Adam Carpenter – Head of Jewish Studies Primary

Visit to Montiefiore Jewish Home

Students in Year 6 Rehovot and Year 6 Yad Mordechai recently visited the Montefiore Jewish Home in Randwick to spend time with the residents as part of their MAD (Making a Difference Project). The visits provided the students with the opportunity to meet and engage in conversation with the residents as well as entertain and perform songs and musical items for the residents.

Rene Ichilicik who oversees Community Relations at Montefiore and who helped co-ordinate our visit, reflected on the visit:

I thank and compliment both Year 6 classes who recently visited our Montefiore residents. They displayed such tenderness, care and maturity which was so visible during their visit. Both classes gave moving and sensitive performances and were very supportive and proud of their peers who performed. The students were spontaneous in their movements and encouraged our residents to join in the clapping, swaying and singing along. This set the scene for a very relaxed and interesting conversation session with the residents after the concert. The students were interested in what our residents had to say and also to share their information with our residents. Our residents loved the mornings and enjoyed the opportunity to talk to young students. One resident said: “The students brought such joy and vibrancy into the home”.

Students reflected on their experiences, with some examples below:

Visiting Montefiore Home was an amazing experience. Having the opportunity to visit such kind people with amazing stories was such a pleasure. At the beginning, we sang Hebrew songs for them and some people even sang solo acts. Everyone was singing with so much passion and the residents enjoyed listening to our acts. After we sang to the residents, we had chats to them in small groups, we asked them about their life stories and all their past experiences. Many had been in the Holocaust and had tough lives. Listening to their stories makes me think how lucky I am and how I have such a calm, safe and peaceful life. I really enjoyed going to the Montefiore Home and I hope to go there again soon.

Jamie Schneider

I thought that the visit to the Montefiore Home was very nice, I think the residents there enjoyed the experience and I know that Year 6R enjoyed singing and talking to the elderly. Although I have been to the Montefiore Home before I found that it was positive to go in a group, especially with the School. After the singing we walked around and talked to the residents. The person that I talked to was very kind and friendly, he looked a lot younger than 99 years old. He was talking about his 14 great grandchildren. He also showed us a picture book with photos of his family. I think he enjoyed our company and I definitely enjoyed learning about his childhood and his family.

Allie Armstrong 

After the performance we all got a chance to speak with a few of the residents. I spoke to my great grandmother Sonia. I think she really enjoyed getting to catch up with me and getting to see me. She seemed to have enjoyed our performance as she had a lot to say about it. She spoke about her experiences in the home and what she enjoys to do there. This was a very joyous and fulfilling experience which I am sure everyone valued. This was part of Year 6’s M.A.D or Make a Difference project. We strive to make someone’s day just that much better as a part of this project and by the conversation I had with Sonia I am sure she had a better day that day.

Ashley Goldman