From the Principal

Andrew Watt – Principal

It was lovely to welcome back our students after an extended break. They have returned refreshed and appear well equipped to adapt to the ‘new normal.’ Whilst many of us approach the commencement of the school year with some degree of apprehension, we remain confident that we have done all that we can to provide a safe start, regardless of the circumstances. Our students will be encouraged to be resilient, to adapt, to pivot and to pursue creative solutions, all of which will stand them in good stead for the future.

Welcome to our new parents and students

For many families, this week was the start of a new beginning. A special welcome to all our new students, new parents and new grandparents. As you join the Emanuel family I know that you will embraced by our warm and wonderful community.

On Tuesday the Class of 2033 started their 12 year school journey in the care of their  teachers, Annabelle Turrall and Leisha Strub. We wish the students an exciting term filled with adventure and wonder.

Introducing our new Head of Jewish Life

After completing an extensive national and international recruitment process, we are delighted to announce that Adina Roth has been appointed as our Head of Jewish life. Due to prior commitments, Adina will join us online from South Africa in Term 3, before joining us on campus in Term 4. Daphna Levin-Kahn has graciously agreed to take on the Acting Head of Jewish Life and Jewish Studies role for the interim period. We are looking forward to Adina bringing her deep knowledge and creativity to this role as she leads the next phase of Jewish learning and living at Emanuel with passion and wisdom. Adina spoke to our staff via video on our Staff Development Day and she has also written to our School community:

Hello Emanuel parents,

My name is Adina Roth and my family and I are coming on a life-changing journey from South Africa later this year to become a part of your community. I am thrilled, excited, and honoured to be joining the Emanuel community to serve as Head of Jewish Life. My husband Farryl is a musician and physio and I have a twelve-year-old daughter, Maya and an eight-year-old son, Adam who will both be attending Emanuel!

As I see it, I will be partnering with you to ‘raise the sparks’ of Jewish life, of meaning-making, Jewish learning and ritual, spirit and soul for the students of Emanuel and our wider community. For almost 17 years, I have been working in the field of Jewish education in South Africa. I offer an independent bar and bat mitzvah programme, which is about making the years in the build-up to this coming of age as rich and meaningful as possible. I am also a Clinical Psychologist and I run a small psychology practice. I try to bring psychological insight into my teaching of kids, pre-teens, and teens at these incredibly impressionable times in their lives. 

My first great loves were literature and poetry. So, when I teach, I incorporate stories and poetry as I teach the profound stories and teachings of our heritage- making them relatable. Where possible, I encourage the use of art, music and dance in Torah learning and at times, I like to take my students out to nature to learn in earthy settings. For years, I have taught Melton and my own Torah classes to adults drawing on insights from traditional midrash, psychology, and literature. I am a second-year rabbinical student at Yeshivat Maharat, the ground-breaking modern-orthodox institution in New York currently ordaining women! I hope to bring all my experience and love for this work to your community and I look so forward to meeting you all and to understanding what it is that your children and yourselves are interested in Jewishly, what you are looking for and longing for, so that we may go a journey together to create it,

Warm regards and brachot for this year ahead,

Adina Roth

Welcome to our new staff

Our new staff members enjoyed a one-day induction program, followed by two Staff professional Development Days prior to the arrival of our students. They have settled quickly into their new roles, and we are fortunate to have employed an experienced and caring group of teachers, leaders, and administrators.

Alice Bowman: joins our English Department and will take on the role of Meir House Tutor. Alice has recently relocated to Sydney from Orange, where she spent the last three years at Kinross Wolaroi School in various roles, including English Teacher, Senior School Literacy Integrator, Learning Support Teacher, and in Student Wellbeing. Alice also spent two years as part of the graduate program at Geelong Grammar School. 

Eli Hajun: joins our Jewish Studies Department. He relocated from Israel last year, just in time for our lockdown. Eli has a background in Psychology and has been teaching for 14 years in Israel. During this time Eli also worked for the Ethiopian National Project, where he empowered and mentored small groups of Ethiopian Israeli youths, guiding their personal and educational progression.

Shirley Leader: also joins our Jewish Studies Department. After 20 years in the corporate sector, Shirley has had a distinguished career teaching English as a Second Language to international students, in preparation for their university studies. Most recently, she volunteers as a guide at the Sydney Jewish Museum.   

Sean Baggott: joins our Mathematics Department. Sean is in his second year of teaching, spending last year at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School. Prior to commencing his career in teaching, Sean spent 35 years as a Chemical Engineer, working throughout Asia-Pacific.

Virginia Harding: joins our HSIE Department. Originally from Hong Kong, Virginia has spent the last three years working at Punchbowl Boys High School in various roles. In addition to being a HSIE specialist, Virginia also teaches Korean.

Felicity Donohue: joins us as the Coordinator of Gifted & Talented (K-6). After a career in marketing, Felicity made her switch to Primary teaching and has taught in Hong Kong and, most recently, in Melbourne. She has held various leadership roles including Subject Coordinator and Deputy Head of Primary School.

Joshua Aghion: joins us as the Coordinator of Innovation (K-6). Joshua has spent the last 3 years teaching at the Australian International School in Hong Kong. Prior to that he taught at several schools around Sydney and spent a year working for ClickView, which saw him travelling across the country to integrate ClickView into schools across Australia.

Barnaby Wilbury:  joins our Primary School teaching team as our Year 6 OC teacher. After a successful career in photography, both in London in Sydney, Barnaby made the switch to teaching. He joins us most recently from Queenwood School for Girls. where he worked as a Maths Enrichment teacher. 

Dale Kessler: joins our Primary School teaching team as a Year 6 Teacher and our Student Leadership Team Leader. Dale has spent the last 25 years at Moriah College, prior to which, she worked here at Emanuel School.

Orly Mizrahi:  joins our Primary School Hebrew Department. Originally from Israel, Orly has spent time living overseas in Singapore and Manila and recently migrated to Australia. Orly has been teaching Hebrew for a number of years, to both adults and children.  

Britt Grundy: joins our Primary School Administration team, supporting Carrie-Anne Thomas and Katie Brody. She has worked previously in sales and administration in the food industry, and prior to that in the beauty industry. Some of you might know Britt as Britt Kaplan from her days as an Emanuel student.

Grace Condon: joins our Primary School Administration team as our Library Assistant. She has recently relocated to Sydney from Wollongong, where she worked in the Children and Youth Services Department of Wollongong Public Library. 

Jane O’Gorman: joins our Health Centre team, taking over from Genna Onuchukwu whilst she is on maternity leave. Originally from Ireland, Jane has over 20 years’ experience in nursing, where she specialised in paediatrics and has also spent time as a Community Nurse.

Gavin Dennis: joins our Maintenance team and is already hard at work getting the campus ready for the new school year. Gavin has many years’ experience in the construction and events industry including working for the Federation Harbour Trust on Cockatoo Island, Aged Care facilities and Councils.

Daniel Van Sluys Erlich: joins our Alumni Informal Jewish Life Educator team. A graduate of the Class of 2019, Daniel currently studying a Bachelor of Arts at Macquarie. Since leaving school Daniel has been a volunteer with the Habonim youth movement, and in 2020 took part in their GAP year ‘Shnat’ program in Israel, developing his educational leadership skills.

HSC Success

Please join me in our continued celebration of our Class of 2021’s HSC success. For full coverage, impactful stories, key statistics, interesting interviews and more, click on the article A Celebration of Success. If you have not yet had the opportunity to view our indepth HSC video featuring students sharing their school experiences I encourage you to do so by clicking on the the image below. 

Tikkun Tonga

Devastation in the village of Kanokupolu, Tonga

Our warm and caring community has embraced the Siale family who has been directly affected by the Tongan disaster. We are currently developing a plan, with the input of our students, to help support the effort to help rebuild the village of Kanokupolu where Jeff Siale’s family live. Please click on the article ‘Tikkun Tonga’ for a timely update. 

Australia Day Honours

Mazal tov to the two members of the Emanuel School community were recognised this year:

1. The late Dr Geoffrey Symonds, a past Board President and member of the School’s Foundation Board, received a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to tertiary education and to public health; and
2. Alan Joffe, father of parent, Sharon Berger, received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Jewish Community

These are significant achievements for our School community to celebrate.

Passing on the baton

After five years of outstanding service as Co-Presidents of our Parents and Friends (P&F) Association, Ruby Berkovic and Jen Opit have passed the baton to Justine Hofman. We wish Justine well in her new role. The P&F have played a key role in both fund raising and friend raising, with a focus on building a sense of community and belonging. We owe a debt of gratitude to Ruby and Jen, who have been wonderful ambassadors for Emanuel.

Mazal tov

Horses for courses

Mazal tov to Avalon Gold and Phoebe Machlin – during the school holidays the girls represented Emanuel School at the Berry Interschools Equestrian Championships in sweltering conditions, winning a collection of medals between them. 

Avalon, on her pony Westlake Grand Affair, won three first place ribbons in the 60cm jump off, 60cm Superphase and 60cm Grand Prix classes.

Phoebe, riding her new horse, Kaewing Maximus, took home 1st, 2nd and 3rd in three Showjumping classes and 4th and 5th place in Dressage. She participated valiantly in the Cross Country class too. 

Quote of the week

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”~ Alan Cohen, author

From the Head of Jewish Life (Acting)

Daphna Levin-Kahn – Acting Head of Jewish Life

Face-to-face time

B’ruchim Hachozrim – welcome back! – !ברוכים החוזרים. It is so great to see our beautiful campus filled once more with excitement and enthusiasm; meeting FACE-to-FACE again (masks notwithstanding!)

In Terumah, our parasha (Torah portion) this week, the level of detail regarding the materials, structure and design of all elements of the Mishkan, the portable temple or “tabernacle”, that Moshe was to build in the desert is extraordinary. Not much is left to the modern imagination, except for one vital element, or rather two: The Keruvim, or Cherubim, the two divine winged beings that were to be carved out of gold and placed atop the Aron Hakodesh (the Ark of the Covenant) that held the broken and whole sets of the Luchot Habrit, the Holy Covenantal Tablets.

It can be assumed that the Jews of that era must have been familiar with what the Keruvim looked like, for in all the miniscule detail of the tabernacle plans, there are no specifics about the appearance of the Keruvim, apart from these details regarding material and position (Chapter 25, Verses 18-20):

וְעָשִׂ֛יתָ שְׁנַ֥יִם כְּרֻבִ֖ים זָהָ֑ב מִקְשָׁה֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֔ם מִשְּׁנֵ֖י קְצ֥וֹת הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃
וַ֠עֲשֵׂ֠ה כְּר֨וּב אֶחָ֤ד מִקָּצָה֙ מִזֶּ֔ה וּכְרוּב־אֶחָ֥ד מִקָּצָ֖ה מִזֶּ֑ה מִן־הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת תַּעֲשׂ֥וּ אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִ֖ים עַל־שְׁנֵ֥י קְצוֹתָֽיו׃
וְהָי֣וּ הַכְּרֻבִים֩ פֹּרְשֵׂ֨י כְנָפַ֜יִם לְמַ֗עְלָה סֹכְכִ֤ים בְּכַנְפֵיהֶם֙ עַל־הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת וּפְנֵיהֶ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו אֶ֨ל־הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת יִהְי֖וּ פְּנֵ֥י הַכְּרֻבִֽים׃

Make two cherubim of gold – make them of hammered work – at the two ends of the cover. Make one cherub at one end and the other cherub at the other end; of one piece with the cover shall you make the cherubim at its two ends. The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above, shielding the cover with their wings. And they shall face each other (lit. their faces shall be one man’s towards his brother), the faces of the cherubim being turned toward the cover (of the Ark).

The parasha continues, in verse 22, that God’s Divine Presence was to come down to rest, just above the Aron Hakodesh to “speak” with Moshe and Aaron the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) from between the Keruvim, from between these two beings’ faces.

Why would God want – even demand to communicate from between two faces?

Consider the spiritual and emotional power of being “face to face”; by turning their face towards their “brother”, towards the “other”, welcoming them as an equal, no matter from whence they came, a person truly connects to and welcomes the other for all that they are.

Centuries later, the rabbis discuss in the Talmud, Masekhet Sukkah 5b, that the Cherubim had the faces of children.

And I wondered why. What is it about the faces of children that lifts them to the highest level of holiness, so that it is from between them that God’s presence and messages can be experienced?

>pause<

What are your ideas here?
How do you visualise the Keruvim?
How would you interpret this phenomenon?

>unpause<

Children, especially young children, often exhibit heart-warming purity and innocence, and the ability to see things as they are without the trappings, biases and assumptions brought about by adulthood, to ponder the world and see miracle and wonder in everything. They can meet one another in a playground and go, “Hey! You’re a kid. I’m a kid. Let’s play!”

Let us hope that this year truly brings us all back face to face, so that we can find the divine within one another, recognise each other as “one brother to another” and celebrate together, in the Emanuel way that I love, the humanity that unites us all.

Shabbat Shalom

Primary News

Natanya Milner – Head of Primary School

Welcome to 2022! I hope the school year has begun smoothly and happily for you all. On campus, there has been a buzzing atmosphere as the children have settled in, met their teachers and made new friends.

We look forward to introducing you to the teaching team and sharing our 2022 goals and procedures at Meet the Teacher on the evening of Monday 21 February 2022. This will be an online event and details will be shared shortly.

I would like to thank all our families for continuing to RAHT your children in preparation for Monday and Wednesday on campus (this can be done the night before if that’s better for your family).

Higher risk permissions

Please ensure you have completed the google form providing permission for your child to participate in school activities like singing, cross cohort events etc. This google doc has been amended since it was sent out to ensure parents can now access it. If you have already completed it, there is no need to do it again.

P&F

It’s the end of an era as we transition the P&F leadership and structure from Ruby Berkovic and Jen Opit to Justine Hofman. I would like to thank Ruby and Jen for years of hard work, creativity and passion that have led to wonderful events and a beautiful communal spirit. As well as being reliable and dedicated, working with Jen and Ruby has been lots of fun! I am excited to welcome Justine as our next P&F leader and I look forward to the next steps in the Emanuel journey unfolding!

A big thank you to the P&F and canteen for a delicious staff lunch on Day 1 of term. We are all so grateful for the care and support!

ICAS Results

Katie Brody – Director of Students K-6

Celebrating the ICAS results from end of 2021

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. 

Owing to the challenges of lockdown In 2021, the ICAS competitions were run later in the year and, as such, the results were not available until the final days of the school year. It is my great pleasure to showcase the achievements of the participants who received a Merit, Credit, Distinction or High Distinction in 2021 and I hope that this will inspire experienced and new participants this 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 2021. This comprehensive list of students should feel very proud of their efforts, as should all students who took part. 

ICAS Science Competition Awards – 2021

Year 3 Certificates
Merit: Miri Kuper and Simon Smagarinsky
Credit: Jordan Hill, Ruby Isenberg, Joshua Marishel, Ella Millner, Nathan Shammay and Jacob Weinstein
Distinction: Joa Israelstam, Eli Levin, Juliet Salek and Harry Wine

Year 4 Certificates 
Credit: Gideon Cohen, Oscar Glikin, Daniel Joffe, Jessica Lopis and Tal Wajsman 
Distinction: Sophia Kirievskaya and Benjamin Pellow

Year 5 Certificates 
Merit: Olivia Byrne and Jake Vitek
Credit: Pepper Banki, Joel Ginges, Lara Isenberg and Daniel Millner
Distinction: Eve Knopman and Theodore Salek

Year 6 Certificates 
Merit: Zarah Gorelik, Daniel Judin and Remi Moses 
Credit: Gil Banna, Micah Esra and Bella Swil 
Distinction: Hannah Fekete, Noah Revelman and Isaac Shammay

ICAS English Competition Awards – 2021

Year 3 Certificates 
Merit: Joa Israelstam
Credit: Levi Brody, Miri Kuper, Ella Millner and Simon Smagarinsky 
Distinction: Lara Goldberg, Ruby Isenberg, Juliet Salek, Nathan Shammay and Jacob Weinstein

Year 4 Certificates 
Merit: Oscar Glikin and Nava Weiss
Credit: Gideon Cohen, Judd Karro, Jessica Lopis, Amelia Samuel, Idan Shalem and Tal Wajsman 
Distinction: Jemima Hockley and Benjamin Pellow

Year 5 Certificates
Merit: Jake Vitek
Credit: Joel Ginges, Ethan Ickowicz, Lara Isenberg, Eve Knopman, Daniel Millner and Theodore Salek
Distinction: Camilla Levine and Alicia Randall 
High Distinction: Tamar Granot

Year 6 Certificates
Merit: Benjamin Freed, Remi Moses, Noah Revelman, Emily Seemann, Samara Strugar and Bella Swil
Credit: Gil Banna, Zarah Gorelik and Jonathan Igra
Distinction: Sanne Nathan and Isaac Shammay 
High Distinction: Hannah Fekete

ICAS Writing Competition Awards – 2021

Year 3 Certificates 
Credit: Lara Goldberg, Miri Kuper and Jacob Weinstein 
High Distinction: Levi Brody

Year 4 Certificates 
Merit: Oscar Glikin
Credit: Asher Arnott, Claudia Hochroth, Reina Steiner Carrion and Nava Weiss 
Distinction: Amelia Samuel

Year 5 Certificates
Merit: Olivia Byrne
Credit: Pepper Banki, Jonah Bloom, Camilla Levine, Daniel Millner, Zac Salamon and Jake Vitek
Distinction: Mia Chesler and Tamar Granot 
High Distinction: Alicia Randall

Year 6 Certificates 
Merit: Eli Jocum, Leah Joshua and Julia Manoy
Credit: Micah Esra, Sanne Nathan, Noah Revelman and Rebecca Salamon
Distinction: Hannah Fekete and Bella Swil

ICAS Digital Technologies Competition Awards – 2021

Year 3 Certificates 
Credit: Joa Israelstam and Simon Smagarinsky
Distinction: Lara Goldberg and Juliet Salek
High Distinction: Samuel Hart

Year 4 Certificates
Merit: Daniel Joffe
Credit: Zachary Churnin, Oscar Glikin, Claudia Hochroth and Asher Levin
Distinction: Jemma Hockley, Judd Karro, Benjamin Pellow and Tal Wajsman

Year 5 Certificates
Merit: Jake Rosenfeld
Credit: Jonah Bloom, Joel Ginges, Mia Goodridge, Lara Isenberg, Daniel Millner, Jasper Shraibman and Jake Vitek
Distinction: Olivia Byrne and Theodore Salek

Year 6 Certificates
Merit: Jonathan Igra
Credit: Daniel Judin and Isaac Shammay
Distinction: Eli Jocum and Noah Revelman 
High Distinction: Gil Banna

ICAS Mathematics Competition Awards – 2021

Year 3 Certificates 
Merit: Jordan Hill and Ella Millner
Credit: Lara Goldberg, Ruby Isenberg, Eli Levin, Jacob Weinstein and Harry Wine
Distinction: Miri Kuper, Ryan Miller, Nathan Shammay and Simon Smagarinsky
High Distinction: Joshua Marishel

Year 4 Certificates 
Merit: Zachary Churnin and Liam Frankham
Credit: Claudia Hochroth, Daniel Joffe, Sophia Kirievskaya, Jessica Lopis and Tal Wajsman
Distinction: Oscar Glikin, Judd Karro, Ethan Likht and Benjamin Pellow

Year 5 Certificates 
Merit: Mia Chesler and Ricky Kerlander
Credit: Cooper Adler, Joel Ginges, Alicia Randall and Zac Salamon
Distinction: Pepper Banki, Camilla Levine, Theodore Salek and Jake Vitek 
High Distinction: Ethan Ickowicz

Year 6 Certificates 
Credit: Micah Esra, Hannah Fekete, Eli Jocum, Marco Meer and Emily Seemann
Distinction: Leah Joshua, Noah Revelman and Isaac Shammay 
High Distinction: Gil Banna

Celebrating success

Emanuel School’s Year 12 students (along with their teachers, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and the whole community) recently celebrated their long-awaited HSC results. Andrew Watt’s message below reflects his pride and admiration for a Year Group that stepped up and to prove that resilience, focus and determination are traits that help success to flourish in an ever-changing and challenging landscape. A special mention must be made to all the teachers who have nurtured and supported these students from Pre-school to Year 12. 

We have prepared a brochure, featuring interviews, our impressive HSC stats and a celebration of the diverse range of futures that our Year 12 students have selected. Don’t miss out on hearing from our students and celebrating their success. It’s just a click away.

And the honours go to… the Class of 2021

Mazal tov to the Class of 2021 on their outstanding HSC results. The academic performance of this cohort is all the more impressive, as they learned under the shadow of the COVID pandemic across both their senior years. I am very proud of their resilience and perseverance, as they maintained a strong focus on their studies throughout their remote learning journey and the extended build up to the HSC Examinations. This ability to work independently under difficult conditions is a highly prized mindset and skill that they will carry with them into their futures.

Our teaching staff share the honours with Year 12 2021, as the heroes of this journey. Their commitment to preparing and delivering engaging lessons and providing emotional and academic support throughout both remote and on-campus learning has made a genuine difference. I acknowledge with gratitude the detailed and ongoing feedback and support that our teachers provided.

We have much to celebrate that goes beyond individual success. We congratulate the teachers and students of those subjects that achieved consistently strong results this year. 

A special mention must go to those students who achieved an All-Rounders Award. Mazal tov to Lara King, Jessica Lowy, Ruben Mihalovich and Jordan Stein. We are also pleased to announce that Liam Engler achieved an outstanding State ranking of 4th in Modern Hebrew Continuers.

Whilst we can be rightly proud of those students who achieved a Band 5 or 6 performance in an HSC course, it is equally important to acknowledge those students who performed at their personal best, at whatever level that may have been. We share their pride in their HSC results. I also highlight the achievements of those students in this cohort who faced a range of personal challenges and yet persevered to complete their final year. Their courage and tenacity are impressive.

Every year we are delighted to congratulate students who are selected or nominated for HSC Showcases.

As the graduates of the Class of 2021 commence the next step of their life journey, they are reminded that whilst we celebrate their impressive ATAR results, it will be their character, personal values, and experience at Emanuel that will be their foundation, as they embark upon further studies or enter the workforce. As Emanuel alumni, they graduate equipped to be the best that they can be and to contribute to both our Jewish and broader communities, as informed and ethical changemakers.

Andrew Watt, Principal

Highlights from HSC Feature in the Australian Jewish News

Ma Koreh

Adam Carpenter – Head of Jewish Life Primary

It has been wonderful to start our new year of Jewish learning and Hebrew together at school. Students have been busy listening, speaking, reading and writing Hebrew and consolidating their knowledge from last year. We have also welcomed new students to the school who are beginning their journey of learning Hebrew, which is exciting! 

In Jewish Studies we started our learning by grappling with a selected Jewish text, saying or story from Jewish Tradition. These texts were selected to encourage students to engage with text and to question, interpret and apply these texts to their own lives and experiences. In the coming weeks I will share their students’ thinking around these sayings.

IMG_0656

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Hillel Quote

Our Primary Jewish Life Leadership Team; Mia Chesler, Joel Ginges, Mirabella Marshall, Jasper Shraibman and Ashley Unger have already met to begin planning what we hope will be an exciting year of Jewish Life celebrations and activities at school. We are looking forward to working with our alumni Josh New and Mia Shapiro in 2022.

L – R: Mia Chesler, Jasper Shraibman, Mirabella Marshall, Joel Ginges and Ashley Unge

Music Matters

Diana Springford – Head of Music

Private Tuition begins in Week 2. Please note that we need your permission (via our School’s global COVID survey) for those students who have singing and wind instrument lessons, to sing and play wind instruments at School. If you have not already done this, please do so ASAP.

Ensembles and Choirs begin rehearsing in Week 3. Please note that we need your permission (via our School’s global COVID survey) for students in choirs or ensembles that involve singing and the playing of wind instruments, to be part of ensembles that involve singing and wind instruments. Please note that many of our ensembles and choirs are cross cohort, so again, we need your permission for cross cohort mixing for many of our normal ensembles and choirs.

Here is a link to our current rehearsal schedule. 

We anticipate that these ensembles and choirs will begin rehearsing in Week 3:

• Junior Chamber Choir
• Junior Choir
• Infants Choir
• Y11 Rock Band (with Ben)
• Gershwin and Bernstein and Copland Concert Bands
• Senior Choir (beginning at 7:30am since P0 doesn’t exit at the moment) 
• Stage 4 Rock Band (with George)
• Senior Jazz Ensemble (with Marty)
• Saxophone Quartet (with Matilda)
• Perlman, Korngold, Rubinstein and Mendelssohn String Ensembles
• Emanuel Big Band & Junior Stage Band
• Junior Jazz Combo (New for Years 7-9)
• Brass Ensemble (New for Years 5-9)
• Woodwind Ensemble 
• Y12 Rock Band
• Guitar Ensemble
• Klezmer Ensemble (New!) 
• Stage 5 Rock Band

Depending upon your answers to the parent survey about wind instrument playing, singing and cross cohort mixing, we may need to tweak our ensembles, but we will let you know next week if that is the case.

The Instrumental Program (IP) for Years 3-6 begins in Week 3

• Year 3 and Year 5 have IP on Tuesdays and their first day is 15 February
• Year 4 and Year 6 have IP on Wednesdays and their first day is 16 February

Please visit our Music Portal Page for information and links for:

• Ensembles and Choirs
• Private Tuition for instruments and voice as well as Infant String Program (ISP) for K-2
• Music Camp 2022
• Instrument Loans

K-12 Sport

Kristy Genc – Director of Sports K-12

Welcome back to what we are hoping will be a great year of sport at Emanuel. There has certainly been plenty of great Australian sport over the summer, and I hope that our students are keen to be active and involved. 

Head Coaching Staff

Over the break, we have added three exciting new head coaching positions to the Sports Department: 

Head of Tennis K-12: Mateusz Rabenda 
Head of Football & Futsal K-12: Aytek Genc 
Head of Athletics & Cross Country K-12: Jordan Williams

Mat, Aytek and Jordan are all long-standing Emanuel coaches, and we are looking forward to each of them taking a more active role in the planning and coordinating of the Emanuel programs. 

Summer Sport Camps

The 2022 sports program commenced in mid-January, with training camps held for our 1sts football teams and basketball players. These camps provided the necessary training and preparation for players during the long summer break, before returning to regular training this term. 

Term 1 Weekly Sport commences next week

Registrations for all Term 1 weekly sports have now closed. I am delighted with the number of registrations that have been received across Years K-12 and look forward to a great term of sport. All weekly sport options commence in Week 2 and run until Week 10 (inclusive). As part of the Years 7 and 8 school curriculums, all students should have registered for at least one sporting activity. If your child is in Year 7 or 8 and has not completed their registration, please contact the Sports Office immediately.

Registration for the Term 2 sports program will be available in Week 6. 

Events coming up

Primary School Sport

Monday 7 February 2022: Weekly sport options commence for Years K-12
Monday 7 February 2022: Year 5/6 Emanuel Tennis Trials 
Wednesday 9 February 2022: ASISSA Primary Basketball Trials
Friday 11 February 2022: ASISSA Primary Tennis Trials
Friday 11 February 2022: Emanuel U10’s Futsal Trial 1
Thursday 17 February 2022: Years 3-6 Swimming Carnival 
Friday 18 February 2022: Emanuel U10’s Futsal Trial 2
Friday 18 February 2022: Emanuel U13’s Futsal Trial 1

High School Sport 

Monday 7 February 2022: Training programs for 1sts Football and Basketball commence (High School)
Monday 7 February 2022: Weekly sport options commence for Years K-12
Thursday 10 February 2022: AICES Girls Tennis Championships
Friday 11 February 2022: AICES Boys Tennis Trials
Monday 14 February 2022: CDSSA High School Basketball Championships and CDSSA Basketball Trials
Wednesday 16 February 2022: CDSSA 1sts Basketball Weekly Competition commences 

How was your day?

Michelle Favero – Manager of Marketing and Communications and mum of Dan, now aged 20

Did you go to the moon on a spaceship?

I remember waiting at the Waxman Gates for the bell to go, excited to hear about my son’s day. He’d just started Year K and I was curious about his day. He’d run towards me, those little legs tripping over each other and I’d ask in my most animated voice, “How was your day?”. We never really got beyond “Fine” or if I was lucky, “Good”. I made up fanciful experiences – “Did you go to the moon on a spaceship?”, “Did you learn about galaxies far, far away?” – he was, after all, obsessed with the universe. He played along, with outlandish adventures, but I knew that I was totally missing the most important question, “What did you do today at school?”. Sound familiar? 

We have the perfect way to transport you into the gates of the School, into the playground and into the classroom without you stepping out of your home or office. Never again will you have to ask, “What did you do today?”, because we’ll equip you with the superpower of all seeing and all knowing! We also have ways to connect you with our community, save time and $$.

• Join the Principal’s Instagram page watt.s_up_at_emanuel. The name speaks for itself. To ensure your privacy, you will need to set your account to ‘private’.
• Sign up to the School’s three Facebook pages:
  • Emanuel School Community where we share photos, tidbits, what’s up, when and how.
  • The Emanuel Shuk – with 841 members at the last count it’s the perfect place to advertise items for sale, share community info or ask for advice on camps, clubs, plumbing problems, dog groomers and more.
  • The Uniform Shuk – kids grow, they grow and then they grow some more. Head to the Uniform Shuk to find pre-loved uniforms at reasonable prices.

Boost your business

Do you own a small business or provide a professional service? Work for a retail store or run fun holiday activities for kids? We have the perfect way to spread the word to the over 600 Emanuel families. Simply complete this form with your business details and be included in our Emanuel advertising directory, Business Boost. We love to support Emanuel families, so don’t miss out on this amazing, free opportunity.

A plethora of ways to interact, be a fly on the wall and save money – welcome to Emanuel online!

Calling all swimmers

Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations

Welcome back – I hope you are all well and had a wonderful summer break, albeit possibly not quite what you had planned thanks to Omicron. If you are new to the School, welcome to you too. This page in Ma Nishma each week is a forum for sharing community news that I hope is of interest to our readers. Gesher is the Hebrew word for “bridge” and some years ago, it was chosen as the name for the committee that brings the whole School community together in a friend-building capacity. The committee members represent the many parts of our extended School community and although last year was spent mostly in lockdown, we were still able to find ways to stay connected. Our private art gallery tour was the only “real-life” event we managed to squeeze in between lockdown periods. 

Our Gesher committee comprises parent and Board member Daniela Freed as chair, with members Andrew Watt, School Principal; Bettina Muscnik, past parent; grandparents Kathy Passman and Tammy Keller; current parents Carli Rothman and Samantha Butt (also an alumna) plus alumni Joshua Moses (Class of 2011) and Asha Friedman (Class of 2020); Michelle Favero, our Marketing and Communications Manager, and me. All our meetings for most of the past two years were held on Zoom so we eagerly look forward to meeting again in person and organising some exciting events for 2022, so watch this space!

Grandparents – we will always want you!

Ma Nishma each week remains one of the best ways to stay connected with our School and with our community no matter where in the world you live. Please help us to get our grandparents database updated by sending through grandparent contact details so they too can read Ma Nishma to find out what is happening at School, albeit it only online for now. They will also get our Grandparents and Friends newsletters which you can see along with our alumni newsletters. Living interstate and/or overseas, means some of “our” grandparents never have an opportunity to come to School, so connecting electronically can be really meaningful and a great way for them to see what their grandchildren are doing at School in spite of the distance apart. As we still cannot have visitors on campus Ma Nishma and our Community Facebook (FB) page are great ways to stay connected with us. If not already a member of our FB page, join here.

Camp Sababa

Despite 2021 being a difficult year for everyone, the team at JewishCare’s Camp Sababa was determined to ensure this flagship event went ahead. In December 53 campers attended junior and senior camps accompanied by 90 volunteer buddies from the community who were committed to making Camp Sababa an unforgettable experience. This group of buddies for junior camp included seven members of our Class of 2021, six of whom are in this photo:

Back Row: Romi Lapidge and Dean Reuveny
Middle Row: Jared Robinson and Zac Greenberg
Front Row: Ben Torban and Jade Berson
Plus Elia Gil-Munoz (not in the photo)

There were another 30 volunteers on hand including nurses and the overnight team. Taking place in the Blue Mountains, the three-day camp was filled with fun, excitement and adventure. “It was an amazing camp, particularly after such a challenging year,” said alumna Maya Pollak (Class of 2001) from the organising committee. Camp Sababa has been running for more than 15 years and is sponsored by The Sony Foundation, JCA and the Wolper Jewish Hospital Foundation. This support has enabled the camp to grow each year and provide even more support to people with special needs in the community.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you

The summer break was not a great time for some – we were saddened to hear of the devastation in Tonga following the recent volcano and tsunami. Our thoughts and prayers are with Alisa (Class of 2001) and Jeff Siale and their daughters who are in Kindergarten and Year 3 here at Emanuel. Jeff’s mum, sister, brother and other close relatives live in the village of Kanokupolu which has been completely destroyed. Please click on the article ‘Tikkun Tonga’ in this week’s edition of Ma Nishma for more information and how Emanuel School is planning on helping to rebuild the village.   

Changemakers

We wish mazal tov to alumni Mitch Burnie (Class of 2011), Hannah Beder (Class of 2012) and Chloe Corne (Class 17), who all received Highly Commended awards at the 2021 JNF/B’nai B’rith Jewish Changemaker Awards night in mid-December. If you missed the event you can view it here. We also congratulate Rikki Stern (Class of 2016), Jordana Blackman (Class of 2017), Nadia Coburn (Class of 2017), Sean Torban (Class of 2018) and Miriam Itzkowitz (Class of 2020) for their worthy nominations. We know many of our current students as well as our graduates volunteer in so many capacities in our Jewish community as well as the wider community, and we would love to see nominations for them at this year’s awards. 

Mitch Burnie

Hannah Beder

Chloe Corne

Mazal tov
to the Kummerfeld/Kay family

Three Australian Research Council (ARC) grants were awarded to the Kummerfeld family: Jonathan Kummerfeld (Class of 2005 and soon to be Emanuel parent) won a Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA), whilst his mother Professor Judy Kay and his sister, Associate Professor Sarah Kummerfeld (Class of 1997 and current parent) were both awarded ARC Discovery Project grants. Jonathan is currently at Harvard University, Massachusetts and will return to Sydney mid 2022 with his wife and two sons to take on the position of Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at The University of Sydney.

Friendship Circle

Shoshi Blackman at Friendship Gallery

Some of our students and alumni volunteered at the various Friendship Circle activities during the summer break as well as at Friendship Bakery. If you would like to support the Bakery, it is located at Mark Moran Vaucluse, in Laguna Street. A social enterprise initiative of The Friendship Circle engaging young adults with disabilities in the local community through skills development and workplace experiences, I’m sure you’ll love their delicious challahs as well as savoury and sweet delights. Know someone in isolation? Friendship Bakery will be doing Wednesday deliveries in the Eastern Suburbs starting Wednesday 9 February 2022. Soups, salads, quiches and sweat treats – delivered to your loved one’s home. These are perfect for lunch or a light mid-week dinner. Please place your orders by Tuesday 5.00 pm for delivery on Wednesday between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm.  

If you’re at the Bakery, say “hi” to alumna Shoshi Blackman (Class of 2017) who volunteers there week in week out.

If you have any questions, about Friendship Circle and/or if you or someone you know would like to join their programs as a participant or volunteer, please email: hello@sydneyfc.org.au.

Calling all swimmers

Maccabi Swimming Club President, Emanuel parent Elan Miller would love to see our students, parents as well as fit and active grandparents, sign up for this year’s event on Sunday 27 February. 

The one-armed saxophonist

Sad news for those who remember Neill Duncan, known as the “one armed saxophone player” (after amputation of his left arm due to sarcoma some years ago), past Emanuel music tutor and Klezmer Band member who sadly passed away on 28 December 2021. Alumma Micayla Laurence (Class of 2015) shared: “He gave me his soprano sax a few years ago and it’s still playing”. Donny Janks (Class of 2012): “He was such a great teacher. I still have fond memories of his band The Jews Brothers, playing Dunking Bagels in the MPH”.

Parent Safety Group (PSG)

A huge “thank you” to parents and grandparents who are already members of our vital PSG. We encourage more of our able-bodied readers to join up too. Please contact esadmin@sydpsg.com for more information on what is involved and how to be part of this very important team which helps to keep our campus and students safe. Parent Elan Miller is not only Maccabi Swimming Club President, he also sits on the Emanuel Security committee as Head of PSG.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my page this week. We look forward to sharing our news and yours, so if you have photos or news you would like to share with us, please send to Sonia Newell.              

Shabbat shalom, stay safe and have a great weekend.

Who is Ms Levin-Kahn?

Daphna Levin-Kahn – Head of Jewish Studies High School

Each month, we find out more about a nominated staff member. 

SPOTLIGHT ON … Daphna-Levin-Kahn

What is your role at Emanuel School?
That’s an interesting question! This year, I have four ‘hats’ at Emanuel – parent of teenagers(!), Jewish Studies teacher, Head of High School Jewish Studies and, Acting Head of Jewish Life, High School (until Term 4).

How long have you been at Emanuel School?
I’ve been working here since 2013, when I was lucky enough to join Michelle Favero and the team for our previous Capital Appeal that year for the development of the Kleinlehrer Family LINC building. After that, having managed to get my foot in the door, I have been part of the Jewish Studies team since 2014. This is my tenth year!

A variety of Jewish Programs

What do you enjoy about working here?
I love the freedom we have here, as a pluralist, inclusive school, to guide our students to think deeply about (everything) but especially their own Jewishness and the place of Judaism in their world, with all the complexity, diversity and innovation that contemporary pluralist Judaism has to offer.

I feel a personal affinity with the authentic Emanuel call to be active global citizens and have deeply enjoyed growing the network of community connections and relationships through the Jewish Studies programs and Jewish Life experiences.

I love the strong, caring community that is the staff and families at Emanuel; for real.

What have you learnt about yourself at Emanuel?
I have learnt which aspects of leadership I possess naturally, which I have developed and those I have yet to nurture or strengthen. 

Emanuel has amplified and enhanced my lifelong passion for the pursuit of Tzedek (Justice) and Shalom (Harmony) through my own Jewish living and service, and through the opportunities I have been able to provide the students. 

What is your favourite memory from your time at Emanuel?
I have way too many to pick just one! But one of my favourite memories from my Uni days would be having an extraordinary month playing with beautiful kids in a village in Ghana (2001).

What do you do to unwind/ what do you enjoy doing outside school hours?
When I am not driving kids around on a Sunday, I love a good, breathtaking coastal walk (we are so blessed in Sydney!) or meeting a friend for a “walk ‘n talk” or “chews ‘n schmooze”; and on Shabbat, I love getting stuck into a good book, especially historical fiction (learning by “accident”!).

What song do you know all the lyrics to?
I’d say most of the top pop songs from the 80s, but one I love to belt out with the music on very loud when on my own in the car is the Disturbed version (2015) of The Sound of Silence.

Fun Fact: the lead singer of the heavy metal band, Disturbed, used to be a Chazan (a Synagogue Cantor)! (Pentatonix do a great version that’s fun to harmonise with too – go try it!) 

Do you have a hidden talent and if so, what is it?
I think I’m pretty good at choosing the “right” gifts for people.

What do you wish you could tell your 12 year old self?
“Don’t worry, Daph! All those heated arguments with your Jewish Studies teachers and being sent out of class for asking the “wrong” questions about Judaism, will stand you in VERY good stead in about 30 years’ time….”

If you could pass on any wisdom to your students, what would you share?
Hmmm…. How long have I got?

• There are no “wrong” questions about Judaism, if you care enough to search for and consider the many answers you will find…
• There is good in everyone you meet. If you look for it, with open heart, mind and arms, you will find what unites us all: Our humanity and souls. 
• 

  Emanuel students taking part in Emoticomplicated

Tikkun Tonga

Michelle Favero – Manager of Marketing and Communications

On 14 January 2022 Tonga felt the full force of a massive volcanic eruption and resulting tsunami. For many days, Emanuel School parent, Jeff Siale, was unable to contact his mum, sister, brother and other close relatives who live in the Tongan village of Kanokupolu. When communications were finally restored it was apparent that the village had been decimated and all 380 residents were without shelter, clean water and food. The village’s fishing boats were destroyed, leaving the villagers without an income and although rain is now washing away the choking ash, there is much to do to rebuild the lives of the 350 residents. To compound the already dire situation, Tonga has now been placed into lockdown due to the first few COVID-19 cases emerging.

Whilst foreign aid has started rolling in supplying fresh water and food, village residents are living in basic tents, sleeping on the ground. Jeff’s wife and Emanuel Alumnus, Alisa Siale, has set up a gofundme page to help raise money to help rebuild the island. Yesterday the timely news arrived that a shipping container has been secured to send much needed items to the village.

The Siales have now finalised a list of what is urgently needed with the aim of providing these essential items to each of the 70 households in the village. Due to space constraints these are the only items that will be shipped at this stage.

Should you have any business contacts who could help supply any of these items, please contact Alisa at helptongarecover@gmail.com

Pots and pans (commercial size as they cook for large families)
Plates, bowls, cups (preferable nothing breakable)
Cutlery and cooking utensils
Blankets, pillows and bedding
Towels
Mattresses
Fridges 

Sugar
Flour
Rice
Tinned fish
Tinned vegetables
Cooking oil
Washing powder
Dishwashing liquid
Tea towels
Sponges
Toilet paper
Shampoo
Soap
Sanitary pads
Baby wipes
Toothbrushes and toothpaste.

The Siales have secured a warehouse in Matraville as a drop-off point. As soon as we have the address and opening times we will share these with you. 

Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) is one of the School’s core principles embraced and lived by our students, staff and community. In the coming weeks our students will be putting Tikkun Tonga (Repairing Tonga) into action by holding their own fundraisers to help rebuild Kanokupolu. We look forward to sharing these plans with you.

The Siale family continues to be in our thoughts and prayers.

Villagers are living in tents, sleeping on the bare earth

Open fires are being used for cooking

Enrolments now open

From the Canteen

P&F

Ruby Berkovic and Jennifer Opit

Hello All, 

It’s time to say thank you and goodbye!

After five years, we are stepping down as Co-Presidents of the P&F. 

We took over the role in 2017 when our children were all in Primary School and now we are preparing our eldest kids for the HSC! 

Over the last five years we’ve seen a change in Principal, organised many annual events (the Purim Disco is always a highlight), published the P&F Cookbook and, most recently, participated in the Capital Appeal. We have watched the school grow and change – and we have loved being on that journey with you all. The community at Emanuel is unlike any other and it has been a pleasure and an honour to be part of it. We would like to thank you all for your involvement and support over this time. 

We are excited to hand over to Justine Hofman, who we know will do a fantastic job. 

We hope that 2022 brings wonderful things, and will see you around campus!

Jen Opit and Ruby Berkovic

Welcome

Welcome to 2022 and a big warm Emanuel welcome to the new families joining our community.

Firstly, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Justine Hofman and I am mum to the Olian clan – Kirra (Year 1), Jude (Year 4) and Mahli (Year 6). This year I am going to be stepping into a bigger role within the P&F as the incredible Ruby Berkovic and Jen Opit transition out of their roles as Co-Presidents.

Justine Hofman – P&F President

About Me

Our family moved from Melbourne four years ago (my husband Guy is originally from Sydney) and I’ve always been involved in Jewish community life through schools, youth movements and volunteering for Jewish organisations which most recently includes the Jewish Climate Network. My day job is in marketing, working with businesses that have a positive impact on society and the planet.

I am a big believer in the importance of community and especially the sense of connection and support a school community like Emanuel can provide. It’s the main reason I have put my hand up to help build the Emanuel P&F into a committee-based structure.

In coming weeks you will hear more from me on this – I extend an invitation to you to participate in whatever way you are able.

Thank you Ruby and Jen

Ruby and Jen – you are a dynamic duo who have been unbelievable leaders for our school community for the past five years. The countless hours you have dedicated to building and connecting our community is beyond incredible.

Your hard work, professionalism and genuine contribution is so valued by the Emanuel parent body. You always roll your sleeves up to get a job done and to the highest of standards. For this we thank you.

A more formal thank you will take place very soon. In the meantime, if you do see Ruby and Jen, please feel free to give your personal thanks.

Staff Welcome Lunch

There’s no better way to start the year by acknowledging Emanuel’s incredible team of teachers and staff with the P&F’s Welcome Lunch. The lunch was held last week and was catered by our wonderful canteen team.  A very special thank you to Ruby and Jen who coordinated the lunch this year.

P&F Meetings

P&F Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7.00 pm starting from March. They are usually held in the Boardroom at the school, but will be held on Zoom until further notice. Everyone is welcome so please join us as your support and input is valued.

Email Justine Hofman if you would like to attend the next meeting.

Events to diarise

• Sunday 20 March 2022 (pending COVID restrictions): Purim Disco 
• Friday 6 May 2022: Mother’s Day (Breakfast and stalls)  
• Friday 26 August 2022: Father’s Day (Breakfast and Stalls) 
• Friday 11 March 2022 – Sunday 13 March 2022 and Friday 4 November  2022 – Sunday 6 November 2022: Camping weekends 

We will confirm whether the Friday Afternoon Chillout with Icypoles can occur later this term. We will also confirm when we can start selling Challah again.

Have a lovely weekend,

Justine (with Ruby and Jen)

Community Notices

Child wellbeing and COVID: National survey

Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner wants to hear from children and their families about how living through the past two years of COVID-19 has affected their mental health and wellbeing.

Surveys are completely confidential, should only take about 10 minutes to complete and responses close on Sunday 20 March 2022.

To complete the survey please click here.

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 Andy Bromberger 

Orange Angel Cake

Ingredients

Directions