Words Around the World
Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations
Words Around the World
A huge thank you to Leora Ross for her recent donation of a very special book, Words Around the World. Leora is now an Emanuel grandparent – all three children are Emanuel alumni and all are now parents at the School. This book is an international collection of stories and poems by Jewish children and was published by the School in 1992. Contributing schools in Sydney were Emanuel School and Masada College in Sydney, Mount Scopus College, Bialik College and King David School in Melbourne as well as a number of Jewish schools in Canada, USA and New Zealand. Many names that appear in the book are those of past Emanuel students who are now current parents including: Jonathan Hirst and Amir Meshel – Class of 1993, twins Lisa Strous and Nikki Michel – Class of 1995, who are Leora Ross’s daughters, as well as Michelle Levitt (Drexler) – Class of 2000 and Lisa Greenberg (Shapiro) – Class of 2001. Although our School is still quite young compared to some others (we are 37 and a half years young), we would love to get our history in order before we get too old and forget what the early days were like. If you have old Emanuel School memorabilia you no longer want to keep, it may be of significance to us, so please let us know: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au
Emanuel on Demand continues
Mitch Burnie at Adamama Urban Farm
Please join us on Wednesday 9 September 2020 at 7.30 pm for the second session of our Gesher Online Speaker Series when we interview alumnus Mitch Burnie (Class of 2011), Manager of Adamama Farm, the first Sydney Jewish urban farm. To receive the link to join this Zoom session, please RSVP by Monday 7 September 2020.
Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM) webinar series – Spotlight on Human Rights
You may have seen some of the Museum’s Spotlight on Human Rights sessions this month, which, so far, have included a number of leading figures including lawyer and human rights advocate Nydol Nyuon and Professor of Sociology and Social Policy Danielle Celermajer, providing an overview of the evolution of human rights. Emanuel School Counsellor, Kim Slender, will be talking about neuroscience and genocide in the session on 31 August 2020, as part of this series. In an interview with AJN journalist Sophie Deutsch last week, Kim said, “neuroscience and teaching children about the architecture of their brains is key to win(ing) the war on kindness”. Increasing familiarity between people of different ethnicities is not enough to combat discrimination, according to Kim, who said we need to go a “step above” to highlight similarities, rather than differences, between groups. Book for this webinar here
Remember that September is only around the corner
This year’s event is a little different to previous years and allows participants to choose one of four challenge options. Alumnus Ben Wilheim (Class of 2008) and friends would really appreciate any support our School community can give for Remember September in the endeavours to help find a cure for Pancreatic Cancer. Details and registration here.
B’nai B’rith & JNF Jewish Changemaker Awards 2020
Don’t forget nominations are now open for these prestigious awards and it is easy to do online. Our School community has so many students both present and past, who volunteer their time to an array of worthy causes/organisations, and who doesn’t love to recognise such wonderful volunteering efforts. Anyone can nominate – parents, staff and even the nominees themselves. It would be amazing to see some of our students and alumni nominated again this year.
Friendship Circle (FC) Walk 2020
Our extended School community has strong connections to FC through a variety of ways including volunteering efforts and/or having children with special needs who attend the amazing events organised by FC for children and young adults of Sydney with disabilities. FC looks forward to our support for this year’s virtual walk on Sunday 13 September 2020.
Our Big Kitchen (OBK)
I am sure you have heard of OBK and the wonderful work the Slavins do for people in need, especially when it comes to food. Many of our students and families have volunteered at OBK, a community kitchen in Bondi that distributes food for disadvantaged people, but perhaps you do not know the origins of OBK. A recent episode of Channel 10’s The Living Room, featured and recognised the amazing work of the Slavins. Watch this heartwarming episode.
If you have photos and/or news to share, please send them to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au
Stay safe and Shabbat Shalom.