From the Principal

Andrew Watt – Principal

It takes a village….

The phrase ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ originates from an African proverb. The Emanuel School village exists year-round, to provide a safe, caring and healthy environment for our students/your children. Our village seeks to provide the security required for them to develop and flourish, and to be able to achieve their hopes and dreams.

The Emanuel School village consists of our staff, our families and our friends, working together, with the same message, to support each other in the tough times, and to celebrate together in the good times. Our Jewish School village stands out as a lighthouse of belonging and connectedness in an often fragmented and isolated society. In light of current events, we need to be prepared for a protracted, ‘long game’. Our parent villagers are working in close partnership with our staff villagers, to provide the 24/7, consistent care that our students (and our families) will need.

As events continue to unfold in Israel, generating varying degrees of distress, anxiety and grief, we hope that our school village will provide a much-needed safe haven. This brings to mind a quote that surfaced during the pandemic:

We are not all in the same boat
We are all in the same storm
Some of us are on super-yachts
Some of us have just one oar

We will continue to do our best to meet the needs of all those in our community, with a particular focus on supporting ‘those with one oar’ within our village. Since the conflict commenced our villagers have been busy putting supports in place for our young people and our staff, as well as reaching out to our families, with updates and advice. We have also reached out to support those organisations that are providing financial aid to the people of Israel. It has also been encouraging for our staff to receive messages of support and appreciation from both our families and the broader Jewish community. Our Parents and Friends Association provided muffins for our staff, which were well received and families and staff were involved in the Together with Israel Challah Bake. There is a daily check-in with our staff members who are struggling at the moment.

Our School has adopted a three pronged response in relation to the tragedy in Israel, based on ancient Jewish responses, -Tefillah, Tzedakah and Chesed – prayer, giving and kindness. All these actions are about keeping Israel in mind, building our connection to Israel and supporting each other. The following events have taken place over the last week:

• Yair Miller (UIA) addressed our High School assembly, with an important messages about the conflict in Israel. He also offered a more detailed session to our Years 9 and 10 students, during which students had a chance to ask the questions on their minds. 
• Kornmehl Pre-School held a coffee, cupcake and fruit morning, to raise funds for Israel.
• Students have been writing letters to students and soldiers in Israel. Many students made an effort to write beautiful messages, specifically in Hebrew, as a show of solidarity and connection to Israel. 
• Lunchtime information and debriefing sessions, led by Kobi Bloom, are being held for High School students, while Adam Carpenter has been holding age-appropriate discussions with Years 5 and 6 in the Primary School. 
• Students dressed in blue and white today, to express solidarity with Israel and to raise funds for Israel (UIA). 
• All students from Kornmehl to Year 12 have been sent home with Shabbat candles this week, to unite in lighting candles in prayer for Israel. 
• A challah bake is planned for the Jewish Life team for next week.

The B’Yachad Building is open!

It has been a very long time since planning commenced on a wonderful new building. Our staff and students moved into the B’Yachad Building on Wednesday, after a brief ceremony with Primary students, in the new playground. To describe the building as ‘impressive’ and ‘beautiful’ feels like an understatement. Suffice to say that our Kindergarten, Year 5 and 6 teachers and students are well pleased to at last enjoy their new learning spaces. We look forward to the formal Opening Ceremony!

Mazal Tov

Marcus Tsimbler (Year 11) & Alex Kirievsky (Year 11) have been selected to compete in the Club Based NSW State Development Basketball League (D-League) which is a tournament run by BB NSW over the course of two weekends. For Marcus and Alex to be selected into this tournament they would be considered to be in the top 30 best Basketball players in Metropolitan NSW. The tournament is not a direct pathway into the NSW State Basketball team, but as result of being selected they increase their chances of being picked for the U18 NSW State Team next year, having competed and played alongside the best of the best.

Quote of the Week

Peace is the only battle worth waging. ~ Albert Camus

From the Head of Jewish Life

Adina Roth – Head of Jewish Life

Circles of Influence, the gift of the rainbow

Since the terrible events unfolded on Saturday 7 October 2023, Jewish communities in Israel and around the world have moved from despair and paralysis into action. In the Emanuel community, the layers of chesed (kindess) are everywhere. As Mr Watt writes, parents are caring for teachers, teachers who are not Jewish have offered all kinds of support and care for Jewish teachers, all teachers are caring for students and students are expressing care by sending letters of support to Israel. Moving to proactivity is deep within Jewish sources. Our tradition teaches us that each person can act in their sphere of influence to have a small impact on the greater good. This is the Jewish idea of brit or covenant; we are partners with God in the unfolding of our story on this planet. Even when forces seem much greater than us, we are nevertheless reminded in Pirkei Avot, lo alecha hamlacha ligmor…velo atah ben chorin le’hibatel mimenah, it is not upon you to finish the task, but nor are you free to ignore it.

The concept of covenant is mentioned for the very first time in the Torah in this week’s Parsha, Noah. After God destroys the earth through a flood because it is filled with chamas, a form of violence, God promises ‘never again will a flood destroy the earth.’ Then God offers a covenant and a sign, ‘I have set My rainbow (kashti) in the clouds, and it shall serve as a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.’ Since ancient times, the rainbow has assumed a symbol of profound hope and peace, a guarantee against apocalypse. That we read about it in our Torah portion this week can give us some succour.

Many understand the rainbow as a one-sided promise, an assurance from Heaven to earthlings that God will not destroy us. However, the Lubavitcher Rebbe z’l offers a different interpretation. Connecting the rainbow to the rain cycle, he suggests that just as water evaporates, assembles into cloud formations and then condenses into rain, human actions influence reality at different levels of creation. The arc of the rainbow between heaven and earth suggests a relationship of influence between human endeavour and the heavenly realm. Put in modern language, our actions matter beyond their small sphere! We express kindness to each other, we light candles, we recite prayers, we give tzedakah, we put our hand on someone’s shoulder and ask if they are ok, we choose love instead of hate – all these actions connect our presence here on earth to something bigger. Our tradition is emphatic, we are in a brit with God, partners in the unfolding of life on the planet. The image of the rainbow reminds us that actions that start on the flat surface of our planet can reach up in an arc and literally change the world. In this sense, the hope of the rainbow is not simply about hope in God, it is a bold assertion about the potential goodness of humanity.

Many years from now, we will all tell our children and grandchildren about these weeks, about where we were, what we felt and what we did. In telling them this history, we will also be teaching them this way of our tradition, that the smallest actions ripple outwards and upwards. One such action is to light candles this Friday night. Every Emanuel student is coming home with Shabbat candles. As we light them at the time of candle lighting, we will be connecting to our personal family, to our Emanuel community and to the wider Jewish world. 

A few months ago, I saw a rainbow over the basketball courts and the Brender Moss building. It gave me hope then and it gives me hope now. In difficult times, our community itself is our rainbow. All our tiny, collective actions have the potential to create something beyond our wildest imaginings.

Shabbat Shalom

Candles to light for Shabbat

Adina Roth – Head of Jewish Life

Every Emanuel student was sent home today with candles to light for Shabbat.

It has been Jewish practice for thousands of years to light candles as the sun is setting on a Friday to bring light and warmth into the home. Especially at this time, we want as much light as possible. Some families have a custom of lighting two candles for the entire family, while other people light one candle for each member of a family. Many people are adding candles at the moment for the safety of soldiers, for Israel and for peace.  

We light the candles, wave our hands three times, bring our hands to cover our eyes and recite the blessing. Afterwards, if you wish, take a few moments to include and incorporate additional prayers for your family, the community, Israel and all people suffering in this war and in the world.

Candle lighting in Sydney tonight is at 6.54 pm. Our Emanuel community can unite as one, over our own Shabbat tables, as we bring more light into this world.  

Wishing our entire Emanuel community a Shabbat Shalom

שבת שלום

Ma Koreh

Adam Carpenter – Head of Jewish Life Primary

During last term’s Grandparents Day, students and their accompanying adults made their own challah covers and clay plates for apples and honey.

The painted plates were glazed and fired over the holidays and were returned to excited and proud Year 1 students to take home and share with their families, ready to use next Rosh Hashanah. 

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Primary News

Natanya Milner – Head of Primary School

B’Yachad

WE ARE IN!!!! I am so excited that we were able to welcome our community into the B’Yachad Building this week. After much patience and anticipation, it was an honour and joy to show the children and teachers this wonderful new learning space. I would like to say a HUGE thank you to the incredible community support from our recent Capital Appeal that allowed us to create this space. The name B’Yachad (Together) truly encapsulates this building from beginning to end. The community worked B’Yachad to raise the funds. The Board, Building Committee and School teams, together with our amazing architects and builders worked B’Yachad to create the vision and make it a reality. I am so excited to know that the children, and teachers will now work B’Yachad to ensure it is a centre for learning, collaboration and growth. As you will see, the building is themed around stories and books and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of the next chapter in Emanuel’s story as we enter the B’Yachad Building.

Northern Territory

There is currently a group of 40 people from our Emanuel community in the Northern Territory. This Year 6 parent and child trip is a unique opportunity to experience the Top End of Australia and spend time visiting Jilkminggan School. We are so lucky to have this special relationship with Jilkminggan School and are grateful to them for hosting us so generously this week. I look forward to hearing more when the group returns.

Leave

I will unfortunately need to be on leave for most of Week 4 and Week 5. During this time, please contact Stevie Levenston if you need anything as she will be Acting Head of Primary. Her email address is slevenston@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au.

Katie Brody – Director of Students K-6

Celebrating the 2023 Primary ICAS results

For many years, Emanuel School students have opted in for the ICAS competitions, facilitated by the team at Janison Education. Participants from schools in over 40 countries choose ICAS Assessments as they are an enjoyable opportunity to strive for academic excellence and receive recognition. Students are assessed on their ability to apply classroom learning to new contexts, using higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills. 

It is a great pleasure to showcase the achievements of the participants whose results are being awarded with Merit, Credit, Distinction or High Distinction and it is hoped that this will inspire experienced and new participants to join this opportunity again next year.

Below is the scale that shows the distribution of awards allocated. This may vary depending on the number of students per competition and the distribution of their scores:

Congratulations to all those students who participated in one or more ICAS competitions in 2023. This comprehensive list of students should feel very proud of their efforts, as should all students who took part. 

ICAS Science Competition Awards – 2023

ICAS English Competition Awards – 2023

ICAS Writing Competition Awards – 2023

ICAS Digital Technologies Competition Awards – 2023

ICAS Mathematics Competition Awards – 2023

Kornmehl

Alexandra Levy

The benefits of reading aloud to children

Reading to young children from birth through to age six years is crucial for their development and offers numerous benefits for children, parents, and adults.

Firstly, reading helps in language acquisition and development. It exposes children to a wide range of vocabulary, sentence structures, and storytelling techniques, which enhances their communication skills and expands their knowledge. 

Secondly, reading promotes cognitive development. It stimulates critical thinking, imagination, and problem-solving abilities in children. Through reading, children learn to make connections, analyse information, and develop their creativity.

Thirdly, reading fosters emotional and social development. It introduces children to different characters, situations, and emotions, helping them understand and empathise with others. It also provides a platform for discussions, bonding, and building relationships between parents and children.

Reading also enhances literacy skills. Regular exposure to books and reading materials improves children’s reading comprehension, fluency, and overall literacy levels. This foundation is essential for academic success and lifelong learning.

For parents, reading to their children creates a special bonding experience. It allows for quality time together, strengthens the parent-child relationship, and promotes a love for learning. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for parents to model good reading habits and instil a lifelong love of reading in their children.

Lastly, reading with children can be enjoyable and fulfilling for adults, as they witness the growth and development of their children’s literacy skills.

For these reasons, we nurture early literacy through reading to children at Pre-school every day to support not only their language development but also their emotional literacy.

Inspired by an exhibition that Renee attended in Melbourne called Connection, which featured stories through First Nations art and music, the Dolphin children were invited to view the images which we projected onto the wall. We then used these images to inspire their artwork, whilst listening to Indigenous music. In this way, we raised their awareness to the Traditional owners of this land.

Alma: There is knowledge in you and it makes you big and strong.
Abbie: The land is still growing when someone just made the earth.
Ziggy: The earth is the biggest power source.

The Starfish children have been involved in a clay project, making a dinner set for the home corner and other authentic and meaningful pieces. They have been gaining new skills, such as using the pinch technique, to create interesting designs on the sides of their plates.

The Seashell children have been learning about zoo animals, as well as recycling, and have been using recycled materials in their artwork.

Milo: I have lots of different bins in my house.
Nellie: Food scraps go in the green bin.
Aria: At Pre-school, the food goes in the green bins and then it goes in the compost for the worms.
Charlie: At kindy I put my yoghurt in our blue bin. My yoghurt lid goes in the white bin so we can use it to do things.

Happy Birthday

We wish a very special and happy birthday to Jesse Gilbert-Deutsch (4), Nellie Pillemer (4), Charlie Langbart (4), Amalia Smiley-Oxman, Evie Wicks (4), Noa Hamor (5), Dylan Bloom (5), Joseph Kummerfeld (5), Luc Marmot (5), James Samway (5),Noam Viterbo (5).  We hope you had a very special birthday!

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Music Matters

Diana Springford – Director of Music P-12

Welcome to our Music Matters page! 🎶

Here and on our portal page, you will find announcements about our busy Music program, so please check in regularly.

Term 4 dates and Events for your diary

Weekly ensemble rehearsals, Private Music Tuition, Infant Strings Program (Years K – 2) and Years 3 – 6 IP all resumed this week, from the first day of term.

• Wednesday 1 November 2023: Night of Winds and Percussion 
• Thursday 2 November 2023: Year 10 Elective Music to the Burger Centre 
• Wednesday 8 November 2023: Night of Strings 
• Sunday 12 November 2023: St Joseph’s College Battle of the Bands  – Year 9-11 Rock Band.
• Sunday 19 November 2023B’Yachad Building Opening: Jazz Combo and Klezmer Ensemble.
• Wednesday 22 November 2023: Twilight Concerts (tutor-nominated performances) 

This term, our musicians are preparing for two very special concerts, which will showcase the skills of hundreds of young instrumentalists, performing in a range of ensembles as well as all students from Years 3-6 performing with their Primary School Instrument Program (IP) cohort. Our K-2 string playing students, who are members of the Perlman String Ensemble, will also feature in the strings concert. Information letters have been emailed to parents of performers. Students, please remember to bring your instrument and music to all your instrumental lessons so that you are well prepared to perform.

Please visit our Music Portal Page for information about:

• Private Music Tuition (beginning and discontinuing)
• Ensemble and Choir membership for K-12 students
• Infant Strings Program (ISP) for K-2
• Performance opportunities
• Borrowing an orchestral instrument.

Calling all Knitters

Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations

We continue to thank the Communal Security Group (CSG) and all volunteers for their never-ending dedication to keeping us safe in Sydney and we pray for the safety of everyone in Israel – with a return to peace and the safe return of all hostages. Although we are on the other side of the world, we are supporting Israel as best as we can and, as you know, there are numerous avenues to do so financially through the UIA, JNF, MDA and WIZO, just to name a few…

There are also other ways we can help through this difficult time – I have outlined just one below!

Calling all knitters!

As winter approaches in the northern hemisphere, Israel experiences freezing cold temperatures, making beanies a necessity for our IDF soldiers. Many of us are feeling helpless right now, even having already donated money and offered our support. However, we are determined to find more ways to contribute and if you have knitting skills, you are invited to visit hatsforisraelisoldiers.blogspot.com, where you can find more information and start clicking your needles to create beanies for our soldiers.

For those who are unable to knit but still want to help, there are knitters who will gladly accept donations of wool. Please contact Sharon Shach if you need the pattern, or can help by donation. Also, any contributions towards the mailing costs would also be greatly appreciated. Sharon will facilitate the process and ensure that the beanies reach Israel. To maintain consistency, all beanies should be made with black 10 ply wool. You can order this from Bendigo Woollen Mills.   

Futsalroos

Alumnus and current School Sports Coach, Ethan De Melo (Class of 2020) and family have a long history with Emanuel School. Mum, Claudia Maman, was in the very first Year 12 graduating Year group in 1989 and Ethan’s brothers, twins Kobe and Jordan, are now at the School, having started in Year K this year. Ethan has always been passionate about futsal and he is also a member of the Futsalroos who, for the first time in eight years, have now reached the AFC Futsal Asian Cup following their win against Chinese Taipei recently. We wish Ethan and his team good luck for this competition which will take place in Thailand next year.

Ethan De Melo and the Futsalroos

Claudia Maman and sons

Alumnus researching Kids Cancer

Mazal Tov to alumnus Dr David Mizrahi PhD (Class of 2005), Research Fellow at The Daffodil Centre, on receiving a The Kids’​ Cancer Project Col Reynolds Fellowship grant! David has returned to School as part of our senior student Careers Space event in the past and we hope he will do so again next year. He has now been awarded $505,000 over three years to investigate the role of exercise/physical activity in children, during and after their cancer treatment, in both hospital and community settings. Learn more.  

Dr David Mizrahi

Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) 
Tuesday 24 October  2023  – Tuesday 28 November 2023

There are so many choices of films to see within these four weeks at The Ritz, Randwick starting next Tuesday. Don’t forget about Sasha’s Game, directed by Emanuel alumna Lexee Gordoun (Class of 2017), The Jewish Nazi? directed by Emanuel parent Dan Goldberg and Majong & Mahashas directed by past parent Carolyn Saul, as well as the Q&A session with Emanuel parent Moshe Rozenzveig OAM. 

Reverberations
A Future of Memory at Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM)

If you haven’t already seen this exhibition, I encourage you to do so before it closes in early December. It is a powerful interactive exhibition of 43 Holocaust survivors including members of our School community, all of whom have shared their stories of courage, endurance and resilience, including Olga Horak OAM, Yvonne Engelman OAM, Paul Drexler, Mimi Weiss, Egon Sonnenschein, Kitty Lowinger, Litzi Lemberg, Alice Leob and  Helen Studenki, as well as some from our school community who sadly, are no longer with us – Eddie Jaku OAM, Lena Goldstein OAM, Lotte Weiss OAM and George Grojnowski. You can explore all exhibitions for free every Sunday – check the website for details about Reverberations and other events at the Museum.

Reverberations – a future for memory. Yvonne Engelman OAM, Eddie Jaku OAM and Olga Horak OAM

We look forward to sharing our news and yours, so if you have photos and/or news you would like to share with us, please send to Sonia Newell.     

Shabbat shalom, stay safe and have a great weekend.  

Year 10 Drama Showcase

Night of Winds and Percussion

The Speaker Series

P&F

Justine Hofman – Head of P&F

Thank you to our Emanuel Staff

It continues to be a difficult time for all and I want to particularly recognise again our School team –  from our exemplary leadership team and front line teachers, to every other member of staff who is working tirelessly to make our school feel safe and nurturing. And all whilst dealing with their own personal concerns and circumstances.

As a show of support from all parents, the P&F provided staff with a morning tea of delicious muffins. It was greatly appreciated and lifted spirits in the school.  A muffin-hug to all!

Additionally, I encourage each of us make a point of showing appreciation to Emanuel staff wherever you can. A little acknowledgement goes a long way at this tender time.

Our new structure

At the end of Term 3, at our P&F  Termly meeting, the existing Parents & Friends Association constitution was rescinded and our new structure as a committee under the Emanuel School came into effect. We are now guided by a new Charter which is much more relevant, user-friendly and reflective of how our group will be run into the future.

As a Parents & Friends Committee we will now receive significantly more support with our finance, administration and marketing. It will mean that our P&F Executive team need to focus less on administration and more on developing initiatives to engage our community and supporting our committees.

I would like to acknowledge and thank the Advisory Committee who were involved in this eight month project. The Committee researched and consulted with other Jewish and independent schools across New South Wales and Victoria, along with the Independent Schools Association, to develop a new structure and draft a new Charter from which we now operate. A great deal of work occurred behind the scenes but it was entirely seamless thanks to the work of Lisa Strous and Mario Toressan, supported by Alley Steele, Gary Joffe, Paul Miller, Ruby Berkovic and Daniela Freed.

You can read our new charter here Emanuel School Parents & Friends (P&F) Committee Charter – Final

P&F Spring Family Camping Weekend update

We are still taking bookings for our Spring Family Camping Weekend. Be assured, under the current circumstances we are seeking advice on the best way to proceed that is safe and secure. Stay tuned for an update in coming days.

Dates for the diary

• Friday 3 November 2023 – Monday 5 November 2023: Spring Family Camping Weekend
• Wednesday 15 November 2023: P&F Termly Meeting at 7.00 pm 
• Monday 4 December 2023 – Thursday 7 December 2023: Pre-loved Uniform Shuk collection week
• Monday 29 January 2024: Pre-loved Uniform Shuk Sale: 7.30 am – 2.00 pm.

School Travel Applications for 2024 – Now Open

PSG

Thank you to our volunteers for the last week of Term 3
(Monday 9 October2023 – Friday 13 October 2023)

Michael Pollak, Gary Gordon, Elan Miller, Gary Aaron, Alan Epstein, Adam Gordon, Craig Forman, Paul Biller, Steven Durbach, Alan Arnott, Peter Freed, Shaun Gross, Paul Filipczyk, Zhuliang Long, Anthony Milner, Lisa Goodman, Daryl Dusheiko, Darren Isenberg, Sol Caganoff, Nicole Dorrell, Andrew Nabarro, David Camiller, Raphael Mueller, Steven Trope, Martin Becker and Karen Drutman.

Help keep our kids and community safe: sign up to PSG here.

Important Dates

What’s happening next week 

High School 

Monday 23 October 2023

• HSC Examinations
• FPS Critical and Creative Thinking Session
• Year 10 Drama Showcase
• Year 10 Schools Volleyball Cup

Tuesday 24 October 2023

• HSC Examinations
• Year 9 Be the Change to Chiefly Public School 

Wednesday 25 October 2023

• HSC Examinations
• Year 10 PASS Bronze Medallion Course 
• Year 9 JA Thompson History Debating Semi Final Round 

Thursday 26 October 2023

• HSC Examinations 
• Emanuel 1st V Basketball vs Moriah College

Friday 27 October 2023

• HSC Examinations 

Primary 

Tuesday 24 October 2023

• Year 6 Space Planetarium Guest Speaker

Wednesday 25 October 2023

• Year 2 Allwell Placement Testing

Friday 27 October 2023

• Years 3-6 Assembly 

Community Notices