From the Principal

A long game

Both political and military experts are predicting an extended, lengthy conflict in Israel. Whilst we remain unsure of the details and the timeline, our emotions remain heightened, as a connected community. As we conclude the fourth week of this conflict, there are few signs that it will end soon. Our hopes continue for a swift resolution, but our School is preparing for a ’long game’.

Our aim is simple – to maintain a safe and happy learning environment for our staff and students, where comfort and security is gained from the steady rhythm of our daily routines and the focus on caring for each other. Our secure campus provides a much needed respite from the uncertainty and anxiety generated by the events unfolding daily in Israel. Our focus remains on identifying those students and staff who are struggling and providing the support needed, specific to their circumstances.

The daily prayers and reading of Psalms for Israel, the lunchtime drop-in sessions for High School students, the guest speakers at assembly and staff briefings and the fundraising efforts for UIA all serve to keep our school community updated on recent events and connected to Israel. Within our School, our students thrive on the ‘normality’ of engaging lessons, caring teachers, having fun in the playground and the myriad co-curricular pursuits available to them. In a sense, we are ‘pacing ourselves’, to offer sustained support throughout this difficult time.

We encourage our parents to join us in maintaining normal family routines and to reach out if you are not travelling well. The value of eating and sleeping well, exercising, (praying, for some!), enjoying recreational activities and seeking support if needed should not be underestimated!

The Shabbat Project

Today students from Years K-12 participated in a moving morning of prayer and song, marking The Shabbat Project and showing support for the State of Israel, its citizens and those who are fighting for Israel’s present and future.

In particular, the students’ rendition of the song Acheinu, which was written for Jews in captivity, was powerful as a prayer directed to God, requesting God’s intervention to reunite and restore the unity of the nation of Israel.

Each student received two Shabbat candles from JCA with the hope that every Jewish family lights these candles tonight, together with Jewish families all around the word.

Acheinu

Our brothers and sisters
the whole house of Israel,
who are in distress
and captivity
who wander over sea
and over land.

May God have mercy on them,
and bring them
from distress to comfort,
from darkness to light,
from slavery to redemption,
now, swiftly,
and soon.

Letters of hope and support

Our students recently penned letters to Israeli soldiers and children, sharing their deep concern, wishes, hopes and dream. These precious words were taken by Danny Hochberg from Sydney to Tel Aviv, where they then travelled to the soldiers’ temporary base near Nahariya and the children at Kibbutz Shefayim. I encourage you to read this article written by Danny for the AJN, sharing his feelings of loss, joy and pain, and the journey of the Emanuel students’ letters of care.

HSC Examinations conclude! 

Our Year 12 students completed their last exams this week, and the relief was palpable. No more late nights studying – all that remains is the wait for their HSC results and their ATAR. Thankfully, the large majority of our students have been offered early entry into a number of excellent university courses. Mazal tov to the Class of 2023!

Following your passion

Our Head of High School, Adam Majsay, spoke at assembly this week, encouraging our students to discover and pursue their passions. Students were asked to reflect on what activities truly excite them and to pay attention to how these activities make them feel. Mr Majsay shared his personal experiences with music and fitness as examples of his own passions, emphasising the value of experimenting and exploring new activities to find one’s passion.

Mr Majsay also highlighted the benefits of connecting with one’s passions despite a busy schedule, including the fulfilment, stress relief, creativity, and connections they can provide. He also emphasised that pursuing one’s passions can lead to success, sharing the example of Maxwell Pozniak (Year 10) who found his passion in dance and is taking a leap next year to pursue it further. Mr Majsay ended his presentation to assembly sharing a video of Maxwell’s hip hop dance performance, encouraging students to reflect on their own passions and make time to explore them.

Abstraction

The Year 10 elective Visual Arts students have showcased their artistic talents in a fabulous exhibition – Abstraction. The exhibition is an exploration of colour, light, form and texture and includes: dynamic paintings on shaped panels by Year 10 students, cubist inspired sculptures by Year 8 students and a collection of gestural abstract paintings by Year 4 students. Congratulations to all students and the Visual Arts team for putting together an impressive showcase of talent.

Night of Winds and Percussion

On Wednesday, 13 student ensembles from Years 3 to 12 performed for an appreciative audience at the inaugural Night of Winds and Percussion. The Primary Instrument Program students as well as Primary and High School Bands enchanted us with their music, showing great skill and enthusiasm. I congratulate Rory Nathan, Year 9, who arranged the Brass Ensemble’s piece, Tetris (Korobushka) and Oren Levin-Kahn, Year 12, who arranged Elk, performed by the Jazz Combo.

A special thank you to Diane Springford and Joanne De Araujo, as well as the Music tutors, conductors and music faculty, for preparing the students so well for this evening which nurtured our souls. We are also grateful to parent photographer, Ofer Levy, for the wonderful photos he captured on the evening. You will find more in this edition of Ma Nishma. 

Movember

This week, students showed their support for ‘Movember’ by proudly parading throughout the day with their stick-on mo’s to raise awareness for men’s physical and mental heath. To raise fund for the charity, the Wellbeing Va’ad sold rather delicious mo-shaped cookies, while a group of senior students and staff have taken on the challenge to grow their own mo’s this month. You can support their efforts by clicking here.

P&F Spring Family Camping Weekend

A number of families have signed up for this outdoor adventure, departing this afternoon for a weekend of fellowship and fun. The camp will be held at a beautiful location. We wish them a safe, restorative and restful weekend.

Quote of the week

“Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.” ~ Leonard Bernstein

I wish you a Shabbat filled with light, hope and a deep sense of community.
#bringthemhome
#NeverAgain

 

 

 

From the Head of Jewish Life

One beautiful summer afternoon, I sat with a group of Jewish women leaders from around the world on the grassy slopes in Jerusalem and we studied women in the Bible who were not always given a voice. One of these women was a nameless woman, known in the Torah as ‘Lot’s wife.’

Lot’s wife makes her only debut in the Bible in this week’s Parsha, Vayeira. God has decreed that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah should be destroyed of their unspeakable evil. It is determined that Avraham’s nephew Lot and his wife and children will be saved from the city. This is the Bible after all, so a group of angels are dispatched to Sodom to save Lot’s family. A group of angry Sodomites hear that Lot has ‘visitors’ and they surround the house demanding that the guests be surrendered. The people of Sodom were infamous for torturing foreigners. Using their power, the angels cloud the vision of the angry mob and advise Lot and family that it is time to skedaddle. The angels warn Lot’s family, ‘As we destroy the city…don’t look back’.

As God rains sulfurous fire on the town and Lot’s family flees, the wife of Lot looks back. Immediately she meets her demise. In Genesis 19, 26 we read,  ‘She was turned into a pillar of salt.’ In our tradition, Lot’s wife is not seen as a very savoury character (excuse the salty pun). The Bereshit Rabba suggests that she had endangered her guests by alerting the mob to their presence by asking her neighbours for salt, explaining she was catering for ‘visitors’. This is why, explains the Midrash, she was turned into a pillar of salt. This interpretation has always located Lot’s wife’s demise squarely with herself, salt for salt. But, is this fair?

As I sat with a group of women in Jerusalem on that summer’s day, we wondered what it would be like for Lot’s wife to leave her family and friends behind knowing that her town would be destroyed. We imagined into her grief. Suddenly, it became clearer why she may be associated with salt. As she looked back and saw her home destroyed, she was enveloped in salty tears. She literally became her grief. We all felt a lot more empathy with her as we considered her an archetype of anyone who is forced to leave the world they once knew behind and mourn that loss.

As I walk around the Jewish community in Sydney these weeks, many Jewish people look a little dazed. A comment I have heard repeatedly is, ‘what world are we in?’ Others say, ‘I want to reverse the clock, to go back to how things were on Friday 6 October’ In a way, we are all feeling a little like Lot’s wife, looking with horror at our world, wishing for things to go back to the way they were before and feeling frozen, like a pillar of salty tears.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow that once events unfurl, there is no going back to the way they were before. However, it seems to be a principle of life, that often from the midst of tragedy, newness is born. Many people are saying to me, ‘I feel I see things more clearly now. I want to develop my Jewish identity. I want to express my humanity more.’ In the face of a lot of hatred and evil, people have responded with kindness and courage, lighting candles, silent vigils, dignified defiance among despair.

At her hardest moment, what Lot’s wife did not know is this: Her daughter would one day give birth to the nation Mo’av. From this nation would come Ruth the Moabite. Ruth would convert to Judaism and marry an Israelite, Boaz and she would become the great-grandmother of our great King David. It is said, in our tradition, that Mashiach, the great bringer of redemption and peace to the world will come from King David. Lot’s wife, the infamous pillar of salt, is the ancient ancestress of our Mashiach. As goodness, kindness and love turn in the gyre, we pray that from this time of horror and trauma, a world can eventually be born that is characterised by peace and human dignity. It feels a long way away – but Lot’s wife reminds us that sometimes at our hardest hour, we don’t yet know that a new world is waiting to be born.  

Shabbat Shalom

Ma Koreh

As Jewish communities around the world unite this Shabbat for the Shabbat Project, here are a few Shabbat terms and suggestions that may help make your Shabbat experience special.

עֹנֶג שַּׁבָּת Oneg Shabbat = Shabbat Joy

This refers to the joy and delight that Shabbat can offer for both our bodies and our souls. 

For some this means enjoying a beautiful Shabbat meal, being with family and friends, or making time to engage in activities one finds enjoyable (such as reading, playing a game, a family walk or activity). 

Why not try An Oneg Shabbat Lucky Dip?

Invite family members to write suggested family activities in the spirit of Oneg Shabbat. Draw out a card/s for a family activity.  

 

 

שַּׁבָּת מְנוּחָה Shabbat Menucha = Shabbat Rest

This is the concept of Shabbat as a day of rest and rejuvenation. 

שַּׁבָּת Shabbat is known as the ‘day of rest’, however the word שַּׁבָת means ‘cease’, in the sense that on the 7th day of creation – יוֹם שַּׁבָּת, God ceased or stopped the work of creating. 

Why not mindfully engage in an activity of rest and rejuvenation on Shabbat?

This could be a Shabbat sleep in or afternoon shluf, time in synagogue engaging in prayer and reflection, time in nature, a swim at the beach, time reading or studying.

זָכוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ = Observe Shabbat and Make It Holy 

This mitzvah of remembering Shabbat is found in Exodus 20:7, in the first account of the Aseret HaDibrot (the 10 Utterances). Our tradition understands this to refer to actions that we do to make Shabbat a special, holy or different moment in time. 

Why not mindfully engage in actions to make this Shabbat special and different? 

This could be lighting the JCA Shabbat Project Candles, reciting Shabbat blessings and singing songs at your Shabbat table, engaging in prayer or Jewish learning and discussions.  

שָׁמוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ = Remember Shabbat and Make It Holy 

This mitzvah of remembering Shabbat is found in Deuteronomy 5:11, in the second account of the Aseret HaDibrot (the 10 Utterances). Our tradition understands this to refer to actions that we refrain from to make Shabbat a special, holy or different moment in time – traditionally this relates to the 39 categories of creative work or melachot.

Why not mindfully refrain from certain actions to make this Shabbat special and different? 

This could include not driving, not using screens and technology, not shopping or spending money. 

Wishing you and your family and meaningful and joyous Shabbat filled with rest, rejuvenation, joy and moments of celebration and connection. 

 

Primary News

Supporting children in navigating digital communication
A collaborative approach 

In today’s fast-paced digital era, technology has become an integral part of our lives, and its significance in our children’s lives is no exception. Smartphones and other devices have revolutionised how young people communicate with friends and family, with group chats gaining immense popularity. These chats provide a platform for young people to engage in conversations, share experiences, and stay connected. However, while there are many benefits to these technologies, they also present various challenges.

In our Primary School, we are very aware of the issues arising from students using group chats. We have, and continue to take, proactive steps through our educational programs to tackle these challenges. However, it is important for us to note that many of the issues young people face in this digital space occur at home. Thus, we recognise that it is essential not only for us to provide education at school but also to foster a strong partnership between the school and home. Working together, we can effectively support children in using these communication tools.

Some of the challenges we have seen young people in our community face regarding group messages include:

• The overwhelming number of messages received, often at inappropriate times, such as late at night or early in the morning.
• The pressure students feel to respond immediately to their peers.
• Being excluded or excluding others from chats.
• Being uncertain about how to report or leave a chat when things go wrong.

Whilst we will continue addressing these concerns with students in an age-appropriate manner through the content delivered at school, we also request that parents whose children use devices to participate in group chats consider the following:

Implementing healthy boundaries

• It is crucial to establish healthy boundaries around technology from a young age. Keep phones and devices out of the bedroom to ensure uninterrupted sleep. Earlier in the year, we had the brilliant Leonie Smith join us to share her advice as a Digital Families Counselor. One of her suggestions was that all families should create a ‘Digital Device Use Plan’ with the family. Creating a digital device use plan is a great way to ensure everyone in the family is on the same page and knows exactly where, when, and how technology will be used in your home. 
• Young people should learn to set boundaries with their friends. They don’t have to be always accessible just because technology allows it. Friends should understand that their availability depends on time management, device use, and life priorities.

Encouraging safe and responsible behaviour

• Teach your child the significance of treating others with kindness, empathy, and respect in their online interactions, just as they would in face-to-face encounters.
• Emphasise the potential impact of their words and actions on others in the digital realm. Encourage them to think before they type and to avoid engaging in hurtful or offensive behaviour.
• Remind your child that online interactions involve real people with real feelings, and their online presence should reflect the values of kindness, inclusivity, and good digital citizenship.
• Teach your child to safeguard personal information, be cautious of unsolicited messages and pop-up ads, and configure strong privacy settings on social media apps.
• Establish an open line of communication with your child so they feel comfortable discussing any concerns or uncomfortable situations they encounter online.
• Help your child build resilience and guide them on blocking and reporting users or pages in case of negative online experiences.

Knowing when to leave

• Empower your child with the skills to exit a group chat that becomes unhelpful or harmful.
• Teach them the statements they can use to exit an uncomfortable conversation. For younger children, this might look like, “Sorry, guys, this chat is getting nasty. I’m leaving.” Not only does this remove them from the chat, but it also highlights to others that the behaviour may be getting out of hand.

While this is not an exhaustive list of ways you can support your child at home, these suggestions offer a great starting point to ensure that the children in our community are set up for greater success, when using online platforms to communicate.  

For further information on how to support your child in navigating these digital spaces, especially with group chats, you can access suggestions from the eSafety Commissioner for establishing healthy tech habits from a young age.

Primary School staff farewell

Lauren Butler has let us know that, after eight years at Emanuel, she will be departing at the end of the year to take on a new teaching position closer to home. Lauren will be sadly missed but we are excited for this next step in her career, and we wish her all the best for this new chapter.

Blue and white Fridays

Our hearts and minds are with Israel. A reminder that students are welcome to come dressed in blue and white on Fridays until the end of the term and are welcome to donate to our UIA fundraising efforts.

BBQ Day

Our Term 4 BBQ and non-uniform day is on Monday 27 November 2023. All funds collected will be donated to the UIA in support of their commitment to the People of Israel. 

 

BBQ orders should be processed through the Humanitix online ordering system here. Orders must be placed by Wednesday 15 November at 4.00 pm, to allow time for ordering. Unfortunately, no orders past this time will be accepted.

Canteen closures

The canteen will be closed on Monday 6 November 2023 and Monday 27 November 2023. Please ensure your child brings lunch on Monday 6 November 2023 and feel free to order a sausage for BBQ and Plain Clothes Day on Monday 27 November. 2023 

 

Message from JCA

Message from JCA

Some are unaware that JCA is the primary funding facilitator of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, CSG NSW and AUJS (Australasian Union of Jewish Students) NSW & ACT, assisting these organisations with 90% of their annual operating budgets. In normal times this equates to combined funding of more than $5m. But we are no longer in normal times. All three organisations are working without respite to advocate for our community, against antisemitism and for Israel. Working to keep us physically safe and secure. This work comes with an increasing cost.

Many members of the community have asked how best to support our local front-line organisations like CSG, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and AUJS. To this end, while JCA has and will continue to utilise reserves to close general and immediate funding gaps, we are now launching a special response fund to further boost these and other constituent organisations’ growing needs in the fight against rising antisemitism and to counter community isolation.

With this need came the establishment of the Never Again Response Appeal, a solely established appeal, separate to JCA’s annual general campaign, which will enable us to fund increased resourcing needs for our frontline advocacy and security organisations.

Our priority at JCA is to ensure that our local Jewish community is safe, united, supported, connected, and represented while we continue to stand with Israel and her people – donate here.

Let’s work together and give together.
Am Yisrael Chai.
#NeverAgain

A Life-Changing Adventure

A life-changing adventure

A group of Year 6 students and their parents had an incredible adventure during their trip to the Northern Territory, filled with wildlife encounters, cultural experiences and breathtaking natural beauty.  Oscar Glikin, Gideon Cohen, Lily Smaller, Tabitha Masnick, Tali Gellert and Claudia Hochroth shared their life changing journey with me.

Wildlife adventure: During their trip, the students had the chance to connect with nature and discover various forms of wildlife. At Mataranka, they encountered a diverse range of creatures, including cane toads and green tree frogs. Their experience with wildlife wasn’t limited to amphibians; they also had the opportunity to observe numerous peacocks, adding a touch of vibrant colour to their adventure.

Darwin delights: Upon arriving in Darwin, the students wasted no time in immersing themselves in the local culture. They embarked on a memorable sunset cruise across the ocean and indulged in a classic Australian treat – fish and chips. This not only offered them a taste of the local cuisine but also provided a stunning view of the coastal beauty as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Litchfield National Park: The group’s second day was an exploration of the natural wonders at Litchfield National Park. Their journey led them to a breathtaking waterfall, where they marveled at the beauty of nature. While there, they even spotted some fish, adding a touch of aquatic wonder to their day.

Katherine adventures: The students’ journey took them to Katherine, where they enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at their motel. The day concluded with a splash in the pool, both by the kids and some parents, followed by a yummy dinner. Their next day started bright and early as they boarded the bus, heading towards Edith Falls. The crystal-clear waters and stunning waterfalls provided a perfect backdrop for relaxation and fun.

In Katherine, the students had a unique opportunity to learn from an Aboriginal elder, Manuel, who shared stories of his tribe, providing valuable insights into the indigenous culture. They engaged in traditional activities such as painting Australian animals, attempting fire-making, and even trying their hand at spear throwing. It was a memorable immersion into the rich heritage of the region.

Jilkminggan School experience: The heart of the trip was their visit to Jilkminggan School, which spanned over three days. The students developed a deep connection with the local students and their traditions. They participated in various activities, including games and puzzles, fostering a sense of togetherness and cultural understanding. They were privileged to be invited by the community to a boys’ initiation ceremony where our students were even encouraged to join in with the spirited dances. This unique opportunity to learn about the land and traditions of the Jilkminggan community left a profound impact on the visiting students and hopefully on the Jilkminggan students too. 

Shabbat in Mataranka (by Michelle Favero): On Thursday afternoon, the students enjoyed decorating challah cups, crafting candlesticks out of clay, candles from beeswax and challah covers, in preparation for Shabbat the following evening.

At an impressive 6.30 am on Friday, a group of skilled challah maker parents descended on the outdoor kitchen to make enough challah dough for an impressive 18 challot. These were taken with us to Jilkminggan where they were plaited and baked in the ovens. Delicious aromas filled the classrooms and the Jilk students were delighted when we left a number of challot for their afternoon tea. The remaining challot, along with the crafted items from the previous day were placed in the middle of a circle, formed by parents, students and staff.

At sundown, we collectively lit the Shabbat candles, sang beautiful Hebrew songs about togetherness and reflected on just how lucky we were to be celebrating Shabbat in such a special and spiritual place. Thanks to parents, Brett Churnin and Oren Cohen, for leading us in this very special Kabbalat Shabbat and Kiddish, for encouraging us to reflect on our gratitude and for sharing their prayers for the citizens and soldiers of Israel. Each child received a blue and white loom band bracelet, generously donated by Viv and Lily Smaller. 

Celebrating Shabbat outdoors in a place that is steeped in thousands of years of history, surrounded by the sounds of peacocks, frogs and Kookaburras, reminded us of how lucky we truely were to be in this place of natural beauty. 

Sunset and souvenirs in Darwin: As they returned to Darwin, the students visited the Mindl Markets, where they had a chance to purchase souvenirs to remember their trip. They also had a relaxed evening sitting on the beach, watching the mesmerising sunset, and reflecting on the incredible experiences they had gathered throughout their journey.

A few more of the wonderfully enriching things we experienced

This trip to the Northern Territory was not just a journey but a profound educational and cultural experience, where we all experienced the ebb and flow of time, gained insights into the rich heritage of the region, and forged meaningful connections with the local community. It was a trip they will undoubtedly cherish for years to come.

 

 

A Mother’s Letter from the Heart

Shabbat Project 2023 – starts tonight

For more than 10 years now, this international grassroots movement continues to promote community unity, identity and continuity through Shabbat – Stronger Together – one people, one heart, one Shabbat. Watch this very special message, “I am in awe” from the founder of this movement, Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein (South Africa).

As the war in Israel continues, here on the other side of the world, we have no words but sadness, utter disbelief and anger, for what is happening not just in Israel, but all around the world, as fewer and fewer people and nations show support for the existence of the State of Israel, for the Jews currently living in Israel and for Jews all over the world. The saying “Never Again” should mean exactly that – never again – but, as we are about to commemorate Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass) which occurred on 9/10 November 1938, the world does not heed those two words as more and more anti-Semitism raises its ugly head – even more so now than since WW2. Through all of this, we continue to thank Communal Security Group (CSG) and all volunteers for their never ending dedication to keeping us safe in Sydney and we pray for the safety of everyone in Israel, the return to peace and the safe return of all hostages. We have many families in our School community with friends and relatives living in Israel. We have alumni in the IDF. It is said, that as Jews, we consider all Jews in Israel as our family even if we are not blood related.

Kristallnacht Commemoration 
Thursday 9 November 2023

http://www.nswjbd.org.au/kristallnacht2023

A mother’s letter from the heart

Emanuel alumna Eden Sadra (Class of 2019) is one of a number of past students who are Lone Soldiers (members of the IDF with no family in Israel to support them). Eden’s mother Kirstyn Sadra sent these powerful words on Tuesday evening:

The family of a lone soldier in Israel 
Our brief account of Saturday 7 October 2023 and the day that have followed…

“On 6 October 2023, Eden left her base in southern Israel (near the Gaza border) on Friday afternoon bound for her boyfriend’s home in Tel Aviv to spend a peaceful Shabbat with his family; and like all Israelis could not have imagined the carnage that would unfold the following morning. Our first phone call with Eden on Saturday 7 October was tempered with the fear of the unknown. She had been called in the early hours of the morning by her commanding officer and told to dress in uniform and be ready to depart at any moment……but where? All we knew is that it was bad! 

The hours passed and the gravity of the disaster began to unfold but despite the grave uncertainty that hung over all of us and tore the air out of our lungs, we knew we had to keep her strong and we have fought to do that every day since. Amongst the 1400+ killed that day and so many innocents taken hostage, 26 soldiers from Eden’s base lost their lives that morning fighting to keep Israel safe from terror. We’ve all seen the pictures and heard heart wrenching accounts of the horror, but for us as her mumma, aba and brother, the most palpable phenomenon we have witnessed is their strength……young men and women ….. barely adults….many not born in Israel……strapping on their boots and their uniforms and standing tall in the face of evil to protect our homeland, our beautiful Israel! 

I guess in some fantastical part of our minds we always believed in super heroes and now we know why. Men and women of all ages have answered the call from within Israel and flown home from all corners of the world, thousands prepared to do whatever it takes to stand up against evil. Our daughter is just one of so many thousands that have humbled us to our core and filled our souls with a pride we have never known. In this world we find ourselves in, we owe it to them and to each other to stand tall, strong and proud of our Jewish identity; and to love and understand each other in these most difficult of days. We know how grateful Eden is for the endless support coming from the Emanuel community, as are we…..it is truly inspiring. We are counting the days until we can hold our beautiful girl in our arms again, in Israel and in peace”.  By Kirstyn, Eli and Yakir Sadra

IDF Beanie Project

If you missed my page the last two weeks and you can knit, please read on, knowing that the following details come from Emanuel grandmother Pam Wertheim, pictured here with her granddaughter Year 8 student, Gemma Wertheim, wearing beanies they knitted for this amazing project.

The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has asked for help worldwide. One of the things that they have asked for is beanies for the soldiers. Winter is approaching in Israel and the weather can be bitterly cold especially the nights. There is a need for 350,000 beanies!  

To this end, Pam and Renee Glass are spearheading an effort to get the Sydney community involved in knitting for our brave soldiers. The response Pam says, has been heart-warming, but there’s a need for more. Can you knit? Do you know anyone who might like to knit? We would love to get knitting needles clicking and making these beanies.  

The completed beanies can be dropped off in the East and in the North – Pam and Renee will arrange for them to be delivered to Israel.

This pattern is also available via email and you can contact Renee or Pam if you would like any further information.

Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) 
On now until 28 November 2023

I am sure many of you have already seen some of the films that are on at JIFF at The Ritz, Randwick. Don’t forget about Sasha’s Game, directed by Emanuel alumna Lexee Gordoun (Class of 2017), The Jewish Nazi? directed by Emanuel parent Dan Goldberg and Majong & Mahashas directed by past parent Carolyn Saul, as well as the Q&A session with Emanuel parent Moshe Rosenzveig OAM.

The Maccabean Hall celebrates 100 years

As part of the celebrations, there is an exhibition at the Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM) which now stands on the site of the old Maccabean Hall.  A brochure promoting these special years includes numerous photos of milestone occasions held at The Macc as it is so fondly called both then and now, and one of these photos is the wedding of past parents Tony and Jackie Weiss, whose three children Michael, Jess and Rob and their daughter in law Charlotte, are all Emanuel alumni. Jackie now guides at SJM and when she is not guiding, you will see her on the Front Desk or in the Museum Shop.

Reverberations: A Future of Memory at Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM) 
Ends on 3 December 2023

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

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

Shabbat shalom, stay safe and have a good weekend.  

 

 

Spotlight on…. Night of Winds and Percussion

Thank you to Ofer Levy for capturing this wonderful evening.

Night of Strings

Kornmehl

Thinking about and supporting Israel in different ways

The Pre-school has been involved in a Twinning Program with a Gan in the Arava for the past two years. As a cohort of teachers with our strong Australia/Arava partnerships, we wanted to show our support and love for all the displaced children from the south, who are currently being hosted by the wonderful Arava communities. 

The aim is to make each, and every child feel loved and thought of from afar. A template was designed and sent to us. Together with the Starfish and Dolphin groups, we worked to each make a special love heart drawing for a friend in Israel. 

We feel that in some small way we can make a difference to these children, who are facing tough times.

The children were presented with the image of a love heart with some words that read, ‘Israel is in my heart, Israel b’Libi.’ Also in the love heart was an Australian flag and an Israeli flag. We wondered what this meant and why we are sending our drawings to the children in the Arava in Israel.

Lulu: I see Israel and Australia and Hebrew and English writing. Because we love Israel so much.
Aimee: To make the people in Israel happy, it means this is coming from Australia.
Ziggy: We’re drawing pictures for the school in the Adama (Arava). There’s Australian writing and Israeli writing. I know my name in Hebrew. It’s Zeev. We’re friends with them. I did that gold for Australia and the Magen David for Israel. Australian people help the Israeli army.
Ella: It’s because of the war.
Allec: I can see a star and two flags. That’s because we celebrate both birthdays.
Alma: Because Israel has many visitors from Australia, because they want to show their friendship between Israel and Australia, and they want to show the children in Israel how we care about them.
Tamar: I can see the Israel love heart because Australia supports Israel.
Hudson: Because they both live in your heart
Ali: Let’s colour our love heart in rainbow… because we want to cheer up Israel.

Fairy Garden

We have introduced a new peaceful fairy garden into our outdoor space. This space is filled with treasures and toys that lend themselves to magical, fairy, imaginative play. The area is popular for all three groups. The Dolphin children have been working this week to make fairies go in the garden. They have also created a cute magical fairy garden installation to extend the play further. 

The children are involved in looking after the area, encouraging each other to play gently and respectfully with the fairies so they don’t break. We are learning to share, take turns and co-operate, while playing with the materials. 

Ella: The home for the fairies is behind the door.
Hudson: I am making a home for the unicorn.
Jesse: We need to share the toys.
Aria: You need to hold one toy at a time. If people put the toys in their pocket, then we will not have any. 
Itamar: We keep the toys in the fairy garden, and we don’t take them in the sandpit. 
Evie: Nobody can snatch things from each other. 
Rose: Be careful not to step on the fairies.
Noam: We don’t want them to get hurt.

Working with our faces

The Starfish and Dolphins engaged in a project using their faces as a provocation for matching, creative art, symmetry, literacy and for building identity and self-esteem.

We took black-and-white photos of each of the children, which we cut in half and used as a matching game during morning meeting. We had lots of fun, finding both sides of our face and combining half of our face with somebody else’s face. At activity time, we explored symmetry by drawing half our face to match the other half of the photo. This was challenging for the children, matching the proportions and the positions of their facial features. We combined this activity by writing lots of character words down and getting the children to choose a word to describe themselves to their Year K teachers. This is another way that we are preparing the children for Year K next year.

Clay Earthenware Project

Since last term, The Starfish have been working on making a dinner set out of clay, that can be used in our home corner for imaginative play. Together with Justine, they have looked closely at examples of real mugs, bowls and plates and re-created these out of clay. This takes considerable skill for young children, to mould the clay using their fingers and hands and to design their own individual crockery piece. Last week all the clay pieces were brought to life, as the children added glaze colour and design in the final stage of the project before firing it in the kiln up at Emanuel School.

It was lovely to see them work with such intention, being specific in their colour choices and where they wanted to paint on their pieces.   

We talked about their drawings and designs, and this once again inspired their creativity, with some adding flowers, dots, and stripes.

It has been a joy to see the children embracing this project with enthusiasm.  

How wonderful it will be, that very soon, they will be using these unique and colourful pieces in their play. A huge thank you to Eytan Messiah and Chrystal Rimmer for helping us complete this process with the children. We appreciate being able to work with you both.

The Shabbat Project

This weekend thousands of people around the world will be celebrating Shabbat from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. There are amazing community events happening all around Sydney that we encourage families to take part in. On Friday we invited families to join us to bake challot with their children during the morning. It was a special time to mindfully sit together, enjoying the smells of the challah dough baking in the oven and to take a few moments to acknowledge how grateful we are at this moment in time to be safe and to pause and think about our fellow family and friends in Israel. We wish you all a wonderful Shabbat.

Happy Birthday

We wish a very happy birthday to Nellie Pillemer (4), Milo Chimes (4), Zac Hochroth (5) and Evie Wicks (4). We hope you all had a beautiful birthday.

Refuah Shlema

We wish a speedy recovery to our wonderful Starfish Educator, Justine Robertson, who is recovering from hip surgery. We miss her and hope she will be back with us soon.

 

 

The Speaker Series

PSG

Thank you to our volunteers for last week
(Monday 23 October 2023 – Friday 27 October 2023)

Saul Berkowitz, Salina Jamani, Shai Simhi, Ian Kessell, Shirley Goldrei, Tal Harpaz, Elan Miller, Naomi Hersh, Seth Itzkowitz, David Nathanson, Sacha Davis, Daniel Deutsch, Mia Kalinko, Daniel Novy, Roman Garbuz, Gavin Kawalsky, Odin Kay, Robert Sandy, Derek Pal, Lynn Ross, David Eliovson, Toby Raphael, Jethro Marks, Yury Glikin, Neil Levin, Michelle Masnick, Fred Linker, Lindy Lowenstein and Leon Kantor.

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

Important Dates

What’s happening next week 

High School

Monday 6 November 2023

• Canteen closed 
• Year 9 and Year 10 Examinations

Tuesday 7 November 2023

• Year 9 and Year 10 Examinations
• Free Thinkers Forum
• Year 9 and Year 11 JST Guest Speaker Presentation

Wednesday 8 November 2023

• Year 9 & Year 10 Examinations
• Netball NSW Schools Cup State Finals
• Middle School Ethics Olympiad
• U14s JDS OzTag Gala Day
• Night of Strings

Thursday 9 November 2023

• ANVDC Middles Debating – Semi Final Round
• Year 9 JST Be the Change to Adamama

Friday 10 November 2023

• Non Uniform Day – Blue and White
• Year 7 (2024) Ma’avar Program
• FPS – Global Issues

Primary School

Monday 6 November 2023

• Canteen closed 
• Year 5 Leadership Speeches 

Tuesday 7 November 2023

• Judith Locke Presentation 

Wednesday 8 November 2023

• Night of Strings 

Friday 10 November 2023

• Non Uniform Day – Blue and White
• Year 6 to Year7 Transition Day 
• Year 3-6 Assembly 

Kornmehl

Tuesday 7 November 2023

• Year K (2024) Orientation Visit

Thursday 9 November 2023

• Year K (2024) Orientation Visit
• Parent/Teacher Meeting – online zoom

Community Notices

 

 

Celebrate the best of new Jewish cinema from across the globe with JIFF, screening from Oct 23 – Dec 6! See the Sundance-premiere comedy series Chanshi; thrilling drama Stella A Life; Israel’s box office smash hit Matchmaking; and the unbelievable Australian documentary Revenge: Our Dad the Nazi Killer, alongside an expansive program of features, shorts and documentaries. Tickets are now on sale at jiff.com.au 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JewishIFF 
Instagram: @jiff_oz 
Twitter: @JewishIFF