Limmud Oz 2024

Sandra Goldbloom Zurbo and Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen will have a conversation about Sandra’s book, My Father’s Shadow: A memoir. Sandra grew up in thrall to her father, a prominent antiwar activist, brilliant political organiser and covert Communist Party member. From an early age she adopted his beliefs, becoming a supporter of the Soviet Union and a peace activist. She travelled with him to Indonesia where she met President Sukarno; at home the family welcomed Paul Robeson, Doc Evatt and Danny Kaye among others.

When Sandra entered adulthood, she came to question aspects of her father’s worldview. Living and working in the swirl of Melbourne’s arts and political scenes, she absorbed ideas that often led to tense conversations with her father.

When her father fell ill and hoped to end his suffering, his daughter’s devotion, her loyalty, underwent a final test.

Lyrical, sharply observed and affecting, My Father’s Shadow is a candid exploration of the often fraught dynamics between father and daughter and, ultimately, the love that underlies them.