Prayers for Peace
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine
We pray for a swift and peaceful solution to this overwhelming crisis in Ukraine. We acknowledge the many members of our extended School community who are from the Ukraine, some of whom still have family and friends living there and we hope they all stay safe during these troubled and dangerous times. We pray for the safety of our Jewish brethren in Ukraine, along with all people in the affected areas and that the people affected have the strength and resources to make it through this trying time.
A history lesson this week instead of trivia
Did you know that our old stone building “The Saunders Administration Building” was originally known as Aston Lodge? It was designed by well-known Sydney architect Edmund Blackett, in the mid-1860’s and was built in 1865 by John Leo Watkins, a local merchant, It was the home of Randwick Mayor Walter Bradley for some time before 1892, when it was then leased to Loretto Convent for a girls’ school until they moved to the north at the end of the 1890’s. The site was then acquired by Little Sisters of the Poor in 1901. The Chapel, now known as The Aron Kleinlehrer Performing Arts Centre (PAC) was built in 1921 and in 1936 the large Novitiate (built to house novices during their religious training) designed in a Spanish architectural style was erected. We all know this building as the Brender Moss Building.
Emanuel School was established in 1983 with 53 students in classrooms at Temple Emanuel, Woollahra and on the grounds of Our Lady of the Sea at Watsons Bay. The School, with significant financial support from Aron Kleinlehrer together with communal generosity, then purchased the Randwick site in 1984 from the Little Sisters of the Poor, and the School opened its doors here in 1985 with 230 students from Years K – 8.
Next year we will celebrate our 40th anniversary. We have certainly come a long way since 1983!
Grandparents – we will always want you!
Again, a huge thank you to parents who have been in touch this week to provide grandparent updates for our database. I eagerly await even more email updates after the publication of Ma Nishma each week.
Mazal tov
To the winners and to all participants at last Sunday’s Maccabi Jewish Swimming Championships.
Maccabi Swimming Club President and Emanuel parent Elan Miller sent through this report:
Hot off the heels of the school carnivals, a number of Emanuel families participated in the 72nd Maccabi Jewish Swimming Championships last Sunday. It was a fantastic afternoon of racing, where we saw records broken and many of our kids win medals. Emanuel kids of all ages took on the challenge and even a few Mums and Dads participated to earn “Bragging Rights” for the year ahead.There was an awesome atmosphere, as swimmers from all over Sydney attended, and even though there was some serious racing, it was all about participating and having fun. Maccabi can’t wait to have all Emanuel families back for next year’s event.
The overall atmosphere was amazing for all participants and their families. Mazal tov to everyone involved in this event.
Hamentashen Bake-off
A message from Anna-Lisa Palmer, an Emanuel parent and close friend of Tandi Rapke, who sadly passed away recently: “Our Big Kitchen is planning a big Purim Hamentashen bake- off and we’d love to use this as an opportunity to get the Emanuel Community together to help those less fortunate, in honour of Tandi’s circle of love and light.”
The goal is to bake 10,000 Hamentaschen to deliver to shelters, old age homes and hospitals around Sydney.
Grab a few friends and join us! Register here
If you are unable to join one of these “Emanuel dates”, you will see there are plenty of other sessions that may suit you.
International Women’s Day 2022
As part of the celebrations for this auspicious day, there will be a very special presentation at the Sydney Jewish Museum this Sunday 6 March 2022, for International Women’s Day: “Survivor Talk: Break the Bias – Women of the Holocaust, where, as Head of Education at the Museum, Emanuel alumna Dr Rebecca Kummerfeld says, “you will meet some of the powerful, inspiring women I get to work with”. Get your tickets here.
Friendship Bakery Care Packages and Hamentashen
Friendship Bakery is a Friendship Circle initiative, having evolved from a small operation baking and packing in a shared factory in Mascot, with the help of Emanuel parent Jesse Meguideche, owner of Jesse’s Bakery in Rose Bay. They now have their own retail shop and bakery at Mark Moran Vaucluse. You can visit the Bakery at 2 Laguna Street Vaucluse from 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 made online.
Friendship Circle (FC)
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 from the 1 April 2022 – 3 April 2022. Some of our readers with older children who might be interested to volunteer for this weekend, should get in touch with: emmasharp@sydneyfc.org.au to register. FC is also planning a fun and exciting Day Camp from 11 April 2022 – 14 April 2022 for their younger members, with orientation scheduled for Sunday 10 April 2022. Registrations will be open soon, so watch this space.
If you have any questions, about Friendship Circle and/or if you or someone you know would like to join their programs visit their website.
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.
Have a look at the many other wonderful films to be shown at this festival, including Emanuel grandparent Vic Alhadeff’s Torn By War.
We look forward to sharing our news and yours, so if you have photos or news you would like to share with us, please email it to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au.
Shabbat shalom, stay safe and have a great weekend!