Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations

Heading to better times with family and friends

We all look forward to next Monday, with the anticipated lifting of current COVID restrictions for Greater Sydney LGAs and we hope it won’t be too much longer before travel to NSW regional LGAs will also be allowed. Over the past couple of weeks, no doubt many of our readers took the opportunity to spend time outside enjoying the good weather at picnics with family or friends abiding by the current rulings. Check this link for the latest COVID rulings updates. 

2.9 million followers

Michael Khedoori in action

How often do you watch TV and see someone you know on the big screen? In September, on ABC Weekend Breakfast, a young man was literally jumping from building to building – it was alumnus Michael Khedoori (Class of 2019). He had already been interviewed a couple of days earlier for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Michael says “I am a professional parkour athlete, specialising in speed and agility, competing in both international and nation-wide competitions. Parkour is aimed at getting people from point A to point B as fast as possible, but you really make it anything you want. At the moment, with COVID restrictions, I am still able to work with many brands on social media and just keep my daily training. I first got involved in parkour as I was trying to find a sport in the summer that worked for me and that I enjoyed”. Michael is a social media influencer and content creator with over 2.9 million TikTok followers! Once interstate and overseas travel is allowed, Michael will participate in the many competitions again as he has done in the past and we wish him all the best in his career as a professional parkour athlete.

Remember September 2021

Over for another year, this year’s event was an amazing success, raising a record $1.5m for pancreatic cancer research. Alumnus Ben Wilheim, founder of Remember September, and his committee thank everyone who participated this year and look forward to our School Community’s continued support again next year.  

What’s new? Ask The Daily Aus

Alumnus Sam Koslowksi (Head Madrich, Class of 2012) together with Zara Seidler co-founded The Daily Aus to bring friends up to speed with the news. It’s now a hit with hundreds of thousands of young Australians.

Grandparents – where are you?

We acknowledge that grandparents are important vital members of our School Community, and we hope many of them take the opportunity to read Ma Nishma each week. It is a great way to stay connected with us all, no matter where in the world you live. Unfortunately, we are missing up-to-date email contact details for many of our grandparents, so please send through grandparent contact details so they too can read about what is happening at School, albeit it all online for now.  They will also receive our Grandparents and Friends newsletter.  You can see past issues of this newsletter along with our alumni newsletters online. Living interstate and/or overseas, means some of “our” grandparents never have an opportunity to come to School, so connecting electronically can be really meaningful and a great way for them to see what their grandchildren are doing at School in spite of the distance apart.

We are excited that many of our grandparents will be joining us for our biggest and brightest event, Emanuel B’yachad – Emanuel Together on Sunday 17 October 2021 at 7.30 pm.

Jewish Changemaker Awards 2021
Nominations close on the 15 October 2021

There is still time to get nominations in and with so many of our current High School students and past students in the Jewish community making the world a better place through their amazing volunteering efforts, they deserve to be nominated for these awards. If your children or grandchildren fit this brief, please nominate them to win.

Through the Jewish Changemaker Awards, JNF Australia, B’nai B’rith NSW and The Australian Jewish News are honouring individuals in our community who have made a difference. Seven incredible young adults aged 14 to 36 from around Australia will be recognised for their outstanding contributions to Jewish Community, Australian Society and to Israel. We would love to see more of our students recognised for their wonderful volunteering efforts, so please send through their nominations. This year there is a new award “The Joshua Levi Young Professional Award”. 

The Shabbat Project 2021 – 22 October 2021 to 23 October 2021
together, whoever, whatever, wherever 

In years gone by, The Shabbat Project was lit up with giant spectacles – challah bakes, Shabbat dinners and Havdalah concerts that brought together thousands of people.

This year, the pandemic has taught us that life’s better together, big or small. Whether you are able to host a big event for the community, or a smaller event for those in your bubble, virtual or in person, knowing that we are all celebrating The Shabbat Project together has the power to unite us all. 

We look forward to sharing our news and yours, so if you have photos or news you would like to share with us, please send to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

Shabbat shalom and have a great weekend.