Gardening on the Wildside
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
Time flies
Term 2 has just flown by, with just one more week of school before the holidays. I hope you enjoy reading my page each week, learning something new about some members of our School and our extended community.
Gardening on the wildside
Alumnus Mitch Burnie, Manager of Adamama, would love to see more Emanuel families take part in the wonderful opportunities available at the farm. He says “at our new home at the hub there are so many amazing opportunities to learn and grow, including this awesome one! Join us at the award-winning Randwick Regen Hub each Friday afternoon and learn skills under expert guidance in a friendly setting”.
Join Adamama for the new 10-week program, Gardening on the wildside, where you will learn how to create garden homes for tiny native bees, frogs, insects, fairy wrens, blue tongue lizards and other creatures using low maintenance garden techniques that mimic nature and which can provide hours of enjoyment using native Australian plants. The course is free for PermaBees and members of Randwick Community Groups, $110.00 for everyone else. Click here for more information and bookings.
Sasha’s Game
Lexee Gordoun
Alumna Lexee Gordoun (Class of 2017) has already won international film awards for her work on the big screen and her latest production, Sasha’s Game, is about to start shooting. Speaking with Lexee during the week, she says “my team and I are currently three weeks away from shooting a non-for-profit 40 minute short film titled Sasha’s Game which is adapted from Melbourne author, Anita Seltzer’s book, I Am Sasha.
“Anita approached me with her book in 2021, which recounts her family’s journey in hiding during the Holocaust in Poland. It follows her father, Sasha, who at the time was a teenage boy, entering years of puberty, while his single mother, Larissa, sourced fake papers for him under the identity of a teenage girl. We witness his transformation into a woman as she teaches him how to walk, talk, dress and act like a girl in order to survive the war in the opposite gender and avoid confrontation to preserve his life.
“Not only is there a war happening just outside their doors, but Sasha fights an internal war of identity while going through pivotal years of growth and transformation.
“We have launched a fundraising page for anyone that might be interested in donating to this project and seeing it come to life. Any donation is really appreciated. If you’re not in a financial position to donate, we’d appreciate it so much if you’re able to share this link around to people who might find this project equally important in preserving the stories of Holocaust survivors.”
@AKinderWorldNow – Thursday 30 June 2022
Friendship Circle, Jewish House, Maccabi All Abilities, The Choice Foundation, One&all, The Central Synagogue and Jewish Care invite members of our community to this free event – a panel discussion with passionate community members with lived experiences of disability. Bookings are essential.
Until next year
VIVID 2022 is done and dusted as the saying goes. If you didn’t get the chance to visit any of the installations, you can watch this amazing drone fly through which features most of the VIVID displays, including alumnus Zac Levi’s Crowded Cadmans.
Maccabi Life – NSW
Keep an eye out for the many fun activities for all ages coming up to connect our Jewish community outdoors and in an active way. You can find booking links in events on @maccabilife-NSW Facebook page or contact: maccabilife.NSW@maccabi.com.au Last week it was tennis and zumba. Informative talks by guest speakers often preceded by an interesting walk or run and other activities for all ages help to keep us healthy both physically and mentally along with connecting with like-minded members of our extended community. Some faces you might recognise from School along with the opportunity to make new friends too.
For our 65+ readers
If your parents are in this age group but are not regular readers of Ma Nishma, please let them know about the upcoming launch of Seniors – Walkie Talkie, Maccabi Life next Wednesday 29 June 2022. The aim is to connect the 65+ age group via a leisurely walk outdoors, in the fresh air, followed by an inspiring talk/entertainment. For their first event on Wednesday, they will meet at 10:00 am at the Friendship Bakery, Laguna Street Vaucluse and walk for an hour around Christensen Park area then go upstairs at the Mark Moran Vaucluse to play Bingo, with coffee and cake provided by the Friendship Bakery.
Bookings are essential for this event.
Friendship Bakery
If you haven’t visited Friendship Bakery in Vaucluse, you’re in for a very pleasant treat. All purchases from the Bakery support this amazing social enterprise run under the banner of Friendship Circle. Check out their opening hours and goodies online.
School holiday activities
With July School holidays just around the corner, it’s not too late to check out and book for the numerous camps and workshops on offer, many of which have a strong Emanuel connection. Perhaps your children will be attending Habonim’s winter camp Machane Dvash or for students aged 13 plus, or maybe volunteering at Friendship Circle (FC) 5-day camp. Click here for details.
FC is also seeking young adults to join their Young Adult leadership team, so for our readers with older children, please tell them about this opportunity. Click here for more details.
If your children have an interest in photography, they might like to attend one of the B’nai B’rith Photo Workshops during the holidays. For more information or to book.
Community Theatre Group
Past parent Vivienne Radomsky, Marketing & Development Manager B’nai B’rith NSW, invites members of our School community to email her with expressions of interest to join the B’nai B’rith Players, a community theatre group with Director and Producer Moira Blumenthal: email vivienne.radomsky@bbnsw.org.au or call 9321 6307.
Save the date
2022 Friendship Circle Walk – Sunday 28 August 2022
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, stay warm and have a great weekend.