and why they think Melbourne's Jewish community is ready for this unique mo...

What does it mean to be a Zionist in 2025? Can diaspora Jews shape Israel's future from afar? Tami and Dash caught up with Romy Zyngier, research scientist, community builder, and head of one of the slates contesting Australian elections at this year's World Zionist Congress.

Learn more: https://thejewishindependent.com.au/once-in-a-generation-chance-to-shape-global-jewish-life 

The Jewish Independent does not endorse the v...

In the aftermath of October 7, Zionism and 'Zionists' have been attacked on university campuses and within progressive circles around the world – sometimes with violent consequences. In this episode, Tami and Dash speak with Adam Kirsch, whose essay in The Jewish Quarterly argues that the Jewish people do not need to defend the term – they need to reclaim it.

Adam Kirsch is an American poet and literary critic. He is on th...

In this episode of Ashamed to Admit (recorded prior to war breaking out between Israel and Iran) Tami and Dash unpack Lee Kofman’s essay about the phenomenon of Jews being perceived as white; the complexity, nuance and discomfort. Inspired by Tom Ben David’s piece for TJI, Dash reflects on the emotional gymnastics of holding two truths at once, while Tami recounts her surreal stay at Australia’s only kosher hotel. From Judea to St ...

This week, in a special episode of ATA, we examine the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Iran expert Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a former detainee of the IRGC, shares her insights on how the Iranian regime is responding to what may be its greatest challenge to power since the 1979 revolution. Dash and Tami also connect with two young Australians currently in Israel to bring listeners firsthand accounts from the ground.

Articles ...

Does Judaism have a 'shame' problem? In their first-ever live recording of ATA, Tami and Dash joined the annual festival of Jewish ideas and culture at Limmud Oz. In their lively and packed session, Tami posed a question that's been nagging her recently about shame and Judaism.  To get some answers, they were joined by Rabbi Allison Conyer of Temple Beth Israel and Rabbi Ralph Genende of Kehilat Kesher, two rabbis wi...

Ahead of his appearance at this year's Limmud Oz, Sydney-based psychotherapist, leadership coach and all-around mensch, Brandon Srot, chats with Tami and Dash about saying sorry, broiges and what he calls the "privilege of a lifetime"

Plus, Brando discusses the challenges of therapy in the world after October 7 and reveals his (not so shameful) shame. 

See Tami & Dash in a LIVE recording of Ashamed to Admit at Limm...

Are you interested in Jewish creatives who are making exciting work in lush counter-cultural Australian landscapes? If you answered YES, then you’ve come to the right place. In this episode, Tami chats to dynamic & wildly creative artist Sara Yael about all of her crazy past (and present) lives, her EP “Live at the Knoll” and being part of the arts community post Oct 7. 

Come see Tami & Dash in a LIVE recording of Asham...

Melbourne-based international lawyer and academic Michelle Lesh has spent two decades examining Israel's use – and misuse – of international law, with a particular focus on targeted killings. In this candid interview with Dash, Michelle opens up about recent attacks on Israel's democratic institutions and reflects on the extraordinary legacy of her late husband Mark Baker, whose posthumous memoir A Season of Death was rec...

Jewish educator and meme queen Shoshana Gottlieb aka @jewishmemesonly joins Tami in the studio to answer questions from a non-Jewish person. Except that non-Jewish person didn’t show up (dw, not in an anti-semitic way, she just had a last minute crisis). So Tami and Shoshana made lemons into lemonade, turning the episode into a crash course of Jewish texts with lots of Jewcy tangents. You’ll love this one. 

Buy tickets to the “Jewis...

Award-winning comedian, writer and professional provocateur Sami Shah joins Tami Sussman and Anthony Levin in the studio this week, but he’s not here to answer questions ... he’s here to ask them. In this loose, insightful and hilarious conversation, Sami probes the Anthony and Tami about South East Asian Jews, male circumcision and how they’d like to be buried. Expect laughter, discomfort, surprising insights and a few things you’...

Are you interested in issues affecting Jews in Australia, the Middle East and the world at large but a little bit ashamed that you don’t know much about it all … because you’re like … not Jewish ?  Well you’ve come to the right place!

For the next few episodes, we’ll be inviting someone who isn’t Jewish, to raise all the awkward questions you might be too ashamed to ask.

First up in this week’s spin-off, Tami and co-host Elise Esther...

Are you interested in how Jewish Australians are approaching the upcoming federal election? If you answered YES, then this is the episode for you. 

Join Tami, Dash, (former advisor to Anthony Albanese) Dean Sherr and (former advisor to Malcolm Turnbull) Jack Pinczewski as they have a go at cutting through some seriously chewy and Jewy election topics. 

For more visit The Jewish Independent 

Tami and Dash on Instagram: tami_sussman_bit...

Tami and Dash sit down with social researcher and author Neer Korn to explore the big question: Is Australia actually racist? From synagogue attacks to very public displays of anti-Zionism, Jewish Australians are feeling less safe since October 7. Neer explains why that fear - while understandable - might not reflect the full story. They cover antisemitism, institutional racism and why your average Aussie doesn’t think much about J...

Why does the Australian Jewish community need its own climate advocacy network? In this episode, Tami and Dash sit down with Joel Lazar - CEO of the Jewish Climate Network -  to discuss the intersection of Jewish values and climate responsibility. Joel explains how Jewish teachings inspire environmental stewardship, busts some common myths, shares some illuminating ‘factoids’ and tackles the challenges of climate advocacy in a pola...

Tami sits down with Mizrahi comedian Rapha Manajem to talk about his upcoming Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, The Salmon Was Good. Rapha who proudly claims a Mizrahi/Ashkenazi – and potentially Sri Lankan Jewish – heritage dives into the chaos of identity, family and his most memorable experience as a Jewish youth movement leader. 

As one of many Aussie-Jewish comedians lighting up MICF this year (alongside Jude Perl, ...

In his third book, The Jews: An Indigenous People, author and advocate Ben M Freeman argues that to fully embrace Jewish indigeneity and reject the non-Jewish world’s attempt to impose its thinking upon us, the Jewish people must re-examine the idea that Judaism is a religion. Tami and Dash have some follow-up questions, and in this episode of ATA, Ben M Freeman answers them. 

Articles relevant to this episode: 

https://thejewishinde...

To celebrate the launch of TJI’s Body Image Series ‘Every Body’, Tami and Dash speak to Dietitian, Nutritionist, Author, Podcaster, Ted X Speaker, TV Personality and Influencer Lyndi Cohen. Lyndi discusses her experience growing up as a South African migrant in Sydney's Jewish community and how cultural norms and expectations shaped her relationship with body image and dieting. Together, they unpack the link between diet cultu...