Dr Michael Abrahams-Sprod

PhD (Sydney), MA (UNSW), Grad Dip Ed (UNSW), BA (UNSW)
Honorary Associate
Casual Lecturer in Jewish Civilisation, Thought and Culture

A18 - Brennan MacCallum Building
The University of Sydney

Telephone + 61 2 9036 6122

Biographical details

Dr Michael Abrahams-Sprod is an historian, linguist and educator at the secondary, tertiary and adult education levels. He currently occupies an executive position at a Sydney high school and is qualified to teach French, German, Russian and history, has held both educational and professional leadership positions and has conducted research, lectured, presented and taught both in Australia and extensively abroad. His PhD dissertation (2006) entitled: Life under Siege: The Jews of Magdeburg under Nazi Rule was launched in German translation in November 2011 to much public acclaim by the eminent German publisher, Mitteldeutscher Verlag, under the title: "Und dann warst du auf einmal ausgestoßen!" Die Magdeburger Juden während der NS-Herrschaft. Dr Abrahams-Sprod also occupies part-time teaching positions in Jewish history and Holocaust studies at The Shalom Institute, The University of Sydney and UNSW; is Head of Education and Historical Advisor for B’nai B’rith’s Courage to Care program and the President of the Australian Association of Jewish Studies. Dr Abrahams-Sprod’s key academic research interests include: German-Jewish history since its inception, German-speaking Jewry under Nazism and the history of Zionism.

Research interests

  • German-speaking Jewry under Nazism;
  • German-Jewish history;
  • The Holocaust;
  • The history of European Jewry;
  • The history of Zionism.

Teaching and supervision

  • JCTC2607: Israel in the Modern Middle East;
  • TDJL-6: Dramas: The History of the Jewish People (Conducted by The Centre for Continuing Education);
  • TDJL-7: Dramas: The History of the Jewish People (Conducted by The Centre for Continuing Education);
  • German-Jewry under Nazism;
  • History of German-speaking Jewry;
  • Holocaust Studies;
  • History of the Jews;
  • History of European Jewry in the Modern Period;
  • History of Zionism.

Current projects

  • Preparation of PhD dissertation (2006) entitled: Life under Siege: The Jews of Magdeburg under Nazi Rule for publication in English;
  • The history of Zionism in German-speaking Europe;
  • German-Jewish refugees in Palestine, later the State of Israel.

Associations

  • Head of Education, Historical Advisor, Education Consultant and Steering Committee Member, B’nai B’rith ‘Courage to Care’ (NSW) Inc.;
  • President, Australian Association of Jewish Studies;
  • Member, Academic Advisory Board of Studies, The Shalom Institute, The University of New South Wales;
  • Member of the Editorial Board of the Australian Journal of Jewish Studies.

Other Professional Contributions

  • Historical Advisor and Consultant, Arbeitsgruppe Stolpersteine für Magdeburg der Landeshauptstadt Magdeburg (Memorial Tablets Committee for Magdeburg), Germany;
  • Former Volunteer Educator, Museum Guide and Librarian, Sydney Jewish Museum;
  • Adjunct Lecturer, School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of New South Wales.

Selected publications

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Books

  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2011). "Und dann warst du auf einmal ausgestoben" Die Magdeburger Juden Wahrend der NS-Herrschaft. Halle (Saale): Mitteldeutscher Verlag.

Journals

  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2008). Broken glass, shattered lives: the relevance of the Reichskristallnacht today. The Sydney Papers, 20(4 (Spring 2008)), 125-132.
  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2007). Life under Siege: The Jews of Magdeburg under Nazi Rule. Leo Baeck Institute Year Book, 52(2007), 307-328.
  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2004). ’But the Jews have to go out!’: The School Experience of Jewish Pupils in Nazi Magdeburg. Oral History Association of Australia Journal, 26, 64-70.
  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2003). "Australien! Wo ist denn das?" The migration experience of Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany. Australian Journal of Jewish Studies, 17, 9-24.
  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2003). 'Australien! Wo ist denn das?’ - The Migration Experience of Jewish Refugees from Nazi Germany. Australian Journal of Jewish Studies, 17, 9-24.

Conferences

  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2006). Coffee and Cake with the Family Beiunsky: An Exploration of the Concepts of Identity and Exile with Respect to Jewish Refugees from Nazi Germany. Australasian Jewish Studies Forum, Sydney: Mandelbaum Publishing.

Other

  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2002), Survivor testimony bringing to life the school experiences of Jewish pupils in Magdeburg 1933-1945.

2011

  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2011). "Und dann warst du auf einmal ausgestoben" Die Magdeburger Juden Wahrend der NS-Herrschaft. Halle (Saale): Mitteldeutscher Verlag.

2008

  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2008). Broken glass, shattered lives: the relevance of the Reichskristallnacht today. The Sydney Papers, 20(4 (Spring 2008)), 125-132.

2007

  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2007). Life under Siege: The Jews of Magdeburg under Nazi Rule. Leo Baeck Institute Year Book, 52(2007), 307-328.

2006

  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2006). Coffee and Cake with the Family Beiunsky: An Exploration of the Concepts of Identity and Exile with Respect to Jewish Refugees from Nazi Germany. Australasian Jewish Studies Forum, Sydney: Mandelbaum Publishing.

2004

  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2004). ’But the Jews have to go out!’: The School Experience of Jewish Pupils in Nazi Magdeburg. Oral History Association of Australia Journal, 26, 64-70.

2003

  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2003). "Australien! Wo ist denn das?" The migration experience of Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany. Australian Journal of Jewish Studies, 17, 9-24.
  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2003). 'Australien! Wo ist denn das?’ - The Migration Experience of Jewish Refugees from Nazi Germany. Australian Journal of Jewish Studies, 17, 9-24.

2002

  • Abrahams-Sprod, M. (2002), Survivor testimony bringing to life the school experiences of Jewish pupils in Magdeburg 1933-1945.

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