March of the Living
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
Today is the final issue of Ma Nishma for Term 1. It feels like just yesterday we welcomed everyone back to school for the start of 2023, along with a warm welcome to all our new families to the School on their first day, as members of our amazing Emanuel family. Thank you to the many readers who have allowed me to share their news to our wider community and I look forward to continuing to do so next term. As we prepare to celebrate Pesach next week, we wish you and your family Chag Pesach Sameach, wherever you are.
Flashback Friday
Not long after the School opened in 1983, they employed George (Hersz) Fried, a Holocaust survivor, to drive the school bus. George was the father of Jeanette Streimer, one of the original teachers at the School. George was always thought of fondly and in one report we are told Since the beginning of the school, George has been driving Emanuel children to and fro. George has often come to the assistance of a teacher in distress in need of excursion transport. Nowhere could be found a more patient man – a much valued member of our community. Tom Wiedenman, founding Principal of the School, is quoted as saying in 1984 “George you are indeed a magician as well as a fine gentleman. I hope we will soon have a bus for you that you don’t have to push start!” We are also told that he outlasted two school buses. George passed away in July 2019, aged 94.
March of the Living (MOTL) 2023
Some of our readers may have been on MOTL to Poland and Israel in past years and/or know of others who have. This amazing program is back after an absence of three years due to COVID, starting in Krakow, Poland on Sunday 16 April 2023. Here is a short video from previous MOTL trips to give an insight into the program – it features past Emanuel grandparent and Holocaust survivor, Judy Kolt, plus alumni Sam Koslowski (Class of 2012) and Julia Sussman (Class of 2014).
I was in Poland in 2004 on a family trip to trace my family roots. I am going on MOTL 2023 looking at the Holocaust through different eyes this time, having completed the Sydney Jewish Museum Volunteer Guide Course last year. I am now one of the many volunteer guides who take groups of school students from all across NSW around the Museum, retelling the stories of the Holocaust and of our amazing survivors. Now I want to learn more about it, to reflect on and to never forget the Holocaust – what it all means to me as the child of Holocaust survivors, to learn more about my family I never knew and to help give an understanding to as many others as I can, no matter who they are, where they live, their nationality or their religion.
Emanuel parent Kevin Smaller is also one of this year’s participants and he says “MOTL has always been a bucket-list item for me. Hearing the story direct from a survivor will give more meaning, especially with so few survivors remaining. I am also hoping that engaging our non-Jewish participants in our view of tolerance will expand the view of the broader community”.
Another Emanuel connection to the program is past parent Gavin Rubenstein, who is the current Treasurer of MOTL Australia, and will also join our group.
This week’s Australian Jewish News features a story on the upcoming MOTL Program and three well-known non-Jewish people, including Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe, who will be joining us.
Gardening Australia goes to Adamama Farm
If you missed Gardening Australia to see Costa Georgiadis visit Adamama Farm and interview Farm Manager, alumnus Mitch Burnie (Class of 2011), you can watch it on iview. The farm, located at 27 Munda Street Randwick, is a wonderful place to visit for you and your children to partake in the many activities they organise. You can also order fresh horseradish and parsley for Pesach and you can book for amazing sessions they run at the Farm.
Sydney Writers Festival (SWF) 2023
Stories for the Future – Monday 22 May 2023 – Sunday 28 May 2023
Emanuel great grandparent Olga Horak OAM and grandparent Paul Drexler, both Holocaust survivors, are part of this year’s SWF and will talk about the books they wrote. Grandparent, Johnny Weiss will tell the story of his late mother Lotte Weiss, also a Holocaust survivor.
Aside from these three sessions at SJM during SWF, there are many lectures and exhibitions that may be of interest to you and your family at the Museum. If you have never been to the Museum, I highly recommend you book a guided tour – your guide might even be one of our Emanuel grandparents. The amazing interactive high-tech exhibition “Reverberations: A Future for Memory” is a must. This exhibition shines a light on the humanity and life experiences of 43 Holocaust survivors who have shared their stories with visitors to the Museum in recent years – many of them are Emanuel great grandparents and grandparents.
Friendship Circle (FC) Walk
Save the date – Sunday 27 August 2023
FC creates inclusive friendships between people with and without disabilities through fun opportunities, for a community where everyone is included and celebrated for their unique abilities. This year’s FC Walk, the major fundraising event for the year, that allows these special projects, camps and day activities to take place will be on Sunday 27 August 2023. Please diarise this and join FC for a morning of fun and a little exercise at the same time. FC produces a monthly newsletter to which you might like to subscribe.
Maccabi LIFE and Maccabi All Abilities
There is still plenty of time for grandparents and friends who like to be active and meet new people to sign up for the next Maccabi Life Senior Walkie Talkies event for over 60’s on Tuesday 18 April 2023. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to enjoy meeting new people over a walk and a talk.
We look forward to sharing our news and yours, so if you have photos and/or news you would like to share with us, please send it to Sonia Newell.
Shabbat shalom, stay safe, have a wonderful Pesach and term break. See you next term.