Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations

Private Art Gallery tour with a difference

We hope you will join us on the morning of 16 June 2021 for our Gesher private tour of Salon des Refusés 2021 (The alternative Archibald and Wynne Prize selection) at the S.H. Ervin Gallery, Observatory Hill (The Rocks). This event is open to past and current parents, grandparents and alumni as well as friends. Bookings open soon.

Friendship Circle and Friendship Bakery

If you are a regular reader of this page, you will know that many in our School community – parents, alumni and students – are great supporters of Sydney Friendship Circle (FC) but there are some connections you may not be aware of. Current parent, Jeffrey Akres, is on the Board of Trustees of FC, whilst past parent, Dr Les White, is on their Advisory Board. If you or someone you know would like to join FC as a participant or volunteer, please email here.  

The Friendship Bakery is a social enterprise that aims to empower young people living with disability by challenging them to take on the responsibilities of creating and selling their own baked products. These young people work alongside owner of Jesse’s Bakery, Emanuel parent Jesse Meguideche, and his team, learning the art of Challah baking process from start to finish. They operate all the machines, including braiding and forming the challahs into the loaves we all love to eat every Shabbat as well as making babka and other yummy things. They have now had their first week at their own Friendship Bakery at Mark Moran Vaucluse, learning new skills needed in the workplace as they get ready to launch. Whilst Friendship Bakery is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with our local community there is some equipment still needed, so if you would like to be a sponsor to help the Bakery open their doors, please click here. 

Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM)

The museum, which opened in 1992, was established by the generation of Holocaust survivors who came to Australia. Members of our School community are amongst its founders, supporters and volunteer guides as well as on staff. Emanuel grandparent, Rita Prager, is Community Liaison Manager whilst Charles Aronson and Paul Drexler are on the Museum Board. Alumna Dr Rebecca Kummerfeld (Class of 2003) heads their Education Unit, whilst alumnus Dr Simon Holloway also works in that unit. It has been 28 years since its inception and the SJM continues to give a voice to the victims of the Holocaust so their stories can start conversations and inspire change. Its work involves both permanent and temporary exhibitions, education programs and facilities and online events. Did you know SJM runs numerous courses throughout the year? You may be interested in the free online short course SJM is currently running in partnership with the University of Sydney and Mandelbaum House, “Education in times of crisis”. 

Mazal tov

Eddie Jaku who recently celebrated his 101^st birthday, is a name familiar not only to our School community where he is one of our great grandparents, but also around Australia and beyond. Eddie received an OAM in 2013 for his extensive work to ensure the Holocaust is never forgotten. Last week at the Australian Book Industry Awards event, he was announced the winner of the ABIA 2021 Biography Book of the Year, for his book The Happiest Man on Earth. It is an amazing and powerful book. We have copies of the book in our School library, so you can also encourage your children to borrow and read it too. Our post on the Emanuel School Community Facebook page about this wonderful news of Eddie’s award is one of our most popular posts to date, with close to 150 likes and lots of comments. If you are not already a member of this Facebook page, where you can read more School news and see photos from some of our School events as well as daily life activities of our students, we encourage you to join.

ABC Community Exhibition 2021

B’nai B’rith, together with COA, have an initiative, ABC Community Exhibition 2021, an exhibition of works by Jewish Artists.  Applications close next week on  Friday 14 May 2021 so there is still time to enter. This is a great opportunity for both Emanuel parents and students to show your artistic talents. For more details contact past parent Viv Radomsky, Project Manager at B’nai B’rith or Sabina Kovadlo. 

If you have photos and/or news to share, please send to Sonia Newell.   

Shabbat Shalom and have a great weekend.