Help save lives
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
The Angel Network Australia
Parents from Emanuel School, Moriah College and Mount Sinai College have recently registered a formal charity called The Angel Network Australia. The aim of this charity is to raise funds for specific projects in South Africa. These projects are managed by The Angel Network South Africa, which has been putting upliftment projects into action in South Africa for the past seven years.
The Angel Network Australia’s focus fundraiser this month is to purchase mini fire extinguishers for disadvantaged communities in South Africa. Emanuel parent Simone Joffe, who is a Founder of The Angel Network Australia, says “We have launched this latest campaign in response to the devastating consequences of the shack fires that are occurring regularly and causing devastation to people already living with so little. We hope that many members of the School Community will support this initiative, launched to raise funds to sponsor as many mini fire extinguishers for the informal settlements in South Africa as possible.”
Waxman/Symonds families & Judean Scouts
Sydney Judean Scouts and Girl Guides
95 years young
Although official records seem to vary, according to an article in the Australian Jewish News, in Sydney, Jewish scouting began in 1927 with the formation of the 1st Sydney Judean troop, which met at The Great Synagogue. Some records say Jewish scouting was actually established in October 1908. Before the Zionist youth groups and the rise of the Jewish day schools, the Judean Scouts and Girl Guides played an important role in connecting Jewish boys and girls, especially those who did not come from observant homes. They could socialise, learn new skills and develop pride in their Jewish heritage. It also provided an opportunity to learn about Judaism, to celebrate the festivals and help prepare boys for their Barmitzvahs. As part of the broader Australian Scouting movement, the Sydney Judean Scouts contributed to the development of the Australian community and culture of acceptance, tolerance and friendship and inclusivity for all. This in turn established a sense of Australian identity, which became apparent during the Second World War, when whole scout troops would enlist together. Over the years, there have been several Jewish groups, including 5th Maroubra, 4th Lindfield and 8th Sydney. However, 3rd Rose Bay, which resulted from a merger with 2nd Bondi in the 1980’s, is the only group remaining.
For Emanuel grandparent Leon Waxman, scouting allows him to promote his love of the outdoors and his enjoyment for bushwalking, camping, rock climbing, abseiling and canoeing. He became a cub at age eight and grew up in Sydney’s Jewish scouting scene. He was then drawn back into scouting when his own son, Emanuel alumnus Asher (Class of 2009) joined the 3rd Rose Bay in 2002. Leon is currently the Group Leader of the 3rd Rose Bay Judean Scout Group and has been an active Adult Leader for 20 years, believing in the importance of Scouting in promoting leadership, initiative and resilience in today’s youth. Leon’s grandchildren are very much a part of the current movement – grandson Jonah Symonds (Year 2) is now a Cub whilst his sister Samara (Sammi) Symonds in Year K recently joined up as a Joey.
The various groups in Jewish Scouts for boys and girls:
Joeys (age 6 – 8)
Cubs (age 8 – 10)
Scouts (age 10 – 15)
Venturers (age 15 -18)
Rovers (age 18 – 25)
Leon says “For students age 15 to 17 in Year 10 and Year 11 by joining Venturer Scouts, there is a great opportunity to achieve the prestigious peak award in Scouting – The Queen’s Scout Award. Many universities offer an additional 3 or 4 ATAR points for Queen’s Scout. Combine this with the Duke of Edinburgh Award (many of the QS requirements qualify for the D of E), you could achieve 6 or 7 additional ATAR points. Achieve this while having great experiences in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, abseiling, rock climbing, canoeing and many other fun activities. Our last Queen’s Scout achiever learnt to fly a plane at the Scout Air Activities base!”
Regular meetings are held at Bondi Scout Hall, Wairoa Ave, Bondi Beach, and enquiries about any of the divisions are welcome as are new members enquiries.
For further information, please contact Leon: 0402 087 405 or wax_fam@bigpond.com.
Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM)
SJM holds a very special place in the hearts of so many members of our wonderful School community, and as you may have read, our staff toured the Museum recently as part of our Staff Development Day before the students returned to School for Term 2. Holocaust survivors, Emanuel great grandparents and grandparents, guide at the museum, telling their stories of survival during WW2 to student and adult visitors throughout the year. Others, some of whom are children of survivors also guide while a number of alumni, parents and grandparents work on staff, volunteer in the Education Department and numerous other departments of the museum. A number, including myself, are involved in the 2022 G2G Guide Course, with the aim of becoming a volunteer guide next year after an extensive training program. Until the end of November, my group meets every week to learn by way of lectures, practical guiding workshops, tours and survivor testimony. As well as meeting for a whole group lecture each week, we have also been allocated into small groups where we meet a designated mentor and educator. My group’s mentor is Emanuel grandparent Peter Adamek and my Educator is alumna Dr Rebecca Kummerfeld, who heads the Museum’s Education Department – such a lovely coincidence and a wonderful connection for me. Emanuel parents Ilana McCorquodale and Lee-Anne Whitten are also Educators involved in the course. Emanuel connections with the Museum are certainly far-reaching. Regular lectures and book launches are held and I encourage our readers to check out the program on the Museum’s website.
The Healer – David Asher Brook
On Sunday 29 May 2022 at 3.00 pm is a vibrant afternoon of animations and music, celebrating Jewish life in Poland before 1939. This event will feature the artwork of Emanuel alumnus David Asher Brook and current parent Steven Durbach. The series of animations curated by artist and curator Estelle Rozinski, an Emanuel past parent, shine a light on the diversity of Jewish life before the Holocaust. Rozinski believes that stories such as these drive our curiosity, leaving us wanting to know more about the shape and texture of everyday life.
The Museum invites us all to three free online lectures featuring renowned academics and industry leaders who discuss Holocaust history and research: Historian Tali Nates on Wednesday 1 June 2022 at 7.30 pm – Representing the Holocaust in Post-Apartheid South Africa; Wednesday 8 June 2022 at 1.00 pm – Ordinary Men as Holocaust Perpetrators, with Emeritus Professor Christopher Browning and Wednesday 15 June 2022 at 7.30 pm – Holocaust Research and Contemporary Politics: a battlefield of history and memory with Professor Dan Michman. Book online via the museum website.
Maccabiah Games Torch
Rita Prager and other museum staff members and the Maccabiah Torch.
Last week, I highlighted some of the many Emanuel connections to the upcoming 21st Maccabiah Games in Israel in July. A replica of the 2022 Maccabiah Games Torch has been making the rounds and will be displayed in schools, museums and sporting events in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as at team farewells at Government House in both cities.
The torch paid a visit to the SJM last week, pictured here held by Emanuel grandparent Rita Prager, Fundraising Manager at the Museum alongside other museum staff and members of the Australian Maccabiah delegation.
Friendship Bakery
The bakery was featured in this week’s Wentworth Courier with the heading “Born to try and thrive – the rise of a Vaucluse bakery” and included a photograph of bakery trainee Sarah Younger with her mentor, Emanuel alumna Shoshi Blackman. Hope you get the chance to visit the bakery, where you can you purchase some of their yummy treats and sit at their outdoor tables to enjoy a coffee and a catch up with friends, whilst supporting this social enterprise, at 2 Laguna Street, Vaucluse. Order online or just head up there to check out their delicious giant meringues and lamingtons as well as rugelach, quiches and fresh Challah just to mention a few – all prepared and baked in their Kosher kitchen onsite. You can also buy dough for baking your own choc chip cookies.
We look forward to sharing our news and yours, so if you have photos or news you would like to share with us, please send to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au
Shabbat shalom, stay safe and have a great weekend.