Local Heroes
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
Trivia this week
It’s Purim next week and traditionally we eat Hamentashen. Did you know there are many ways to spell this triangular filled-pocket pastry? Hamantash (pl.hamantashen) can also be spelled hamentash, homentasch and even (h)umentash. The prune (plum jam) hamentash was invented in 1731 by David Brandeis of Jung-Bunzlau, Bohemia, whilst the oldest and most popular filling is poppy seed.
Westfield Local Heroes
In previous years, we have had members of our Emanuel and extended community nominated for and winning these annual awards – alumna Rikki Stern (Class of 2016) won in 2019 for her work establishing the Australian branch of Cancer Chicks and Pink Hope. Laya Slavin, founder of Our Big Kitchen (OBK) was a winner in 2020, whilst past parent Lisa Saunders, together with her husband Adrian, founders of Arnie’s Recon, a social enterprise offering free pick up and recycling of e-waste, were winners last year, as was Chana Kavka, founder of Friendship Circle and Friendship Bakery.
2022 nominations are now open, with $20,000 as the winner’s cheque this year. We would love to see some of our community nominated this time. Nominations close on Monday 21 March 2022
The Nurse
Liat Granot (Class of 2021) along with a few others from her year have headed down to Canberra to study at ANU this year. No sooner did the university year start and Liat successfully auditioned for the ANU Shakespeare Society production of Romeo and Juliet. She says “it is very exciting indeed – I’m playing The Nurse again which is both hilarious and very exciting as I found I remembered most of my lines from when I played The Nurse in the School production in 2019”. We wish Liat and the other graduates a wonderful time in Canberra and we look forward to hearing more about their journeys.
AJ America
Speaking about Canberra, Emanuel alumna AJ America (Head Madricha 2012) is a graduate of ANU, where she completed her PhB with Honours in History. She is a performer, conductor and creative producer.
She is the Artistic Director and founder of Luminescence Chamber Singers and Children’s Choir which has an upcoming production in Sydney on Sunday 10 April 2022 that may be of interest to some of our readers.
Call out for 2022 Careers Event
We are seeking alumni who left school 10 years ago or less to come back to speak to our current Year 11 and Year 12 students.
When: Wednesday 18 May 2022
Time: 8.30 am – 11.00 am
This is an informal and small-group setting where groups of 5-10 students will rotate to chat to Alumni from all professions – healthcare, design, the creative industries, businesses, human services, the STEM areas, Law, government or anything else.
We are also seeking alum still studying for a student-group. The pathway is what interests us, regardless of whether if it was smooth or bumpy! Can parents please pass this request on to your older children who were students at Emanuel. They can contact Sonia Newell or Claire Pech, our Careers Advisor to confirm their attendance/interest.
Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF)
Alumnus Sean Torban, founder of Talking Holocaust, has organised a Movie Night as part of the JIFF and he invites members of our School community to join him at The Ritz Cinema in Randwick on Sunday 13 March 2022.
Check out the many other wonderful films to be shown at this festival, including Emanuel grandparent Vic Alhadeff’s Torn By War.
Friendship Bakery
Located at Mark Moran Vaucluse, you can visit the Bakery at 2 Laguna Street Vaucluse Monday to Wednesday from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm for their yummy salad bar, quiches, pastries and coffee and on Fridays from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm for their Shabbat Shop. Orders for Care Packages and for Purim can be done online.  Â
Friendship Circle (FC)
Some of our students begin their volunteering journey with FC when they are here in High School and then continue beyond Year 12. Benjamin Torban (Class of 2021) is one such FC volunteer. He was part of the recent Junior Getaway and he says “being able to be part of a camp that the kids never forget and remember as some of their favourite memories felt great. Working with Friendship Circle is a great experience and a great way of having a positive impact on others’ lives. Benjamin apologised for having so many “greats” in his message, but he then also added “it’s such a great experience, and I encourage senior high school students to get involved as of now”. Volunteers are still needed for upcoming weekend and holiday camps organised by FC for children and young adults with disabilities. The Young Adult Melbourne Getaway is on Friday 1 April 2022 – Sunday 3 April 2022. Some of our readers with older children who might be interested to volunteer for this weekend, should get in touch with Emma Sharp to register. FC is also planning a fun and exciting Day Camp from Monday 11 April 2022-Thursday 14 April 2022 for their younger members, with orientation scheduled for Sunday 10 April 2022. Register here. Â
Meantime, if you have any questions, about Friendship Circle and/or if you or someone you know would like to join their programs as a participant or a volunteer, please email:Â hello@sydneyfc.org.au.
International Women’s Day 2022
There were many Facebook posts to acknowledge Tuesday this week, 8 March 2022, as the celebration of International Women’s Day. One striking post was by Executive Council of Australian Jewry – ECAJ, with three quotes from inspirational women, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Golda Meir and Gal Gadot.
Emanuel parent Daphna Tal was recently voted as a finalist for the Bondi Environmentalist of the Year award in the 4th International Women’s Day Awards Bondi, for her business Greenline Cleaning, an innovative Australian business that manufactures and supplies green certified and food safe approved cleaning products to all industries. We congratulate Daphna and hope she is announced the winner.
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 Sonia Newell.
Shabbat shalom, stay safe and have a great weekend.