Letter to Friends

Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations

As the war in Israel continues, here on the other side of the world, we continue to support our brothers and sisters in Israel as best as we can. Through all of this, we thank Communal Security Group (CSG) and all volunteers for their never-ending dedication to keeping us safe here in Sydney, as we pray for the safety of everyone in Israel and the return to peace as well as the safe return of all hostages. We have many families in our School community with friends and relatives living in Israel and alumni on active service in the IDF.

Last week, I included a poignant letter from one of our past parents Kirtsyn Sadra, whose daughter Eden (Class of 2019) is a Lone Soldier. I have also been in touch with a number of alumni living in Israel now, some of whom are in the IDF whilst others are not. Alumna Ondine Sherman (Class of 1990) has been living in Israel since 2012 with her Israeli-born husband, twin sons and daughter Jasmine. Ondine was an Emanuel student in Primary School before the family moved to Israel in 2012. Jasmine’s three first cousins are here in High School – their father Emile Sherman is Ondine’s brother. Jasmine, now 19, is currently serving in the IDF.

Ondine’s letter was written a month ago but essentially, as Ondine tells me, nothing much has changed since she wrote these words:

Letter to friends/colleagues – Tuesday 10 October 2023

Letters sent to soldiers

A lot of kind people have asked how we’re doing and I’ve been struggling to find an answer. I’m attempting to describe the no-words-to-describe. We are safe, thank goodness, scared but safe. Jasmine is doing shifts in her army base, and it’s terrible to be separated from her, we don’t know when she’ll be home. Dror has organised a neighbourhood watch, 120 men have signed up, and he did the 2-5 am shift last night, because there’s panic in the streets. Dov and Lev are in a bubble of protection, thankfully. I’m overwhelmed, in tears, trying to be a safe harbour for my boys and my daughter, trying to figure out the best way I can help. The country is in a state of trauma, scrambling, feeling powerless and desperate. The last four days are a whirlwind of shock, pain, grief, anger, anxiety and fear. There’s one degree of separation here, often less. And each hour, a new atrocity makes headlines, more names listed. Everyone holds their breath. Sirens scream and people run to bomb shelters. Some don’t have them close by. Overhead, you can hear the explosions of Hamas missiles by the Iron Dome, and windows rattle. Communities are organising food and clothes for displaced families, and care-packages for young soldiers on the frontlines. There’s a huge sense of unity and care. Knowing what’s happened and happening to the 100s of hostages at the hands of Hamas, stuff I don’t want to say out loud because it’s too evil to speak of… Imagining the pain of the families whose children and parents have been murdered…… It’s too much to process. Incomprehensible. Some accounts and images one struggles to unhear, to unsee… they are traded amongst friends because they’re too hard to carry alone. These are my inadequate words….

Sending love to all, and praying for peaceful days ahead and the protection of all innocent lives.

Ondine

IDF Beanie Project continues

Spearheaded by Emanuel grandmother, Pam Wertheim, the huge call-out for knitters to help knit 350,000 beanies needed for the IDF soldiers in Israel has been an overwhelming success but nowhere near the number of beanies still needed. There are now knitters in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, New Zealand, San Diego, Florida, Boston and London.

First three boxes of beanies leaving Sydney

Whilst the first three boxes of beanies knitted by our community left Sydney for Jerusalem, with messages in the boxes made by our participants at Jewish Care, Pam tells us many more beanies are nearly ready to go too. Pam now asks those who cannot knit, if they can at least tell their friends who can, to please join in this project and/or help donate in other ways.

Here is Pam’s latest request;

To all our non-knitters out there who would like to contribute to our IDF Beanie Project, you can buy black beanies without fleece lining and pom poms, that would be greatly appreciated by our soldiers. To all our knitters please keep those needles clicking. If you would like more information about the beanies and/or cannot knit but would like to make a financial donation towards the freight costs of getting the beanies to Israel, please email for further details.

The first batch of beanies left Sydney last Friday for Jerusalem. The Michael Levine Base are very appreciative of our fantastic Sydney Community. We could not have done it without each and every one of you who contributed by knitting and donating beanies. Please keep on clicking those needles, we have a long way to go.

Pam says I got a call on Monday night asking for 10 beanies to be collected for an IDF special force soldier for himself and the soldiers in his unit – he is leaving for Israel. Thanks again for all your support, knitters and non-knitters. She is getting messages of thanks and gratitude from all over the world, including this one: “Hi Pam – your knitting warms my heart. My son is serving and it makes me smile to think of IDF soldiers having their heads warmed by Australian beanies! Thank you”

Loom bracelets update

I previously wrote about 5 year old Sloane Orski, daughter of alumnus Avi Orski (Class of 2003), who decided to make blue and white loom bracelets to sell, raising money for Israel. Sloane and her helpers have certainly been hard at work. Avi sent me an update to let us know that sales of these bracelets has now reached over $80,000. No, that is not a typo – yes, $80,000 and rising, with all proceeds going to Israel through MDA. Sloane and Avi want to say a huge “thank you” to our Emanuel Community for their support and to let you know that there are still more bracelets for sale. Please send Avi a direct message via Instagram: @aviorski

Sloane Orski

On the topic of bracelets for Israel, past parent, Lee Avshalom, has asked me to share an event she has organised for this Sunday 12 November 2023 – please see below. For further information please call Lee on 0401 830 764.

Sculpture by the Sea 2023

Although this event finished on Monday, some of the awards are yet to be announced. Did you or your children vote for your favourite sculpture? Past parent Dr Ilan Avshalom had his sculpture “Florb” made from reclaimed wood in the exhibition, and alumnus Joel Adler (Class of 2011) had his winning sculpture from last year on the front cover of this year’s catalogue.

Art Show

Janice Eliovson, a current parent and Assistant Educator at Korrnmehl Pre-School, writes: “When I picked up a brush and tube of paint to try find a way to sooth my shattered soul, following a very traumatic personal moment, I couldn’t have ever imagined that the unfolding that would lead me to exhibiting my artwork in numerous exhibitions and be accepted to participate as a finalist for art prizes in Sydney. Dropping into a flow state and benefiting from it is a massive reason why I continually return to fill a canvas with paint. This thing we call art really is some kind of magnificent magic which has helped me reconnect within and I’m so thrilled to be able to share it with you all. Looking at art in person is always better for the viewer so please join me at @wonderland_art_fest on until tomorrow followed by an amazing all day Best Gift Market at Coogee Beach, on Sunday 3 December 2023, 9.00 am – 6.00 pm.”

The Big Dog

The Big Dog, a new motion picture, was released yesterday, Thursday 9 November 2023 and the soundtrack album is now streaming wherever you get your music. Alumnus Sam Weiss (Class of 2012) says this soundtrack is the culmination of a mammoth collaborative effort with director @danemccusker. It could not have been more fun to write this music. It’s especially significant as it’s my first soundtrack album to a feature film.- happy listening!