The University of Notre Dame Australia has established an institutional partnership with The Great Synagogue Sydney to advance the understanding of the history of Jewish philosophy in Australia.
The University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Synagogue on 21 July, agreeing to work together to promote academic and public understanding of the history of Jewish philosophy in Australia.
Also party to the agreement is the Belanna Trust, which has generously funded a flagship initiative in this partnership -the John and Anna Belfer Oration in the History of Jewish Philosophy.
The Belfer Oration will bring a distinguished scholar of the history of Jewish philosophy to Sydney each year to deliver the Oration and participate in academic activities at Notre Dame's Centre for the History of Philosophy.
The inaugural Oration was held last month at The Great Synagogue, bringing hundreds of guests from multiple faith communities to the historic place of worship to hear a lecture on the medieval Jewish philosopher Saadia Gaon, delivered by Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton.
Notre Dame's partnership with The Great Synagogue supports the Centre for the History of Philosophy's new academic initiative focused on the study of the history of Jewish philosophy and strengthens its specialisation in the History of Philosophy in the Abrahamic Traditions.
Co-Director of the Centre for the History of Philosophy, Associate Professor Nathan Lyons, said this partnership between a Christian and a Jewish institution was the start of a "really enriching intellectual journey".
"Philosophy is core business in the three Abrahamic traditions and we want our Centre to create a new space for these traditions to learn from each other – we all think better when we think together," he said.
The partnership between Notre Dame and The Great Synagogue will include adult education offerings in Jewish philosophy.
Notre Dame will launch a new history of Jewish philosophy course in Semester 1 2026, which will be open to external students and will be taught by Senior Research Fellow in the History of Jewish Philosophy, Dr Raphael Dascalu.
