Springtime
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
We hope you and your families are well in lockdown. Whilst we stay at home, there are many things we can be doing, even now that the Tokyo Olympic Games are over. Something food-related is always good. Last weekend alumnus Mitch Burnie from Adamama Urban Farm led a Springtime Propagation workshop, which was attended by a number of our parents and grandparents. He inspired the viewers to get out into the garden or onto the balcony to propagate to grow their own vegetables. Mitch is running more Lockdown Fermentation sessions up until Saturday 29 August 2021. See here for more details and to book these online sessions with Mitch. Monday Morning Cooking Club (MMCC) is running a number of online sessions and they have some amazing recipes available on their website.
Perhaps you have a special online activity you would like to share with us?
Zoom in
Don’t forget to join us for our Zoom Emanuel Kabbalat Shabbat at 4.00 pm each Friday, when you will see the smiling faces of so many members of our School, with students from Kornmehl through to High School as they sing and dance at home in the lead-up to Shabbat, led by our dedicated Jewish Life staff and student leaders. We encourage grandparents to also join us.
In conversation with Steve Solomon
We’re delighted to invite you to a special event with Australia’s 400m Olympian, Steve Solomon. Steve will be talking to our students, staff and the Emanuel community about his incredible journey to the Olympics. He is currently in Day 6 of lockdown and is taking it all in his long stride.
Date: 1 September 2021
Time: 2.15 pm – 3.15 pm
Zoom link will be shared closer to the event
RSVP is essential If you would like to include a question for Steve, please enter this on the registration form.
Music makes the world go round
We have some amazing alumni musicians:
Daniel Weltlinger (Class of 1997) well-known international violinist has lived in Berlin for many years and, pre-Covid, he would come back to Sydney to spend Yom Tov with his mother and his brother Alex, also an Emanuel alumnus. He would visit us and spend time with some of our music students. Enjoy this video of a session he did recently in Berlin.
Listen to AJ America (Class of 2012) and her Choir, based in Canberra.
Donny Janks (Class of 2012) is releasing music slightly more often than one track every 12 months at the moment. He says “the best place to support me (and all smaller/independent artists) is Bandcamp! You can actually pay artists directly for their work instead of the fractions of cents we see for plays on major streaming platforms. Follow me on Instagram”.
Adam Harpaz (Class of 2013) says: “Hello good people, here’s an early little taster of my new song ‘Some Days‘, set for release on Monday 27 September 2021. I want the song to make you feel mellow; perfect for a quiet night at home with someone you care about; whilst cooking; hanging the washing; a lazy Sunday; to help you sleep; something to relate to and make you feel better. I have recorded and mixed this track myself, which has allowed me to fulfill my creative vision from the writing to the final mix stage…. can’t wait for you to hear the whole thing…more to come soon”.
In the first two weeks of this latest lockdown, Joshua New (Class of 2019) decided to compose a piece of music each day. Here is one of his pieces.
Westfield Local Heroes 2021
Emanuel families have been involved with Friendship Circle since its inception many years ago through volunteering and, for some, with children who have attended their various camps and workshops and continue to do so. Founder, Chana Kavka has been nominated for the 2021 Westfield Local Heroes and I’m sure our amazing Emanuel School community would love to see her win this award, so please vote for her.
Chana Kavka launched the Sydney Friendship Circle 15 years ago and galvanises hundreds of young people with disabilities to engage with each other and society. She offers regular Sunday activities and other opportunities for children, teenagers and young adults, with and without disabilities. A crucial element is the connection fostered between volunteers and the families they help. Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. If Chana is successful, Sydney Friendship Circle will use its funds to engage a pastry chef and head trainer for the non-profit’s new bakery in Vaucluse.
Jewish Changemaker Awards 2021
Do you know a current High School student or past student in the Jewish community who is making the world a better place? If yes, nominate them to win. Through the Jewish Changemaker Awards, JNF Australia, B’nai B’rith NSW and The Australian Jewish News are honouring individuals in our community who have made a difference. Seven incredible young adults aged 14 to 36 from around Australia will be recognised for their outstanding contributions to Jewish Community, Australian Society and to Israel.
We would love to see more of our students recognised for their wonderful volunteering efforts, so please send through their nominations.
Sophie Lew getting ready for FC Walk
Friendship Circle (FC) Walk 2021
Sunday 29 August 2021
FC will be hosting their 12th annual (and second virtual) Friendship Walk on Sunday 29 August 2021. This is their main fundraiser of the year, supporting their programs and activities for children, teens and young adults with and without disabilities, as well as community initiatives. Members of our School community have supported this wonderful organisation and their events over the years, and it is hoped that we can do so again this year by signing up to join them on the walk. Given the current situation with lockdown, all participants are encouraged to create their own route and walk with FC wherever you are. This year, they will be having an Amazing Race with lots of different fun tasks to complete on the way, such as photo and video challenges, brain teasers, trivia questions and scavenger hunts.
A message from alumna Sophie Lew (Class of 2017): “Mikey, Rufus and I are training hard to be race ready for August! I am raising money this August for Sydney Friendship Circle, an incredible organisation that promotes inclusion and equality in our community. I don’t think I can articulate the importance of this organisation – I have created genuine lifelong friendships with people of all abilities and had some of the best experiences of my life. It is an honour and a privilege to be able to be a part of it. Join us on Sunday 29 August 2021 for Friendship Circle’s Amazing Race!” Get involved in whatever way you can.
Friendship Bakery
Don’t forget, if you would like to support Friendship Bakery at Mark Moran Vaucluse, a social enterprise initiative of The Friendship Circle engaging young adults with disabilities in the local community through skills development and workplace experiences, please use their contactless ordering and pick-up.
Shabbat Shalom. Stay safe, stay home and we hope you enjoy your lockdown weekend. We look forward to sharing more news with you again next week.
If you have photos and/or news to share, please send to Sonia Newell.