Volume 29 Issue 34 - 06 Nov 2020

From the Principal

Andrew Watt – Principal

Important considerations for students on social media

As our students are commencing their engagement with social media at an increasingly early age, parents can no longer sit on the sidelines as spectators. An understanding of the potential pitfalls and risks associated with teenage social media use will be of great value to our families. It is hoped that this article will provide you with some simple but wise guidelines.

Social media can be a fun way for young people to connect, create and communicate but it also comes with heavy risk. Most students know that having a public Instagram, TikTok or Facebook account is unsafe. Publicising their hobbies, geo-tagging their location, or broadcasting where they go to School puts students and their peers in immediate danger. Students are much safer keeping their accounts private and vetting their followers or friends to ensure only the people they trust can follow them. Still, it’s a very good idea to remind them that even if their profile is private, their peers aren’t necessarily the only ones who can access their information. In fact, having a private account can lull people into a false sense of security in thinking it’s ok to share personal information. Pictures can easily be copied and shared with thousands of others at the click of a button. They can even be altered or distorted and leaked to the public. Students with private accounts can unknowingly share their personal information with people who aren’t who they say they are, or at the very least, companies who want to sell them things. 

Here are some questions your child should be asking before sharing anything on social media: 

  • Could someone know where to find me or one of my friends using the details in this post? 
  • Am I about to post information about one of my friends, without asking them for permission?
  • Could this post cause offence to someone in my peer group, community or family? 
  • Could I be embarrassed or ashamed about having shared this post later in life? 

Answering yes to any question is a sign that they should urgently rethink the decision to hit ‘share’. Remember: the internet never forgets. Once we upload a picture, video or post, we can’t un-upload it. Even if we delete it, it still sits on some server somewhere, indefinitely, and could resurface years later. We don’t own our content – Google or TikTok does – which is why social media, whether ‘public’ or ‘private’, is never totally secure.

Lexi Bader Cup

A quiet and dignified commemoration and candle lighting service was held for our Year 9 and Year 11 students on Monday, marking a year in the lunar calendar since Lexi’s passing. In addition to the commemorative site where an olive tree was planted, with a plaque, in Lexi’s memory, and the Lexi Bader Mensch Award at our annual prize giving event, the annual Lexi Bader Cup competition has commenced.

Over the last few weeks the first rounds of the inaugural Lexi Bader Interhouse Futsal Cup has been run by the Sport Va’ad. The atmosphere has been incredible, and the participation has been truly amazing, with teams from every Tutor group competing. Each Stage group has now had the opportunity to compete and in coming weeks the finals will be held. 

Project Heritage – a collaborative learning history project 

Despite the need to communicate with our nine ‘living historians’ via Zoom, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the adjustments to this Term 3 project did not impact the uniqueness and high quality of the program. As was evidenced in the ‘live’ group presentation and celebration event held last Friday, the students engaged deeply with each individual life story. One of the features of this year’s program was the Project Heritage website; a virtual exhibition space, featuring curated samples of student work produced for Project Heritage. Each group entered a rich assortment of work under the key areas: Theatre, Writing Lab, Art Gallery and Biography. Many thanks and congratulations to Tany Milner, Adam Carpenter, the mentors of each group and the Year 6 teachers.

History Debating – through to the State finals! 

Both our Year 12 and Year 9 History Debating teams have progressed to the finals of the Prestigious J.A Thompson State History Debating competition. The Year 12 team defeated St Patricks, Kings, and SCEGGS Darlinghurst, to earn their place. Our Year 9 team competed in the Year 10 competition, defeating both James Ruse and Ryde Secondary College on the way to the finals. Mazal tov and good luck to Jesse Koslowski, Romi Lapidge, Max Kidman and Tara Linker as well as to our Year 9 team, consisting of Mayan Granot, Alix Cane, Jake Newland, Daniel Solomon and Ariel Melamed,

Staff farewell for Michael Bartels within COVID restrictions 

Recently a small group of staff (with up to 10 allowed to book a venue during COVID restrictions) joined with Michael and his wife Sharon to say farewell and good luck. Maxine Chopard, the School’s past Assistant to the Deputy Principal, prepared a speech on behalf of staff:

Lollipop men are an institution. Every parent can send their child off to school knowing that the lollipop man will ensure they are crossed safely. Emanuel was no exception. What was exceptional was WHO our lollipop man was. Who was Michael to Emanuel?

  • Michael was the man who ALWAYS greeted everyone
  • Michael was the man who knew each child by name and sometimes even their dogs
  • Michael was the man who knew which parents were breaking the parking and drop off rules and promptly ‘dobbed them in’
  • Michael was the man who sang on stage
  • Michael was the man who attended assemblies to celebrate the students and often clapped the loudest
  • Michael was the man who married and told the world Emanuel was his family
  • Michael was the man who the staff and students knew as he has shown to be someone who could do anything to reach their potential as a human being.

Emanuel says thank you to Michael for being such an inspiration to many of us. As you have moved on and started a new life at another crossing, we know another school, group of parents and students, will gain from your friendly caring and humourous style of being ‘The Lollipop Man’.

Mazal tov

Alexander Kirievsky, Year 8 has been selected for the Basketball NSW State Performance Program (SPP), a talent identification program which is a select program for the best athletes in NSW ranging from 13 to 17 years old. It is very rare to be picked at Alex’s age and he would be one of about three to five 13 year olds picked in the entire State.

Quote of the week 

“Nothing can be truly great which is not right.”
By Samuel Johnson

 

 

 

 

From the Head of Jewish Life

Rabbi Daniel Siegel – Head of Jewish Life

Putting God second

Not long ago, a renowned Israeli Rabbi and theologian wrote a book entitled Putting God Second.

In his book, Rabbi Hartmann argued that in their zealousness to live and preach the will of God, an increasing number of religionists were violating and undermining the ethical tenets and moral sensibilities of the very religion they professed to be advancing.

Perhaps in “putting God second” the humanitarian core of our religious teachings might once again guide us in living a divinely inspired/inspiring life.

In considering this week’s parashah, VaYera, our Rabbis long ago contemplated putting God second. Our biblical text begins by stating that God “appeared” to Abraham and then immediately notes that “looking up” Abraham sees three wayfarers to which he runs off to welcome.

Abraham’s first words are “Adonai…please do not leave your servant” let me fetch some water and food. The contextual meaning of this verse is that Abraham is asking the travellers: “My masters (Adonai)” please wait here until I can refresh you with my hospitality before proceeding on your way.

The Rabbis, however, read “Adonai” as Lord, referring to God, in which sense it is most often used in the Bible. In presenting this reading of the text they are saying that the first Jew, Avraham, is putting God second by asking God to wait until he first hosts the travellers and then he will return to God whose appearance had preceded that of the guests.

Though not an accurate reading of this verse, in its particulars, the Rabbis are conveying the tenor of this passage. Abraham does leave his first visitor God to greet and offer hospitality to his new guests, apparently putting God second. It is on the basis of this episode that the Talmudic Rabbis say: “Greater is hospitality towards guests than receiving the Divine presence”.

Yet, upon a closer look at this passage, it appears that Abraham is not putting God second.

The text reads “And the Lord appeared to him …and looking up he saw three people…”. God’s revelation to Abraham was in the form of these three individuals. In noticing these travellers and hosting them he was serving and seeing God. The Jewish mystical tradition (Tikkunei HaZohar) tells us that “One who receives guests is as one who receives the Divine Presence (Shekhinah)”.

Judaism teaches that in putting humanity second, God, in whose image we all are, can never be first. For, if God is to be truly first, humanity cannot be second.

 

VaYera

Lara Fosbery – Year 12 (Class of 2021)

VaYera 

This week’s Torah portion, Parashat VaYera, is full of classic and well-known biblical tales, but possibly the most well-known is the almost-sacrifice of Yitschak.

In this portion, God instructs Avraham to take Yitschak up Mount Moriyah and sacrifice him. Avraham is over 100, and it seems that Yitschak is the only son he’ll ever have, but he doesn’t fight God, and instead prepares Yitschak for a journey up the mountain, without directly revealing what exactly the sacrifice is.

When they arrive, he ties Yitschak to the altar and prepares the knife to sacrifice him to God. But just as he’s raising the knife, an angel calls out to him: – “Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing that you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.” Abraham sees a ram caught in the bushes and offers it as a sacrifice in place of Yitschak. God says that he will bless him and will multiply his “seed as the stars of the heaven”, due to his Avraham’s obedience.

When I first heard this story, it infuriated me – why would God, an all-knowing being, need to test Avraham? Surely he knew that Avraham, a 100-year-old man who had lived a respectful and righteous life, was completely loyal to Him. And even if he didn’t, why would the test be to force Avraham to sacrifice the son he had just been blessed with? And surely sparing an innocent life aligns just as much with Jewish values as sacrifice to God does? It made absolutely no sense to me.

A few years on, having heard the story a number of times, and now studying it for this Devar Torah, it still seems like an odd task, but I do see the reason in it. Upon earlier readings, I had not considered the idea that God never intended to let Avraham sacrifice Ytschak, and that subconsciously, Avraham knew this. I had always assumed that God had designed a test, and that Avraham saw no other choice but to comply. However, if we consider the possibility that both God and Avraham somehow understood that Yitschak wasn’t actually going to die, it sheds a whole new light on the story. Instead of a story of a harsh God and a compliant subject, it becomes a tale of dedication and trust.

Though ritual sacrifice plays no role in modern Judaism, I think the idea that we are not in opposition to the forces around us, but working with them, is important in a time of such political and social division. If we consider that everyone has their own reasons for making the choices they do, and that instead of fighting those choices, our mission is to work around them, it can allow us to perceive the world with more empathy and consideration, and less conflict. I hope that this Devar Torah provided a new perspective on a well-known story, and I wish everyone Shabbat Shalom.

Year 7 Shorashim evening

Daphna Levin-Kahn – Head of Jewish Studies High School

Yesterday, our very first online Shorashim evening was a moving example of the warmth and care of our Emanuel School community.

After a mammoth run of all 82 students creating online versions of their beautiful albums, recording their fascinating presentations, getting all of those successfully onto the Shorashim Google Site (which took Mr Garry Case, Head of eLearning, hours of dedication and ingenuity to build) and dealing with some amusing teething problems, the evening was a very relieving success and greatly enjoyed by all – staff, students and families alike!

Heartfelt thanks to Garry Case, Ben Marshall, Year 7 Jewish Studies staff – Becky Goldberg and Gil Balfas, and, of course, our wonderful Zoom Room hosts, Rebecca Gaida, Ruth Harvey, Eytan Messiah, Remi Owen, Jenny Selinger and Jenny Udovich, who showed real care and flare for online engagement, for making the night such a success.

Thanks also for all the kind messages from parents and grandparents that flowed in after the event. This example reflects the essence of many of these lovely notes:

Huge thanks and congratulations to you and the entire Jewish Studies team for such a special evening last night. It was a technological and logistical triumph, which we know required tremendous creativity and hard work on your part to pull it off. We felt completely immersed in the experience and fully enjoyed all the presentations and were touched by the amazing stories of the students’ ancestors. Thanks again and kind regards, Alisa 

We are so proud of all the Year 7 students who have learned so much about their heritage, honed many skills on the Shorashim journey and risen to meet this unusual challenge with energy and creativity. Mazal tov!

Benjamin Fram, Ashley Cohn, Jayden Segal

Below are the opening words from our Year 7 spokespeople: Benjamin Fram, Ashley Cohn and Jayden Segal. I couldn’t have said it better myself:

Good evening Parents, Grandparents, Siblings and Students. As we cannot have parents and relatives at school at the moment, we are instead having this evening over Zoom. So before we start, what is Shorashim? Shorashim in Hebrew comes from the word shoresh, meaning root. We find that name to be so meaningful because Shorashim is about finding your Roots, celebrating your Roots and exploring your heritage

Shorashim is all about acknowledging our Jewish heritage and showing that we are proud of that said heritage. For the past two and a half terms, all of us have been researching and discovering more about our family, ancestors and the roots that make up our family trees. This project is the biggest one of Year 7, we started the project just as quarantine started and have been working diligently ever since then.

Because we can’t display all of our wonderfully decorated albums, each student has created our own unique online version of our albums, so that you can all view them from home. We have also made presentations and speeches so that we can tell you more about our projects, and give you insight into our family stories. All you parents will have written your own special prayer for your child/ren just for tonight. These prayers were made especially for the Year Seven students, as a little extra piece of the puzzle that is Shorashim. All students have created their own prayers as well, so it is almost like you have been a part of the project too!

We hope that you have a wonderful night and that you learn something new about your own family or other families. Thank you.

Mazal tov again for last year’s finalists and grand finalist, Sienna Poswell, who received their medals from the United Israel Appeal on Tuesday.

Ma Koreh

Adam Carpenter – Head of Jewish Life Primary

The Year 4 students have been learning about חומות – their intelligences and talents.

Students identified musical ability, the creative arts, being a good friend, love of reading and creative writing, love of nature and sport as some of their many abilities and talents.  

 

From the Primary School

Hagit Bar-On – Head of Hebrew K – 6 & Jewish Studies Co-ordinator K – 2

Term 4 has started and there is an excited buzz in the air.  

Last week we celebrated World Teachers’ Day. We feel so lucky and privileged to have such amazing teachers at Emanuel School. Each teacher is dedicated to every student and puts in so much effort to cater for their needs. 

The Primary Hebrew Department started assessments in Years 2, 3 and 4 this term. These assessments provide the Hebrew teachers with an indication of how their students are doing in the skills of reading fluency, reading comprehension and listening comprehension.

In addition, in Year 2, students are assessed individually by a teacher on their phonetic and fluent reading. The teachers then evaluate the results, gaining a deeper understanding of each student’s strengths, challenges and needs. The Year 2 individual assessment is an iTaLAM program initiative. It has been developed in Israel by a panel of specialists in linguistics and assessments. The assessment is formative and summative and the results guide teachers about how to develop their teaching programs for the future in order to achieve the best outcomes for individual students.

In Years 3 and 4 students do an online assessment. We are lucky to have a sophisticated Learning Management System which calculates students’ responses and gives us a clear indication of their strengths and weaknesses across different language skills. 

In Year 6, students are being assessed in order to place them in different Hebrew groups in Year 7. 

The Hebrew Department is very lucky that Sarit Spira returned to us this term. Sarit is teaching Hebrew music to Years K – 2. The Hebrew teachers, together with Sarit, are now working on Years K – 6 Presentation Hebrew songs. Students are super excited as they love the songs and the actions associated with them. Sarit has also joined K – 2 Kabbalat Shabbat celebrations on Fridays. It has been such a joy for the children to be able to sing again and it is even more special to have Sarit accompany them with her keyboard and singing. 

With all that is happening this term, I can only hope that COVID-19 restrictions will be eased and that we will be able to resume even more of our exciting initiatives and school activities in the very near future.

Shabbat Shalom

 

Singing and praying

As Term 4 started, rules around COVID-19 and singing changed, allowing us to sing together outside or inside in well-ventilated rooms. This has been a really good change as we had missed coming together and praying.

During Term 3, we often led prayers through Zoom, with classes in their classrooms. At times we were not allowed to sing, so we either had to read prayers or listen as they were sung by the leaders.

Our first Shabbat celebration of the term was a bit unusual as we did it in the Adler Courtyard with Years 5 and 6 only and we had no microphone due to COVID and the HSC exams. The atmosphere was filled with ruach, as it had been so long since we were together singing familiar Shabbat songs. 

On Thursdays we are now able to have our Torah service, with Years 3 and Year 4 together in the Triguboff Courtyard with Morah Gaida and on Waxman Drive led by Mr Carpenter. 

By Louis Faktor, Gabriella Karro, Akeisha Kantor, Oscar Saul, Suzanna Garbuz, Ariella Cohen, Boaz Simhi 
Primary Jewish Life Leaders

Speech Night

Rabin commemoration

Ezra Hersch – Year 11

Ari Merten – Year 11

Rabin commemoration

“There is only one radical means of sanctifying human lives. Not armored plating, or tanks, or planes, or concrete fortifications. The one radical solution is peace.”

“Violence is undermining the very foundations of Israeli democracy. It must be condemned, denounced, and isolated.”

These excerpts from Yitzhak Rabin’s final speech echo his values and his lasting legacy for Israel, the Jewish people and the world. As the House Captains for Rabin, we have pledged not just to uphold the School’s values, but also for that which Yitzhak Rabin stood. Peace, democracy and harmony were some of the values for which Rabin fought and through his negotiations with various Arab leaders at the Camp David and Oslo Accords, the journey to peace came ever closer. Even now, the peace treaties being created in the past months had their way paved by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and his initial peace deals. 

Rabin was a decorated soldier and dedicated politician who helped co-ordinate many efforts in the War of Independence and the Six Day War and held numerous political positions including Chief of Staff for the IDF and Prime Minister of Israel twice. 

On 29 October 2020, Emanuel School honoured and commemorated the life of Yitzhak Rabin through a carefully constructed program written in conjunction with the Jewish Life Department and the Rabin House Captains. Students participated in various activities and discussions which prompted students to think about the role of peace and democracy. The program ended with a focus on Yitzhak Rabin before we moved into a vigil and candle lighting with prayers. Through engaging in discussions on peace and democracy, Rabin’s legacy of striving for a better future lives on in the Emanuel community. 

Yitzhak Rabin’s yahrzeit commemoration is on the 4 November 2020 and as the leaders of Rabin House we wanted to inform not just the students in our House, but the entire School on the important impact that Rabin has had on Israel. We implore you, sometime this week, to honour the great man Rabin was, to take some time for introspection and think of how important peace is to you and how you can create a more peaceful and harmonious community. 

 

 

 

 

Rashi Times

Aden Hoenig – Year 11

Aaron Lemberg – Year 11

Last week in Rashi 

Last week, the mighty Rashi House participated in a Year 12 co-ordinated program centred around the History of the Rashi House and its place at the School. Each Tutor Group (with the exception of Year 8 who participated in a Study Skills program), took part in  entertaining games before the Year 12s (or Cali Owen in Year 7s case) ran a skit and proceeded into a Kahoot quiz about Rashi’s history. Some of the questions we asked are:

  • Who has been the only EVER Rashi Head of House? Answer: Ms Lijovic!!!
  • How many Ezekiel Cups have we won in a row? Answer: Two
  • Who painted the Rashi mural in the B30s? Answer: Saachi Owen
  • What is the Rashi symbol? Answer: A lion
  • What occupation was Rashi? Answer: Rabbi and Scholar

We had some blazing victories with the Kahoots, with Arielle winning in the Year 9 group and Gidon in the Year 10 group.

This week, the House also participated in a Gender Equality program run by the Year 12s in which they discussed their own personal beliefs and opinions and statistics around Gender Inequality in Australia and globally. They took part in a true or false game and were informed about the permanent switching of two of the basketball hoops to netball hoops to support both the playing of netball and more involvement from girls. 

We concluded the Futsal Tournament with Year 12 this week, with some huge wins for Rashi. 

Interhouse Debating began this Friday with our Stage 5 group competing.

In the weeks ahead, Aaron and I have some exciting plans for Rashi:

  • Year Group dodgeball
  • Tutor programs
  • Houselympics!!!!!

Rashi – Year 11

Rashi – Year 8

 

Happy Birthday to our Rashindors born in November

Year 7

  • Jonah Lemberg
  • Calliope Owen

Year 8

  • Jacob Salamon
  • Ella Sherman

Year 9

  • Jade Hirst

Year 12

  • Kai Biton

 

 

 

 

Kol Szenes

Ashley Cohn – Year 7

Welcome to Term 4

We have now entered the final term of the year and what a year it has been. 

Hannah Szenes

This week we commemorated the yahrzeit of our namesake, Hannah Szenes. During her time, she was not too well known, but now, we protect her legacy and fight for what she believed in. Szenes was faced with anti-semitism from an early age, but that did not stop her from learning more about her Jewish heritage and ancestors. Her whole life was dedicated to helping others like her, who were faced with anti-semitism during the Holocaust. Szenes fought for her life full of bravery and courage, and her story has since been a crucial part of Zionist history. 

From our House Madrichim – Jess and Lexi 

The Lexi Bader Futsal Competition has begun and so far, Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 have taken part. The Year 7s and 8s were absolute superstars and won all of their games! Their participation was amazing and they were all having so much fun, which was really great to watch. The Year 9s and 10s put so much spirit and an amazing effort into all of their intense and very close games. They finished with smiles on their faces, sweating and laughing, and we are so proud of their contribution. Overall, Szenes has shown unreal participation and we have definitely brought the joy and spirit to the competition so far. We are going strong and putting in huge amounts of effort and can not wait to see how the Year 12s go next week! 

Our Week 3 House meeting

Szenes House had a COVID-19 safe House meeting last week in the MPH. Tutor Groups were spaced around the MPH, as were Szenes Tutors.

Jesse Koslowski from Year 11/12 wrote an account of our House meeting:

On Thursday morning, the Social Action Va’ad (committee) wrote a peulah (activity) for all the Tutor Groups in High School. Facilitated by a few Year 12 students in each Tutor Group, the peulah was on gender equality in a school setting, and aimed to get the students, in all Year levels, to engage with each other’s experiences regarding sexism and gender standards and pressures. We started with a true or false game that offered trivia around key gender statistics, such as the gender wage gap, and the fact that there are more CEOs named Andrew than there are women CEOs. We then moved on to the main activity, which involved each student receiving a coloured piece of paper based on their gender, and answering a series of yes or no questions based on their experiences and opinions. After the votes were counted anonymously and separated into gender, the results showed distinct differences between the experiences of sexism between males and females, and were the source of a discussion on gender equality, using the physical male dominance of the basketball court in the playground as a symbol of the possible gender issues in our Emanuel community. Overall, it was a very productive session, and it sparked discussion and discourse that could be heard in passing conversations throughout the day, and hopefully will continue into the future, as we as a community make an effort to achieve gender equality.

Our Week 4 House meeting – in Tutor Group rooms

This week our Year 11/12 Szenes Leaders conducted a Gender Equality activity with each of our Tutor Groups to raise awareness around this societal issue.  An interesting fact was that there are more male CEOs named Andrew than female CEOs and males earn 15% more in some industries than females doing the same job. Other disparities were also highlighted.

Mazal tov

To Year 12 2020 who have completed or nearly completed their HSC Examinations. Well done!

Announcements

  • Be in your Period 0 activity or class by 8.20 am
  • Hats to be worn whilst outside in the sun
  • Summer uniform is worn Term 4
  • If you are not wearing the correct uniform, please ask your parent to email: uniform@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au 
  • Be responsible – lock your locker
  • COVID-19 current information – Department of Health 
  • Follow @szeneshouse on Instagram for some wellbeing and study tips, memes and just general Szenesian spirit.
  • Also follow your madrichim on @es.madstagram for some updates, challenges, wellbeing and overall fun times.

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to the following Szenesians who have recently celebrated their birthday or celebrated it over the break:

  • Jess Linker – Year 7
  • Sarah Manoy – Year 7
  • Levi Pager – Year 7
  • Jayden Segal – Year 7
  • Jasmine Melnikoff – Year 7
  • Dean Klugman – Year 8
  • Boaz Hadad – Year 8
  • Meika Laishevsky – Year 8
  • Sari Laishevsky – Year 8
  • Solly Pager – Year 9
  • Lexi Joffe – Year 11
  • Joshua Aronov – Year 11
  • Tara Linker – Year 11
  • Issy Reichel – Year 12
  • Claudia Burman – Year 12
  • Beau Glass – Year 12
  • Tali Blackman – Year 12
  • Jonothan Sebban – Year 12

Quote of the week

“One needs something to believe in, something for which one can have whole-hearted enthusiasm”.
Hannah Szenes

 

Enjoy your weekend

 

Kornmehl

Terry Aizen – Director of Kornmehl

Transition to school

Starting school is a significant event in the life of children and their families. We know that strong relationships and information sharing between families, early childhood settings and schools help support a child’s successful transition to school. It is a period of change that can be both challenging and exciting.

At this time of the year, we focus on the children’s transition to school. We believe the more we discuss ‘going to school’ and the feelings and emotions associated with starting school, the better prepared and equipped the children are. For this reason, a lot of focus is given to the children’s transition to school this term. We spend time talking about what to expect and how we are feeling, as well as go on walks with the children through the campus.

The transition from Pre-school to school offers opportunities and challenges. We acknowledge that different places and spaces have their own purposes, expectations and ways of doing things. For this reason, we aim to build on the children’s prior and current experiences to help them feel secure, confident and connected to familiar people, places, events and understandings. We are all important contributors (the children, families and early childhood educators) in a successful transition to school (EYLF, 2009). 

We need to think about giving children a positive understanding and experience of school as a safe, enjoyable place. We need to acknowledge that children have individual needs, interests and skills and allow and encourage positive communication between children, families and Early Childhood educators. We also need to make time for the children to visit their new school environment before starting (orientation visits). The children have all enjoyed their first orientation visit up to Emanuel School over the past two weeks. 

Shabbat Project

Parents are invited to join the Emanuel School community, together with 340 cities across the globe, to bring thousands of people together to celebrate Shabbat on 6 and 7 November 2020.

This year’s Shabbat Project might feel a little different without live events and huge Shabbat tables filling up around the world. But in truth, as cities shut down, during this time of COVID-19 one of the things that remained consistent was Shabbat. An anchor in all the crazy. The irony is that this year we may be closer to each other than ever before. Whether we are in Israel, America, London or Australia – we are all home. The year has reminded us that our homes are our anchor. And it’s clear that our anchor needs even more Shabbat. Shabbat has a unique rhythm, which flows from good meals and company to prayers and downtime. This year – come 6 November 2020 – let’s flood our homes with the light, life, meaning, warmth and depth of Shabbat. This year let’s bring it home – that’s where it belongs. Visit The Shabbat Project website for a lot of interesting information.

Bush School visits

Bush School continues to be a highlight for all three groups. The opportunities and benefits for the children and educators is invaluable. The children are always excited to walk out the gate and confidently and independently carry their own backpacks to and from Bush School. The children are extremely familiar with the spaces and challenges that the Bush School classroom offers them. It’s rewarding to see how many of the children are now capably able to climb trees and navigate their way back down again – a skill they might not have been able to do previously. The Starfish and Dolphins challenged themselves this week by visiting the fig tree with large roots growing out of the ground. Many of them climbed up high on the root and slide along, inch by inch to the end. The height of the roots is taller than the teachers. An amazing achievement of skill and resilience.

We are thrilled to have Bush School as an embedded part of our Kornmehl philosophy and are constantly amazed at how much we learn about the children, their strength, capabilities and interactions when in this natural, peaceful space.

“ In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
John Muir

 

Science and Wonder

Jennifer Selinger – Head of Science

View From the Kleinlehrer Family Science Building

Annually, the halls of the Kleinleher Family Science Building ring with the sounds of excited Year 10 students explaining Science at the tops of their voices to the streams of parents who indulgently stand and listen to the babble. The Night of Science and Wonder usually runs from 4.00 pm until 6.00 pm and draws quite a crowd. This year things were a little different. With much less time to prepare and an audience that consisted mostly of other members of Year 10, you might think that the 2020 Morning of Science and Wonder might have been a bit flat and uninspiring. If this was your prediction, your observations on the day would have proved you wrong!

Despite needing to rely more on the Internet than their own first-hand research, and despite a task compacted from about a month’s worth of homework to two weeks of in-class time, the Year 10s pulled off an amazing display. It was a testament to the resilience of our students. Their depth of understanding and ability to write a formal report of their experiment may have suffered, but their willingness to set up and produce something of quality to share with others was admirable.

Ice skating, the effect of lying on your pupils, a plethora of sports-based questions, drink flavours and your expectations, shock absorbers and tennis racquets, whether listening to western music affects your ability in a gun duel, change blindness and its weird effects – as usual the topics spanned a huge range of interests. The students could all speak eloquently about their projects and the presentation of some of the projects suggests a bright future for the students in the field of design.

The students were very grateful to Mr Case, Mr Majsay and Mr Watt who dropped in to view the displays and listen to the students present. They were excited to share their expertise with the world outside the Science faculty and appreciated the time that was shared with them. I was also impressed with their willingness to listen to students from other classes and giving their friends a chance to share their accomplishments.

Watching the product of the few weeks of hard work, I was reminded of how capable our students are and how well they step up when a deadline looms. They should be very proud of the display they produced.

Remembering Kristallnacht

Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations

Remembering Kristallnacht  (Night of Broken Glass) 

This solemn evening is usually held at the Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM), attended by Holocaust survivors and families as well as other members of our community along with dignitaries from consulates and major organisations. However, like all other events this year, it will be held online this Monday 9 November 2020.  

This photo, taken at last year’s commemoration, is Emanuel great-grandparent Eddie Jaku OAM and my mother Rita Newell (past Emanuel grandparent), who missed celebrating her 12th birthday on 10 November 1938 as the Nazi’s came and trashed her parent’s home in Cologne, Germany, along with thousands of other Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues throughout Germany and Austria. As we commemorate Kristallnacht this year, we must also take time to think about the devastating event in Vienna this week and as a united community, hope and pray for a stop to antisemitism, bigotry and hate.

Eddie Jaku and Rita Newell

Gesher Online Speaker Series

Please join us for the last Online Speaker Series of 2020, featuring Emanuel School alumnus, Ben Wilheim (Class of 2008). Ben formed the charity, Remember September, to raise awareness and funds for education and research into a cure for pancreatic cancer after his father and cousin died of the disease. It promises to be an insightful and inspiring evening, when Ben will be interviewed by his close friend and supporter of his charity, alumnus Jonathan Baker. 

Date: Wednesday 11 November 2020
Time:
7.30 pm – 8.30 pm
RSVP: 
https://events.humanitix.com/gesher-online-speaker-series-with-ben-wilheim

Free and all welcome! 

We will send you the link the day before the event. Don’t miss out on hearing from a man whose commitment to Tikkun Olam is changing the lives of thousands of people.

2020 B’nai B’rith & JNF Jewish Changemaker Awards

Parents: if your child/children volunteer their time to help others, nominate them for the 2020 B’nai B’rith & JNF Jewish Changemaker Awards.

It is not too late to nominate someone for these prestigious Changemaker Awards 2020 – youth categories (age 14 to 18) and young adult (age 18 to 35). Nominations must be in by Monday 16 November 2020. Find out more information and how you can nominate here. 

Don’t let 2020 be any different to previous years when we have had outstanding nominations from some of our students and alumni, with winners in a number of categories. We would love to see some of our students and alumni nominated for this year’s awards. This short video highlights last year’s presentation evening. 

On the topic of volunteering, here is a message from Sydney Friendship Circle (FC):

We are so excited to share with you a new program that has launched this month! You’ve all heard of Friends@Home for teens and children… but we are introducing an extension of Friends@Home for Young Adults! Bondi strolls, coffee dates and beach chills! How good!? Please contact Ally on 0423 657 650 if you are interested.

A Walk of Jewish Sydney

Leon Goltsman and Sheila Philippsohn

Alumnus Leon Goltsman (Class of 1990) is pictured here with Emanuel grandparent Sheila Philippsohn at the recent special launch of A Walk of Jewish Sydney, held at The Great Synagogue. Sheila’s husband Peter Philippsohn OAM is president of the Australian Jewish Historical Society. This incredible program provides a wealth of information about some of the historical places and characters of the Sydney Jewish Community.

Download the free app on your mobile phone and browse the wealth of interesting information therein (available for iPhone and Android).

Stay safe and Shabbat Shalom.

If you have photos and/or news to share, please send to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

Pledge of Light

Rabbi Daniel Siegel – Head of Jewish Life

Let There be Light 

In commemoration of Kristallnacht, 9 November 1938, the International March of the Living is sponsoring a global interfaith initiative called Let There be Light. Schools, community organisations and individuals are invited to add their voice to this campaign by writing a personal message of hope on this live website.

You may post the “pledge of light” already provided on the website or create and submit your own message. The many postings will serve as a statement of “solidarity and mutual commitment in the shared battle against anti-Semitism, racism, hatred and intolerance”.

Below please find our student message which Alexis Joffe, Jade Berson and Chloe Miller helped compose. As the posted message cannot exceed 300 characters, the website contains an abbreviated version:

82 years ago, on the 9 and 10 November, the terror of Kristallnacht swept through Germany and Austria. This devastating event symbolised the great hatred towards the Jewish people and although much prejudice has been overcome, important work towards reconciliation and understanding still needs to be done. We, the students of Emanuel School, in Sydney Australia, believe we need to come together to shine light over the darkness of hate. We recognise the necessity of uniting as a family against antisemitism, and all forms of bigotry, hatred and intolerance. When we light candles or turn on a light, we notice its power in spreading light even in the darkest of rooms. This is alike to the power we have in spreading light, love and acceptance even and especially during periods of division, hatred and darkness. A flame is ever-changing, and though it may flicker it strives to be always present continuing to spread light and striving to burn bright. Light represents our unwavering commitment to fight antisemitism and all forms of prejudice. As light will always banish darkness, so will our spread of love banish intolerance and hatred. We understand the importance of our position of young Jews and pledge to fight darkness by spreading light.

Word of the week – El

Ruth Harvey – Head of Hebrew

Oh my El

When I first heard about the internet portal Yahoo I thought: Oh my El, is it ‘yahu’ as in Eliyahu HaNavi (Eliajah the prophet)? Very quickly I realised this was not the case, that the word had different connotations for others, and indeed the two are not connected.

So, what does the ‘Yahu’ in Eliyahu represent? Names mentioned in the Torah and the Tanach are of great significance as they allude to a person’s character and destiny. Sometimes a name needed to be changed in order to enable its bearer to achieve his/her purpose, as was the case with Ya’acov whose name was changed to Yisrael. Similar considerations are still addressed by some parents today. Anyone who has ever had to choose a name for their newborn can attest to the complexity and deliberation involved.

It is no surprise that the name of God features often in the Tanach. The 4-letter Name, the Tetragrammaton, includes the letters: Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey. Since the Name is not to be pronounced or written in vain, various combinations of 2 or 3 of its letters are used instead to refer to God, and are included either at the beginning or at the end of a name, such as:

  • yod+vav, יו, ‘yo’ as in Yonatan יונתן (God gave or God’s given); Yo’av יואב, Yochanan יוחנן, Yoram יורם.
  • Yod+hey+vav, יהוyeho’ as in Yehoyakim יהויקים (Joakim); Yehoshu’a יהושע (Joshua), Yehoram יהורם
  • Yod+hey+vav, יהוyahu’ as in the prophets: Eliyahu אליהו (Elijah), Yirmiyahu ירמיהו (Jeremiah), Yeshayahu ישעיהו (Isaiah)
  • Yod+hey יהya’ as in Talya טליה, Danya דניה, Tuvya טוביה, Eliya אליה

The more ancient reference to God as Elohim (אלהים) or El ((אל, and ‘Eli’ as ‘my God’, similarly features in many common and less familiar names. You may have come across a GabriEl or DaniEl, RefaEl, NathanEl, YechezkEl (EzekiEl), EmanuEl, and maybe even encountered a RaziEl, YishmaEl, Elkanah, Elchanan, Eli’or or Elisheva. Some are twice blessed: YO’EL יואל (Joel), ELIYA  ,אליה loosely translate as: God (Tetragrammaton) is God.

Hopefully you are now wondering: How does the 4-letter Name (yod, hey, vav, hey) differ to El/אל? This is a good question to which I welcome your responses. Send an email and it may be published in our next Ma Nishma edition.  

And if you wonder: Oh, is El-Al one? Alas, no! ‘el’ is also a preposition meaning ‘to’. With ‘al’ meaning ‘top/above/high’, El-Al literally means ‘to the heights’ and thus is a befitting name for the Israeli airline. Oh my El, I cannot wait to be on an El Al flight on way to Yisrael to visit my family.

Careers

Claire Pech – Careers Advisor

Last week I attended the annual Careers Advisors Association Conference. This is usually held in Darling Harbour where hundreds of careers advisors attend. This year, it won’t surprise anyone that this was held over Zoom. Tens of thousands dollars were saved in catering, exhibition space, travel, hotel accommodation and more. The cost of the conference halved for us all. I for one, saved myself a trip to the city and overeating a few extra brownies. It was a great example of the pros and cons on the changing nature of work for 2020, and this conference format will be here to stay. This is the work world that our students are entering into.

I was able to download some excellent resources that I want to share with students and parents depending on your area of interest.

There are statistics, data and future-proofing information that I feel will help all ages.

A Career in Health

Applying to overseas Universities (U.S. and UK)

Careers in Humanitarian Engineering

Careers in Agriculture

Pre-Apprentice Training (Carpentry, Building, Plumbing, Trades etc)

Future-Proof Yourself (A.Professor Lan Snell, Macquarie Business School)

Talks by the following speakers were held:

  1. Keynote Speaker: Dr Ali Walker – Knowing Me, Knowing You: The Power of Human Connection
  2. How You Can Future-Proof Yourself: The Top Labour Market Trends You Need to Know – Associate Professor Lan Snell – Academic Program Director, Global MBA, Macquarie University discussed how different the work landscape looks for the 2000 vs 2018 jobs.
  3. Careers in Health: Critical Workforces; Career Pathways; Cadetships; Scholarships – Nicola Clemens, Senior Allied Health Project Officer, NSW Ministry of Health Workforce Planning and Talent Development Branch

My full keynotes can be found here.

Map your health career

An amazing new health-based website  has launched allowing you to map out your area of interest rather than simply thinking about whether to do Nursing or become a Doctor. NDIS is changing the playing field and disability space is really changing the landscape.

 

Explore your career options

Below is detailed information on the areas I am most asked about:
Dietetics
Counselling
Physiotherapy
Psychologist
Social Work
Exercise Physiology

Don’t miss out!

Drama Showcase

Scholarships

Movember

Hey everyone! 

It’s officially November and the Wellbeing Va’ad is proud to announce that Emanuel will be participating in Movember!

Movember is a charity that raises awareness and money for men’s mental health and suicide prevention. Here are some ways you can get involved in raising awareness:

  1. Donating to the Emanuel School team
  2. Growing a moustache 
  3. Running and/or walking 60 kilometres over the course of November 
  4. Participating in all the amazing school events the Wellbeing Va’ad is going to be running this month!

We have a plain clothes day in Week 6 with a gold coin donation! 

We have super fun goals along the way, at $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, and Mr Watt has agreed to shave his head at $20,000! So please donate to this amazing cause. We have an opportunity here to create a real difference. Please send the link to your friends, parents, grandparents, rabbis, dogs and cats.

Here is the link to the page where you can donate (please share it):

https://movember.com/t/emanuel-school?mc=1 

Thank you!

By Jesse Koslowski, Maximilian Kidman, Jessica Turtledove, Chloe Miller, Arin Miller, Aaron Lemberg, Zachary Boswell, Jessica Lowy, Joseph Fonteyn, Jade Berson and Kai Biton
The Wellbeing Va’ad

COVID-19 assistance

Uniform Shop – Online

Due to the current pandemic restrictions, Midford has created an online booking system for parents to make an appointment to come into the Uniform Shop. 

Parents and Friends

Ruby Berkovic & Jeny Opit

Hi Everyone,

It’s November and Week 4 – already!

Parents & Friends meetings

Thanks to all those who attended our Parents & Friends meeting this week. It’s a great, and easy, way to get involved in the School. Everyone is welcome. They are on the first Tuesday of every month. If you would like more information contact us: rubykb@gmail.com

Entertainment Books

In case you want to order an Entertainment Book, you can do so here. 

Weekend brain teaser and answer from last week

Question: How do you make the number 7 even without addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division?

Answer: Drop the “S”

Have a great weekend,

Jen & Ruby

Community notices

 

 

 

Recipe of the Week

Each week we’ll bring you a tasty recipe passed down by Emanuel families, from the Emanuel School Community Cookbook, The Family Meal. 

From the kitchen of Marlene Allul

Sticky apple pudding with caramel sauce 

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup softened butter
2 medium eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 heaped cup of flour
1 tsp bicarb soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 large apples, peeled and cored then grated (soak peeled apple in water until ready to grate to avoid going brown)

Sauce:
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar (1/2 cup if you don’t like it too sweet)
1 cup of whipping cream
pinch salt
1 tsp vanilla

Directions 

Pre heat oven to 1800C
Spray a 22cm pie dish or pan with cooking spray

Pudding:
Beat sugar and butter till light and fluffy
Add eggs and vanilla, beat in
Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt
Blend together with the butter mixture and add the grated apple. Mix well
Place dish and bake for about 30 – 40 minutes. Check if ready by inserting a skewer which should come out clean

Sauce:
In a pot, place all the sauce ingredients. Bring slowly to boil, boiling for five minutes
Pour the sauce over the baked cake

Serve with ice cream or cream

Serves 8 

You can order the Emanuel School Community Cookbook, The Family Meal by contacting rubykb@gmail.com