Community Connections – Gesher

Sonia Newell – Development Office – Alumni and Community Relations

Did you know?

Jake with his great-uncle

Year 1 students have been learning about what life was like “long ago”. Some grandparents have come in to the classroom as living historians, to talk about what school was like for them when they were in Year 1 – no iPads, computers or smartboards – very strange indeed! One of this week’s visitors was Gary Zamel, great-uncle of Jake Chesler in Year 1 Tel Aviv. Gary brought with him his old school cap and school bag as well as lots of memories from his own school days that he talked about with the children. We look forward to hearing more about this project – what a wonderful initiative.

For bookings, please click here

Holocaust Exhibition in Canberra

“The Holocaust: Witnesses and Survivors” exhibition at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, opened in November 2016, and amongst new items on display is the recently loaned dress made for the late grandmother of an Emanuel alumna. Holocaust survivor Henryka (Henia) Shaw, grandmother of Mikaela Silberbach (Class of 2013) wore this dress made from fabric out of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp SS Barracks. Friends made her dress from scavenged Nazi fabric so Henia could walk out proudly to freedom. She kept this dress throughout her life and tasked her daughter Naomi Shaw to find a fitting home for it.