Daniel Samowitz helping to build the sukkah

Our new Jewish life madrich

My name is Samo (Daniel Samowitz).

I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and at the age of 14 I immigrated to Sydney. Emanuel School swiftly became my second home. Much has happened since then.

For the last eight years, I chose to devote my life to the Zionist dream, living and breathing an Israeli Jewish reality committed to bettering the State through youth educational activities for Israelis and also for Jews from around the world. My aim was to educate people from many different cultures and backgrounds to see themselves as vital members of the Jewish people and the Zionist movement. They were very rewarding years.

And, now I’m back …. The question I am asked most often, by virtue of my really weird accent, is: “Where are you from?” Although geographically incorrect, and I apologise to the English teachers reading this, my answer is I’m Jewish. I choose to be responsible for the Jewish people and this is what brings me back to Emanuel School where I first learned about Mind, Spirit and Being.

I arrived at Emanuel in Year 9, class of 2004, and in Emanuel I found the community, Jewish philosophy and lifelong friends that would give me the foundation to try and live a meaningful and good life. To this day I call the cohort of class of 2004 my closest friends. There is no need for Sonia Newell to organise a reunion because we meet up every Wednesday night.

I have been involved in the youth movement scene for the last 15 years – here in Australia, in Israel and many Jewish communities in the world, especially North America, Europe and South Africa. I’m excited to bring back my passion for Jewish life, Zionism and informal value-based education to Emanuel students.

I believe that Judaism can be a powerful prism through which to lead a life of responsibility, happiness and meaning. Jewish values should be the foundation of a moral compass that will give the students an ability to be critical thinkers and exist in a rapidly changing world whilst having the tools to deal with whatever dilemma is thrown their way.

Big questions need to be engaged with, such as “What should I do after school? What does Zionism look like in 2016? What kind of pizza do I like? What does Judaism say about racism?” And, most importantly, for students to have more personal and relevant answers for the age old question: “Why be Jewish?”.

I look forward to meeting you all and I wish you all a Shabbat Shalom.

Daniel Samowitz, Jewish life Madrich

aka Samo