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Dr Avril Alba

BA(Hons)/BMus (Adelaide), MTS (Harvard), PhD (Sydney)
Roth Lecturer in Holocaust Studies and Jewish Civilisation

A18 - Brennan MacCallum Building
The University of Sydney

Telephone +61 2 9351 5226

Biographical details

Prior to joining the Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies in 2012, Avril was the Education Director at the Sydney Jewish Museum where she also served as the Project Director/Curator for the refurbishment of the museum’s permanent exhibition Culture and Continuity: Journey through Judaism. Her doctoral thesis, currently under preparation for publication as book-length monograph, explored the largely unexamined topic of museums as sacred spaces. At present, Avril is undertaking research into Holocaust memory in its broader context and in particular the efficacy of this memory in the Australian public sphere. Avril welcomes enquiries from prospective Honours, Masters and PhD students in these and related areas.

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Research interests

  • Holocaust history, memory and representation
  • Museums and memorials
  • Modern Jewish history
  • Jewish theology/ post Holocaust theology

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Teaching and supervision

Teaching

  • JCTC 2605 From Emancipation to the Holocaust
  • JCTC 2606 The Holocaust: History and Aftermath
  • JCTC 6915 Contemporary Responses to the Holocaust

Supervision

  • Holocaust memoir and literature

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Current projects

Avril is continuing her research into Holocaust museums, memorials and commemoration through a collaborative project that will seek to ascertain the influence and reach of Holocaust memory in the Australian context. The scope of the research will include a comparative study of the commemorative strategies of ethnic and cultural groups that have suffered racist persecution and/or genocide, and in particular the commemorative initiatives of indigenous Australians.

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Associations

Avril continues to serve as an advisor to the Sydney Jewish Museum for current exhibition and education projects as well as commemorative initiatives.

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Selected publications

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Journals

  • Alba, A. (2009). Testifying to the Holocaust. Australian Jewish Historical Society. Journal, 19(3), 434-437.
  • Alba, A. (2007). Displaying the Sacred: Australian Holocaust Memorials in Public Life. Holocaust Studies: a journal of culture and history, 13(2-3), 151-172.
  • Alba, A. (2005). Integrity and Relevance: Shaping Holocaust Memory at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Judaism, 54(31-32), 108-115.

Magazine / Newspaper Articles

  • Alba, A. (2004). After Such Knowledge: Representation and Responsibility. Metro Magazine: Australian Screen Education, 35.

2009

  • Alba, A. (2009). Testifying to the Holocaust. Australian Jewish Historical Society. Journal, 19(3), 434-437.

2007

  • Alba, A. (2007). Displaying the Sacred: Australian Holocaust Memorials in Public Life. Holocaust Studies: a journal of culture and history, 13(2-3), 151-172.

2005

  • Alba, A. (2005). Integrity and Relevance: Shaping Holocaust Memory at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Judaism, 54(31-32), 108-115.

2004

  • Alba, A. (2004). After Such Knowledge: Representation and Responsibility. Metro Magazine: Australian Screen Education, 35.
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