24 hours notice
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
We hope and pray each and every day for the release of all remaining hostages still held in Gaza. Our extended community in Sydney has held rallies of solidarity and organised events to show our ongoing support, and that will continue until all hostages are released.
Last Wednesday, the first workshop for the Quilting for Hope project in Sydney was held at B’nai B’rith House in Kensington. Eighteen participants from across the community attended the session, including Emanuel parents Shana Fridman and Jackie Elias, as well as Emanuel grandparent Karen Wolf, each making a fabric block that will be incorporated into an art piece to be donated to Israel. Making this more meaningful is the use of donated pre-loved Shabbat tablecloths as part of these blocks. Karen says: “It was a very enjoyable evening and there was lots of chatting and, of course, stitching. There are a number of workshops planned over the next few months and anybody is welcome to join in. You do not have to be able to sew and all materials and equipment are provided. Please join in this project to send our thoughts and love to Israel in this difficult time.”
See the poster for dates, times and registration details. There are still a few spots available for the next session on Tuesday 2 April 2024.
24 hours notice and just a little late for School
With less than 24 hours notice, Emanuel parent, Anthony Goodridge, NSW Maccabi Swimming Club President and Head Coach, messaged parents and some of the club swimmers with his idea of a swim to acknowledge the 160th day since hundreds of people in Israel were taken hostage by Hamas.
At 6.30 am the next morning, on Thursday 14 March 2024, the Club’s senior performance squad members, including Emanuel High School students Jack Kessell and Jake Rosenfeld, dived into the pool at Moriah College, to each swim 160 x 50m laps of the pool. The Junior squad, which included Year 8 student Mia Goodridge, and Ryan Miller in Year 6, were set a target of 80 x 50m. Inspired by their senior club mates, they swam an extra 20 laps. All the swimmers finished in just two hours and then they headed off to School, just a little late. Goodridge said: “I told the swimmers it would be a tough challenge and whilst most of the swimmers would experience moments of doubt and want to stop swimming, those hostages didn’t have that luxury of taking a rest from captivity. If swimming up and down the pool for two hours seemed ‘boring’ it was nothing like what the hostages would be experiencing day in day out. None of my swimmers hesitated to take the challenge – they were an amazing inspiration.” Jack arrived at the pool with a large white sheet painted with the sign 160 #bringthemhome.
Stan Mac
Year 10 student Jack Kessell, age 15, certainly loves to swim, and he is good at it! He was selected along with other members of the North Bondi Surf Club to be in the relay team of 20 for the yearly competition against Bondi Surf Club called Stan Mac. As part of the relay they had to swim 400m. Unfortunately North Bondi didn’t win the trophy this year, but hopefully Jack will get the opportunity to try again next year.
Do you remember Mr Pallo?
Gabriel Pallo and Leon Goltsman
Last Sunday, 24 March 2024, saw the first ever Vaucluse Diamond Bay Precinct’s Neighbourhood Fair, an event held at the Diamond Bay Bowling Club, attracting around 700 local residents – an amazing response from the local community. The Convenor of the Vaucluse /Diamond Bay Precinct and former Head of Primary of Emanuel School, Gabriel Pallo, says: ” The purpose of the Fair was to bring the community together and create meaning connections. In today’s increasingly impersonal world, these connections are perhaps more important than ever. Precincts are the main conduit for residents to play an important role in the communication process with Council”. Mr Pallo hopes that the Fair will lead to an increase in the numbers of residents becoming more involved in precinct related activities.
The event had jumping castles, face painters, many stalls, lawn bowls lessons, a band, DJ, Lucky Door Prizes and Raffles, and was attended by dignitaries including Federal MP Allegra Spender, State MP Kellie Sloane, Mayor of Waverley Council Paula Masselos, Ward Councillors Sally Betts, Will Nemesh, Steven Lewis as well as Councillor Leon Goltsman, who is an Emanuel alumnus.
Now that the Fair is over, Mr Pallo can get back to his two favourite past times – golf and travel. Some of you may remember that he returned to School not long after retiring in December 2014, to help organise a very successful P&F Golf Day.
The Other Art Fair
Thursday 16 May 2024 – Sunday 19 May 2024
Emanuel parent and artist, Talya Brookman, will be exhibiting at this event in mid-May at White Bay Cruise Terminal. Her abstract expressionist paintings take inspiration from natural elements such as cells, veins, roots and landscapes. When painting, Talya visualises objects and forms not founded in reality but with depth and dimension that ground them in space. She paints with a variety of mediums such as paper, wood, plastic and canvas using acrylics, oils, charcoal, pens, Indian inks and pastels. Check out more details of this art fair here.
We look forward to sharing our news and yours, so if you have photos and/or news you would like to share with us, please send to Sonia Newell.
Shabbat shalom, stay safe and have a great long weekend over the Easter break, as we continue to hope and pray for the safe return of all hostages still held in Gaza, and for peace to be restored in Israel soon.