Volume 31 Issue 29 16 Sep 2022 20 Elul 5782

Our very own hero

Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations

Primary Grandparents and Friends Day

We have had an absolutely wonderful time here at School this morning with hundreds of our students’ grandparents and special friends on campus for this year’s Primary Grandparents and Friends Day. The excitement was palpable – we know how much everyone has missed having this event for a couple of years due to COVID. Watch this space in next week’s Ma Nishma for a full report and lots of photos. 

Vale Brian Sherman AM

On behalf of Gesher, I would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Sherman family on the recent passing of their beloved husband, father and grandfather Brian Sherman AM, a wonderful gentleman and major supporter of our School from the very start. Please see our Acting Principal’s page for an official School tribute.

Our Westfield Local Hero

Pictured from left to right: Lauren Akres, Josh’s son, Tai (Class of 2018), Josh and his wife Lisa, father-in-law Ray Doobov and daughter Saya (Class of 2021)

Mazal tov to past parent Josh Oshlack and The Rhythm Village, who, as the winner for Westfield Bondi Junction, receives the $20,000 prize to extend his therapeutic music programs. Josh said: “I am so happy…I’m very far from competitive but it’s so lovely to win, and now we get to offer music programs to Friendship Circle and three local schools for kids with special needs. Thank you so much to Emanuel School community for voting for me and supporting this great cause”.

JEMS (Jewish Education Matters)

Some of our students alongside students from other Jewish and non-Jewish Schools attend JEMS for their after-school program and many of their other activities on offer including Camps, Bar and Bat Mitzvah programs and numerous volunteering opportunities. They bake/cook at Our Big Kitchen (OBK) in Bondi on a regular basis and last week they held a Year 7-8 honey cookie bake for old age homes and hospitals in the Eastern Suburbs. Two of our Year 7 students, Max Elias and Kira Rothschild, were there busy baking in preparation for these special pre-Rosh Hashanah deliveries. JEMS also delivered over 160 jumbo chocolate chip cookies to their JEMs Graduates who are about to sit the HSC including Year 12 Emanuel students Talia Kleviansky and Sierra Afutu.

Making music together long after leaving School

Sarah Kummerfeld, Mimi Greenbaum and Erin Radomsky

Three former students – Sarah Kummerfeld, alumna (Class of 1997) and current parent, Mimi Greenbaum (Class of 2012) and Erin Radomsky (Class of 2017) all play violin together in the Woollahra Philarmonic Orchestra and are pictured here at the Orchestra’s concert last weekend. Sarah says: “Mimi and Erin had somehow recognised me earlier in the year as an alum despite finishing school 15 and 20 years after I did. They were both glowing with enthusiasm telling me about the string program they went through at school. Real world evidence of the Instrumental Program having a life-long impact”.

Habonim Dror Hadracha Seminar for Year 10 students

A message from Jewish Life Leader, alumnus Josh New, which he would love you to please pass on to our Year 10 students: “This Friday 21 October 2022 – Sunday 23 October 2022, Habonim Dror is running our yearly Hadracha Seminar. This seminar is an amazing opportunity for Year 10 students who are interested in student leadership in their final years of High School. It will help build skills around writing and running engaging activities and working with all different types of students. It’s a super fun weekend away that I still cherish from when I was in Year 10!”.

Changemaker Awards 2022
Honouring young people making a difference in our community

Last chance to nominate High School students or our younger alumni you know who would be worthy of one of these awards.  B’nai B’rith Alfred Dreyfus Anti-Defamation Unit and JNF Australia are honouring individuals in our community who have made a difference and in the process, inspire others to get involved. This year, the Awards program has streamlined the nominating process and there are now only three nomination categories with prize money as shown:

  • Youth Volunteers for under 18’s: $1500
  • Young Adult Volunteers 18 to 36 years of age: $3000
  • Joshua Levi Professional Award 18 to 36 years of age: $5000

Nominations close 30 September 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 and have a great weekend.