Going for Gold
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
We hope you and your families are well in lockdown.
The Tokyo Olympic Games has been a positive distraction for many of us, whist other online activities have been and will continue to be our saving grace as most of us stay at home until at least the end of the month. Who doesn’t love a good-feel story, especially when it is to do with a fellow Jew. Israeli artistic gymnast, Artem Dolgopyat, made history when he became the first Israeli to win a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 games and the first Israeli to win a medal in the Men’s Floor Exercise.
Whilst she has no direct relationship with our School community, how amazing was Jessica (Jess) Fox to have her dream of an Olympic Gold finally realised in Tokyo, when she won the inaugural Women’s C1 canoe slalom event. Two days earlier she was visibly disappointed with her bronze medal win in the kayak event – also an achievement not to be sneezed at. Jessica is the first Jewish Australian to win a Gold Olympic medal. In 2018 she was named Maccabi Australia’s Outstanding Jewish Sportswoman and she continues to acknowledge her Jewish heritage. On her Facebook page, Jessica posted “Thank you for screaming at the TV – I felt the love, the energy, the good vibes when I needed them most!” Read more here.
Sam, Kornmehl security guard and Olympian
Another Sydney Jewish athlete at the Games is Steven Solomons who made it through to the men’s 400m semi-finals on the Olympic Track in Tokyo, running his personal best to get there, coming third and narrowly missed out on a place in the final. Although this meant the end of his Olympic dream for now, it certainly does not end his stellar athletics hopes.
The fourth Jewish Australian athlete in Tokyo is 23 year old Jemima Montag, who competes today (6 August 2021) in the 20km race walk.
Read more here about Jewish athletes from around the world in Tokyo for the Olympics
Drawing a long bow, we have an Emanuel connection at the Games through past parent Peter Ulmer, whose cousin’s son Nathan Katz is a member of the Australian Olympic Team, in Judo. He did not proceed past the second round, being eliminated by Israeli judoka, Baruch Shmailov. Nonetheless, how amazing to be part of the Australian Olympic Team in Tokyo. Fun fact you may not have known until you saw it on the School Community Facebook page on Wednesday – Sam, the Kornmehl security guard, represented Czechoslovakia in the 1996 Olympics and Australia in the 2004 and 2008 Games in Judo. The Pre-schoolers were so excited to see his medals and hear about his experiences. What a fantastic role model for all those who have dreams of being an Australian Olympian!
Zoom in
If you can join us for Zoom Emanuel Kabbalat Shabbat at 4.00 pm each Friday you will see the smiling faces of so many members of our School, with students from Kornmehl through to High School as they sing and dance at home in the lead-up to Shabbat, led by our dedicated Jewish Life staff and student leaders. We encourage grandparents to also join us.
AUJS NSW X Talking Holocaust: Food for Thought
Sunday 8 August 2021
Alumnus Sean Torban (Class of 2018) invites us to join this free event this coming Sunday evening.
Australian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) Builds Bridges
AUJS UNSW Society recently hosted an Interfaith Dialogue last month, with alumna and State President of AUJS NSW, Nadia Coburn (Class of 2017) on the panel of this important forum which was reported the AJN.
Jewish Changemaker Awards 2021
Do you know a current High School student and or past student in the Jewish community who is making the world a better place? If yes, nominate them to win. Through the Jewish Changemaker Awards, JNF Australia, B’nai B’rith NSW and The Australian Jewish News are honouring individuals in our community who have made a difference. Seven incredible young adults aged 14 to 36 from around Australia will be recognised for their outstanding contributions to Jewish Community, Australian Society and to Israel.
Last year, three of our students won major awards, whilst one student received a Highly Commended:
2020 JNF Award for Contribution to the Jewish Community (Youth Category)
Highly Commended: Ezra Hersch (Year 12)
Co-winners: Chloe Miller (Year 12) and Liat Granot (Year 12)
2020 Contribution to Australian Society (Youth Category)
Co-winner: Lara Fosbery (Year 12)
We would love to see more of our students recognised for their wonderful volunteering efforts, so please send through their nominations.
More Adamama online sessions with alumnus Mitch Burnie
Applications are now open for Adamama’s second event of the pickle project. Applications close whenever lockdown ends or the group is full, whichever comes first.
“I came for the pickles and I left with a community”
A start to finish project from bed prepping to selling a product, you will learn it all and more. Meet new people and experience new things. Apply now, numbers are limited.
This Sunday, 8 August 2021, Mitch is running a Spring Time Propagation Workshop.
Unlocking The Past
Past parent Shira Sebban will review the book she wrote about stories from her mother’s diary on Zoom on Monday 9 August at 7.30 pm. Book for this free event online.
Friendship Circle (FC) Walk 2021 – Sunday 29 August 2021
FC will be hosting their 12th annual (and second virtual) Friendship Walk on Sunday 29 August 2021. This is their main fundraiser of the year, supporting their programs and activities for children, teens and young adults with and without disabilities, as well as community initiatives. Members of our School community have supported this wonderful organisation and their events over the years, and it is hoped that we can do so again this year by signing up to join them on the walk. Given the current situation with lockdown, all participants are encouraged to create their own route and walk with FC wherever you are. This year, they will be having an Amazing Race with lots of different fun tasks to complete on the way, such as photo and video challenges, brain teasers, trivia questions and scavenger hunts.
Friendship Bakery
Don’t forget, if you would like to support Friendship Bakery at Mark Moran Vaucluse, a social enterprise initiative of The Friendship Circle engaging young adults with disabilities in the local community through skills development and workplace experiences, please use their contactless ordering and pick-up.
Shabbat Shalom. Stay safe, stay home and we hope you enjoy your lockdown weekend. We look forward to sharing more news with you again next week.
If you have photos and/or news to share, please send to Sonia Newell