Sonia Newell – Development Officer

2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade

The very first Mardi Gras parade was held in 1978, a very different parade to those that followed.  “Dayenu” was conceived twenty one years later in 1999, as a co-operation between the local lesbian and gay Jewish groups to enter a float in the 2000 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Shortly after that parade, the group formalised and agreed to operate in order to:

• Provide outreach and support
• Deliver educational information and public representation
• Organise social activities for Jewish LGBTIQ individuals and their partners, friends and family

https://www.facebook.com/dayenu.sydney

Celebrating its 20^th anniversary, Dayenu in association with Emanuel Synagogue, will hold their annual Mardi Gras Shabbat Service on the 28 February 2020, followed by a communal dinner.

Tomorrow night, 29 February 2020, sees the 42^nd annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade with 191 floats including one for Dayenu, more than 12,600 dazzling parade participants as they embrace the theme of WHAT MATTERS and hundreds of thousands of revellers along Darlinghurst’s streets. Members of our extended School community will join the celebrations, some on the Dayenu float whilst some will walk the route and others will be in the crowds that line the streets to support the parade. Alumnus Toby Evans (Class of 2006), a visual artist and photographer, with a number of his own creations hanging in some of our buildings around the School, has for many years, photographed the Mardi Gras parade and will do so again this year.

Opportunities to volunteer within our amazing extended community

Many local organisations seek our help including:

• Our Big Kitchen (OBK) – a community run, non-denominational industrial kitchen in the heart of Bondi, inspiring individuals to come together to prepare meals for distribution to needy people across NSW. It is Kosher and Halal, and HACCP approved. Last year over 80,000 meals were made in Our Big Kitchen and distributed to disadvantaged Australians and more recently, thousands of meals were prepared for our volunteer firefighters during the devastating bush fires: www.obk.org.au
• Sydney Friendship Circle – a not-for-profit organisation offering programs and activities for children, teenagers and young adults with disabilities: www.sydneyfc.org.au
• Maccabi is a Jewish Organisation with its mission to “promote Jewish identity through sport” and can be found world-wide, with both local clubs and competitions plus international carnivals including Maccabiah in Israel. The many sporting clubs under the umbrella of Maccabi are run by volunteers, both at the Board Level and as Heads and organising committees of the various sporting clubs: www.maccabi.com.au

The President of the Maccabi NSW Board is Lauren Ehrlich, a past staff member at Emanuel School. She headed our Visual Arts Department in the late 1980s and was responsible for stripping out the old Nun’s laundry and turning it into the Art Block. That building has undergone numerous transformations over the years and is now the Lynette Sandra Phillips Kindergarten. Current parent Michelle Stockley holds the Marketing role on the Maccabi NSW Board whilst past parent Debbie Rutstein has the Compliance portfolio. Many of our parents, students, grandparents and alumni are members of the many clubs. Current parent Salina Keller sits on the Maccabi Junior Football committee and asked us to help promote a call-out for five and six year olds to join up for the upcoming football season: 

Who doesn’t like food?

The Emanuel School Parents and Friends produced the sell-out The Family Meal – Emanuel School Community Cookbook late last year.  There are just a few copies still available from the second run print, so if you would like to secure one (or two), please contact Ruby Berkovic, Parent and Friends co-president: rubyb@gmail.com

Cost: $45.00 per copy.

Monday Morning Cooking Club (MMCC) 

“A unique sisterhood from Sydney, whose mission is to collect, test, curate, publish and share the best recipes from the best cooks in the global food-obsessed Jewish Community”. Past parent Merelyn Chalmers, along with founder Lisa Goldberg, Netanya Eskin and Jacqui Israel are the MMCC. Together they have over the years, formed an amazing bond and produced sensational cookbooks with their latest one “Now for Something Sweet” just released.

For further inspiration go to: www.mondaymorningcookingclub.com.au

Friday Night inspiration

Emanuel parent Susie Rosen has started up a private Facebook group called Friday Night as a way to share favourite recipes and ideas, hoping it might attract some local members. This page now has over 8,500 members all around the world – the power of social media is amazing. 

If you have photos and/or news to share, please send to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au