Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations

Thea Riesel with grandson Jonathan

Chag Sameach – we hope you have a great Shavu’ot, celebrating this important festival with family and maybe some friends too, enjoying the delights of cheesecake and perhaps cheese blintzes as well. There are so many great cheesecake recipes in numerous fabulous cookbooks. One such book which has links to our Emanuel Community is Just add Love – Holocaust Survivors share their stories and recipes. All the photography in this delicious book was taken by past parent, David Mane, whilst some of the recipes are from present and past Emanuel grandparents including Thea Riesel, pictured here in the book, published last year, with her grandson Jonathan (Jono) Riesel, now in Year 9.

Also featured are recipes from past grandparents Judy Kolt and the late Lena Goldstein as well as from Eva Engel, a regular participant as a Living Historian in our Year 6 Project Heritage program.

Many of our graduates head off to Israel on various programs after finishing Year 12, and it was certainly no different for the Class of 2019. Shnat with Habonim and the other youth movements, plus Aardvark Israel, are just some of the many programs on offer. However, for some participants, COVID-19 sadly meant the early return to Sydney before international flights were suspended.

Others stayed in Israel to complete their programs including Sarah Sharwood, daughter of Miriam Belnick, who together with Gail Beinart, run our amazing Emanuel School Canteen. Sarah was recently featured recently as “Student of the Week”.

Alexa Narunsky, Sarah Sharwood, Ashlee Orleow, Sienna Meyer (Class of 2019)

As we return to a more ‘normal’ life, with social distancing still of great importance, a number of communal activities and businesses are also starting to reopen, including the B’nai B’rith Bargain Bazaar Charity Shop, whose proceeds support Jewish and local charities.

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

Have a wonderful Shavu’ot and Shabbat Shalom.