The John and Anna Belfer Oration in the History of Jewish Philosophy

The Belfer Oration is an annual public lecture celebrating the rich legacy of Jewish philosophical inquiry. Hosted jointly by the Notre Dame Centre for the History of Philosophy and the Great Synagogue Sydney, the Oration brings a leading scholar to Sydney each year to explore a theme in the Jewish philosophical tradition. The Belfer Oration seeks to deepen both academic and public understanding of this tradition, highlighting its relevance for Jews and non-Jews alike.

The 2026 Belfer Oration

The 2026 Belfer Oration will take place on 1 July at The Great Synagogue, Sydney.

The 2026 Belfer Orator is Rabbi Dr Samuel Lebens (University of Haifa). The title of the Oration is: ‘Is Free Will an Illusion? Authoring the Story of Our Lives, with Hasdai Crescas and Joseph Albo’.

Please register here.

The 2025 Belfer Oration

The 2025 Orator: Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton

Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton is Chief Minister of The Great Synagogue, Sydney. Born in Manchester, England, Rabbi Elton earned an MA in History at Queens’ College, Cambridge, and a PhD in Jewish History at Birkbeck, University of London. In addition to his 2009 book, Britain’s Chief Rabbis and the Religious Character of Anglo-Jewry, 1880–1970, he has authored several articles on Anglo-Jewish and Australian Jewish religious history and theology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of London and an Honorary Associate at the Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies at the University of Sydney.

The 2025 Oration: The First Rabbinic Philosopher: Saadia Gaon (882–942)

Saadia ibn Yusuf al-Fayyumi (882–942), known as Rav Saadia Gaon, transformed Jewish intellectual life in multiple spheres, including biblical exegesis and Hebrew grammar, as well as the focus of this lecture, Jewish philosophy. Although Saadia was not quite the first Jew of his epoch to engage in philosophy, he was by far the most significant Jewish philosopher since Philo of Alexandria 900 years earlier. After Saadia, philosophy remained central to rabbinic Judaism continuously for the next 550 years. It seems, then, that Saadia was responsible for a clear and lasting change in the place philosophical exploration held in Jewish religious and intellectual life. This Oration asks why and how Saadia achieved this transformation of the role of philosophy in Judaism, why he was the first rabbinic philosopher, and to what extent his efforts ensured that he was far from the last.

Our partners

The Belanna Trust

The Oration is generously endowed by the Belanna Trust in memory of John and Anna Belfer. Born in 1919 in Harbin, China, to Jewish parents fleeing Russian pogroms, John Belfer arrived in Australia as a Yiddish-speaking child. He served in WWII, built a successful accounting practice, and became a respected accountant in post-war Australia. With his wife Anna, he created a home of warmth and hospitality in Mosman. Together, John and Anna Belfer embodied the best of the immigrant journey—resilience, integrity, and a deep commitment to both Jewish heritage and Australian society.

The Great Synagogue Sydney

The Great Synagogue has historical roots tracing back to the sixteen Jewish people who arrived in Australia on the First Fleet in 1788. Founded in March 1878, it was the first Jewish congregation in Australia and serves as the Mother Congregation of Australian Jewry. Today, The Great Synagogue is home to a vibrant and engaged community of over eight hundred people.