A Mother’s Letter from the Heart
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
Shabbat Project 2023 – starts tonight
For more than 10 years now, this international grassroots movement continues to promote community unity, identity and continuity through Shabbat – Stronger Together – one people, one heart, one Shabbat. Watch this very special message, “I am in awe” from the founder of this movement, Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein (South Africa).
As the war in Israel continues, here on the other side of the world, we have no words but sadness, utter disbelief and anger, for what is happening not just in Israel, but all around the world, as fewer and fewer people and nations show support for the existence of the State of Israel, for the Jews currently living in Israel and for Jews all over the world. The saying “Never Again” should mean exactly that – never again – but, as we are about to commemorate Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass) which occurred on 9/10 November 1938, the world does not heed those two words as more and more anti-Semitism raises its ugly head – even more so now than since WW2. Through all of this, we continue to thank Communal Security Group (CSG) and all volunteers for their never ending dedication to keeping us safe in Sydney and we pray for the safety of everyone in Israel, the return to peace and the safe return of all hostages. We have many families in our School community with friends and relatives living in Israel. We have alumni in the IDF. It is said, that as Jews, we consider all Jews in Israel as our family even if we are not blood related.
Kristallnacht Commemoration
Thursday 9 November 2023
http://www.nswjbd.org.au/kristallnacht2023
A mother’s letter from the heart
Eden Sadra (Class of 2019) – Lone Soldier
Emanuel alumna Eden Sadra (Class of 2019) is one of a number of past students who are Lone Soldiers (members of the IDF with no family in Israel to support them). Eden’s mother Kirstyn Sadra sent these powerful words on Tuesday evening:
The family of a lone soldier in Israel
Our brief account of Saturday 7 October 2023 and the day that have followed…
“On 6 October 2023, Eden left her base in southern Israel (near the Gaza border) on Friday afternoon bound for her boyfriend’s home in Tel Aviv to spend a peaceful Shabbat with his family; and like all Israelis could not have imagined the carnage that would unfold the following morning. Our first phone call with Eden on Saturday 7 October was tempered with the fear of the unknown. She had been called in the early hours of the morning by her commanding officer and told to dress in uniform and be ready to depart at any moment……but where? All we knew is that it was bad!
The hours passed and the gravity of the disaster began to unfold but despite the grave uncertainty that hung over all of us and tore the air out of our lungs, we knew we had to keep her strong and we have fought to do that every day since. Amongst the 1400+ killed that day and so many innocents taken hostage, 26 soldiers from Eden’s base lost their lives that morning fighting to keep Israel safe from terror. We’ve all seen the pictures and heard heart wrenching accounts of the horror, but for us as her mumma, aba and brother, the most palpable phenomenon we have witnessed is their strength……young men and women ….. barely adults….many not born in Israel……strapping on their boots and their uniforms and standing tall in the face of evil to protect our homeland, our beautiful Israel!
I guess in some fantastical part of our minds we always believed in super heroes and now we know why. Men and women of all ages have answered the call from within Israel and flown home from all corners of the world, thousands prepared to do whatever it takes to stand up against evil. Our daughter is just one of so many thousands that have humbled us to our core and filled our souls with a pride we have never known. In this world we find ourselves in, we owe it to them and to each other to stand tall, strong and proud of our Jewish identity; and to love and understand each other in these most difficult of days. We know how grateful Eden is for the endless support coming from the Emanuel community, as are we…..it is truly inspiring. We are counting the days until we can hold our beautiful girl in our arms again, in Israel and in peace”. By Kirstyn, Eli and Yakir Sadra
IDF Beanie Project
Pam and Gemma Wertheim
If you missed my page the last two weeks and you can knit, please read on, knowing that the following details come from Emanuel grandmother Pam Wertheim, pictured here with her granddaughter Year 8 student, Gemma Wertheim, wearing beanies they knitted for this amazing project.
The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has asked for help worldwide. One of the things that they have asked for is beanies for the soldiers. Winter is approaching in Israel and the weather can be bitterly cold especially the nights. There is a need for 350,000 beanies!
To this end, Pam and Renee Glass are spearheading an effort to get the Sydney community involved in knitting for our brave soldiers. The response Pam says, has been heart-warming, but there’s a need for more. Can you knit? Do you know anyone who might like to knit? We would love to get knitting needles clicking and making these beanies.
The completed beanies can be dropped off in the East and in the North – Pam and Renee will arrange for them to be delivered to Israel.
This pattern is also available via email and you can contact Renee or Pam if you would like any further information.
Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF)
On now until 28 November 2023
I am sure many of you have already seen some of the films that are on at JIFF at The Ritz, Randwick. Don’t forget about Sasha’s Game, directed by Emanuel alumna Lexee Gordoun (Class of 2017), The Jewish Nazi? directed by Emanuel parent Dan Goldberg and Majong & Mahashas directed by past parent Carolyn Saul, as well as the Q&A session with Emanuel parent Moshe Rosenzveig OAM.
The Maccabean Hall celebrates 100 years
As part of the celebrations, there is an exhibition at the Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM) which now stands on the site of the old Maccabean Hall. A brochure promoting these special years includes numerous photos of milestone occasions held at The Macc as it is so fondly called both then and now, and one of these photos is the wedding of past parents Tony and Jackie Weiss, whose three children Michael, Jess and Rob and their daughter in law Charlotte, are all Emanuel alumni. Jackie now guides at SJM and when she is not guiding, you will see her on the Front Desk or in the Museum Shop.
Reverberations: A Future of Memory at Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM)
Ends on 3 December 2023
If you haven’t already seen this exhibition, I encourage you to do so before it closes in early December. This powerful interactive exhibition of 43 Holocaust survivors includes members of our School community, all of whom have shared their stories of courage, endurance and resilience, including Olga Horak OAM, Yvonne Engelman OAM, Paul Drexler, Mimi Weiss, Egon Sonnenschein, Kitty Lowinger, Litzi Lemberg, Alice Leob and Helen Studenki, as well as some from our school community who sadly, are no longer with us – Eddie Jaku OAM, Lena Goldstein OAM, Lotte Weiss OAM and George Grojnowski. You can explore all exhibitions at the Museum for free every Sunday – check the website for details about Reverberations and other events at the Museum.
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 good weekend.