Emanuel Alumni News - September 2023

with Alumni

From the Development Office

Welcome to our latest alumni newsletter.

To coincide with Rosh Hashanah, our Year K to Year 6 students invited their grandparents and special friends to School where together they will celebrate this special day. Last year Primary Grandparents and Friends Day was attended by more than 400 very excited grandparents after a 3-year break. Some of these visitors are your parents who attended events at School to see you when you were a student here at the time, but now, they come to School to share events with your children, their grandchildren – this really is extra special. We look forward to helping host face-to-face alumni reunions this year, some of which are a year or two or maybe even three years late, but, better late than never. Emanuel School is 40 this year and we have had some celebrations here on campus for students and staff – watch this space for our Back to Emanuel event for alumni and their families planned for early next year.

As we celebrate 40 years of Emanuel School, we reflect on the amazing changes and growth of the School and the family feeling of our wonderful community as it continues to flourish, going from strength to strength. Having started with just 53 students in February 1983, by the time this whole school photograph was taken later that year, the School had already grown to 75 students. Some of these students are parents here now – perhaps you will recognise some faces or maybe some names – Bianca Gehl, Daniel Vasin, Jacob Kaplan, Jonathan Hirst, David Hirst and Nadine Weinberger, whilst Ronnie Aron is a past parent. One of the teachers in this photo, Linda Zurnamer is now a grandparent here. Over the years we have managed to find names of most of the students in this photograph, but we are still missing five names. If you know any of the missing names, please get in touch as we would love to complete the list. We also thought you might like to see a page from the official Roll Call record for 4th Class, Term 1 1984. Methods for recording student attendance have certainly changed since then.

The first-ever School Yearbook was published in 1984, just one year after Emanuel School opened. At the time, this spiral-bound publication was momentous – the School Community was very proud of all their achievements during that first year, and rightfully so. The 1984 publication was packed full of poems, stories and drawings by the students, along with reports by various teachers including this one from the first School Principal, Tom Wiedenman. Fast forward to now, and we have certainly come a long way.

From the Development Office continued

We love that all our Year K students settled so easily into life at Big School, and here are some photos of a few of our alumni who have returned this year as new parents, with children in Year K. Twins Jordan and Kobe de Melo are part of this year group. Their mother Claudia Maman was in our very first Year 12 cohort in 1989 and their big brother Ethan de Melo finished Year 12 here in 2020 and is now one of our Sports Coaches. Claudia says, Being a past student from long ago, I have seen Emanuel grow from very humble beginnings. A very new, very small school with lots of dreams to becoming an incredible Jewish day school. At the time the PAC was just an empty space and I eventually saw it become the High School Library. Returning for a school tour, when I was considering Emanuel for my son Ethan, I remember walking into the MPH and literally being blown away. All the dreams the School had talked about when I was there had eventuated, too late for me but right on time for my son. I knew immediately that this was the right school for him.

Ethan had an incredible experience at Emanuel, so much so that although he graduated in 2020, you can still find him on campus coaching futsal and soccer to students from Year 1 to Year 12. He wants to pass on his knowledge to other Emanuel students and I think that is the best compliment a school can receive. Now I have the incredible joy of starting again with my twin boys Kobe and Jordan starting Kindergarten – they are so very proud to attend the same school as their mum and brother and nothing excites them more than seeing their big brother at their new school.

So, my journey at Emanuel continues and I look forward to watching it grow from strength to strength. Ethan sent me this quote: “For me, the best quality of Emanuel is that it truly feels like a family. From the moment I arrived in Year K, the warmth and support from the students and staff was special; a feeling I still experience today as a sports coach. Seeing my brothers in their new school uniforms the other day brought back so many amazing memories from School. Now it is their turn to join the Emanuel family, and to make lifelong memories and friends just as I did”.

Other children of alum to start in Year K this year included Noa Greenblo, whilst his brother Asher, started in Kornmehl Pre-School. Their father, Shaun Greenblo, who was Head Madrich in 2003 says, Walking through the Emanuel School gates with my son Noa on his first day of kindy, 20 years to the year after I graduated, was an overwhelmingly beautiful

experience. I’ve been blown away by the love and support of the staff, parents and students and it’s only reaffirmed to me that Emanual has retained the magic it had during my time at the School.

The Class of 2004 is well represented in the Year K parent group this year, where 16 of these students have at least one parent who is a past Emanuel student themselves. Gabi (nee Rein) Keen was Head Madricha in 2004 and her daughter Mila Keen has just started in Year K, along with one of her best friends Lily Stern, whose parents Danny and Georgia (nee Snow) are also from the Class of 2004. Gabi says, I feel like I’ve come home again! Coming back to Emanuel and being able to share it with my daughter has been so special for me, whilst Georgia Stern says I’m very excited to be back at the school now as a parent. Lots has physically changed but heart-warming to still feel all the love and community that I remember!

Della Shandler (nee Einfeld) from the Class of 2005 works parttime at School as EA to the Director of Finance and Operations, and she is also a new parent this year. Della says, It has been really special having my first son start Kindergarten at my school. I have loved going from being a student and alumni to a staff member and now a very proud parent. Jacob has settled in well thanks to the warm and nurturing Year K teachers. Emanuel School holds a very dear place in my heart and we look forward to many more years being part of the Emanuel community

Some of our new Kornmehl Pre-school students this year include children of alumni. The Pre-school has three classes and a very active group of parents who are class parents helping the dedicated staff in so many ways. Alumna Sarah Robuck (nee Krigstein, Class of 2005) is one of two class parents for the middle group “Starfish”, whilst alumna Lisa Greenberg (nee Shapiro) is class parent for the Seashells. Lisa was Head

From the Development Office continued

Madricha, Class of 2001, and married her classmate David Greenberg. Samara, their youngest child loves that she is now at the same school as her two big brothers Isaac and Ariel. Lisa says, It feels so special to have all three of our children at Emanuel. We love that they get to experience the same warmth and unique school spirit that we too experienced at Emanuel all those years ago. Another new starter at Kornmehl is Neave Lukins who not only has a parent who is an alum – her mother Carly Mooney who was Head Madricha, Class of 2006 – but her father, Eamon Lukins is one of our Year 6 teachers.

Past student Adam Chimes (Primary Head Madrich 1996) now has all three children at Emanuel School with the youngest, Milo Brookman Chimes, having started at Kornmehl this year. Milo is very excited to now be at the same school as his sister Stella in Year 5 and brother Griffin in Year 4. Adam says, It’s really special

for me watching my three kids playing and learning in the same atmosphere that shaped many of the values of my early childhood. Emanuel’s ethos hasn’t changed much in 30 years, which is pretty remarkable. Talya and I couldn’t imagine a better school life for our children

As we welcomed new families to Emanuel School at the start of the year, that of course also included new grandparents. If you are an alum, now back as a new parent, and would like your children’s grandparents to receive our weekly School newsletter Ma Nishma as well as our bi-annual Grandparents and Friends newsletters if they do not already get these publications, please ensure we have their email details. Many of our grandparents live interstate or overseas and do not have the opportunity to visit their grandchildren on campus, but through reading our newsletters they are still able to know what is happening here at our amazing school.

Front Row (L-R): Bianca Gehl, Naomi Tarsis, Mela Medvedovsky, Zoe Spiegel, Kate Ratner, Jasmin Streimer, Alanah Zitzerman, Christina Lemkin, Simone Havin, ________, Talia Deutsch, Susan ________, ________, Georgia Teiperman, Janine Israel.

Second Row (L-R): Alla Nock, Miriam Fox, Jenny Spinak, Jessica Bures, Ondine Sherman, Mandi Smith, Eli Haski, Daphny Ravy, Natasha Cherny, Khara Weisz, Svetlana Goltsman, Rachel Spiegel.

Third Row (L-R): Benny Sharon, Daniel Vasin, Russel Bergman, Rueben Newhouse, Danny Sharon, David Jeffries, Julian Bures, Perlita Benhayon, Kolya Miller, Ben Fox, David Ratner, Jacob Kaplan, Alex Strizhevsky, Jonathan Hirst, Simon Glasser, Eric ________.

Fourth Row (L-R): David Kotek, David Sorauer, Guy Ravy, David Hirst, Greg Weisz, Anton Boski, Lindi Smith, Felicia Meric, Nadine Weinberger, Marina Goldshmid, Solonge Boski, Sarona Pilcer, Denis Zilberman, Maxim Bolkovsky, ________, Ryo Hino, Adin Pilcer.

Back Row (L-R): Hezie Lazarous, Nick Deutsch, Daniel Sorauer, Michael Fooks, Leonid Goltsman, Harry Derunovsky, Alan Jeffries, Eugene Freeney, Ronnie Aron, Ari Marks, Christian Charnas, Yonaton Miller, Ben Donally, Ronen Stolier.

Staff: LHS left to right: Sandi Einstein, Shirley Holt, Linda Zurnamer. Middle of photo left to right: Lou-Anne Folder, Tom Wiedenman (Principal), Sarah Friend. RHS left to right: Debbie Levy, Jeanette Streimer, Carol Perry.

From the Development Office continued

Back to School after 24 years

Past student Joanna Vasileva (nee Podgoetsky) was visiting family here in Sydney from Seattle where she lives with her husband and two young children. She enjoyed a wonderful hour-long tour around the campus in February. From the Class of 1999, Joanna had not been back at school since she left after HSC, and so she not only wanted to see how School had changed over the past 24 years, she also wanted to show her husband Petko Vasilev her old school. Joanna says, I work as a Principal Director of Product at Microsoft so the tech investments were exciting for me to see. I was so impressed with all the advancements in the School and particularly the investments in high tech such as the VR and robotics kits, as well as the drama theatre. The School felt like home and I hope to send my children there in the future. During the visit, Joanna also met up with some of her teachers who are still on staff including her Science teacher Tina Greenhill and Garry Case now Director of Digital Learning Technologies K-12.

If you would like to see how Emanuel has changed since you were here as a student and/or would like to share your journey after school, please be in touch: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

Careers Space 2023

It was very special to welcome our fabulous alumni back to our campus for our Annual Careers Space event in Term 2. This year 35 graduates walked through our gates to share their stories with our current students. Wonderful conversations, sage advice and the myriad of options out there were all discussed.

We held the event in three different spaces, with a focus on a tertiary room including students from university, TAFE and private colleges. Our was to include a wide variety of industries, careers, jobs and job arenas.

With these events, the most important element is not matching up students to jobs of their interest, as these change over time. What is important is opening the student’s eyes to new ideas, to get them thinking about their futures and also to help them see that their career paths can be messy, non-linear and subject to many outside elements and influences.

We are very grateful for the time, effort and energy that this alumni body put into giving back to our students in Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12. The Careers Space day helped me understand the career I wanted to purse after school and how to succeed in my chosen career. Talking to ex-students allowed me to better understand their ideas about the HSC and their future career, and everything university related.

Claire Pech, Careers Advisor, surveyed our Year 10 to Year 12 students to see how they enjoyed the morning.

• Over 76% found the event to be amazing/very good

• Over 77% found the event very helpful/helpful, providing them with insights into the world of employment and careers

• Over 80% found the event helped them to realise the ‘messy nature’ of careers

• Over 87% found the event to have an excellent/good structure to it

• Over 79% found the event gave them some good ideas for their future.

We are already preparing for our 2024 Careers event. If you would like to be part of this exciting session with our senior students, please let me know. I will also post details on the alumni Facebook page once we confirm the date.

Community Careers Connection

We are developing a registry of Emanuel School alumni, parents and community members willing to share their career and industry experience and insight, to assist students/alumni who are interested in specific career paths. Your input would be invaluable to our young adults as they venture into the next stage of their lives.

If this idea appeals to you, please complete this form.

Mazal tov

Mazal tov to alumni who have celebrated a variety of simchas over the past months. See page 11 for all their news. Click here to see all past issues of this newsletter on the website.

We wish you and your family Shana Tova and well over the Fast.

From the Principal’s Desk

Welcome to the latest edition of our Grandparents and Friends newsletter.

As I write this report I am keenly anticipating the opening of the most significant addition to our school campus in many years.

B’Yachad Building update

Construction of our new B’Yachad Building is progressing well. The word ‘B’Yachad’ translates as ‘Together’ in Hebrew – a true reflection of what has taken place to bring this project to fruition. So many people have worked together towards a common goal.

A special assembly

Recently, past CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, current Director on the SBS Board and proud Emanuel Grandparent, Vic Alhadeff addressed our High School assembly. Vic connected strongly with our staff and student audience, sharing a number of stories connecting leadership to courage and integrity. Our students were encouraged to intervene when they encounter discrimination or bullying, whether it be big or small; to be upstanders, rather than passive bystanders. Vic’s message resonated strongly and is very much aligned with our values and the culture we aspire to at Emanuel.

HSC Trials

Our Year 12 students recently completed their Trial examinations. These exams give students a taste of what’s to come. My advice to the Year 12 cohort was to use this time wisely and know that the work that they put in now will help towards their final goal. I reminded them that their Trial results are not the only indicator of success. It’s their attitude, effort and perseverance are as important and I encouraged them to take this time to reflect, reassess and regroup. Their teachers have prepared them well and I know the students join me in thanking them for their time, dedication and ongoing support.

To our wonderful community who generously donated millions of dollars to help fund the build – this is your gift to the future generations of Emanuel students. Thank you to the School Board, Building and Finance Committees, who have given so much of their time to ensure that every aspect of the project is mapped out, managed and executed. I am eternally grateful to our leadership team and many other staff members who have invested countless hours ideating, brainstorming and managing the practicalities of a space where children will learn, play, innovate and discover for many decades to come.

Last term, I joined staff in handmaking clay mezzuzot which will be fixed on the doorposts of the B’Yachad Building. This was a wonderful opportunity to take a mindful moment in my day to create a physical representation of God’s oneness and protection over our School. I hope, when you walk through the doors of our new building in the future, you will feel the blessings that were woven into the clay, as we moulded it into shape. I look forward, in my next report to you, to sharing photographs and comments from our students, who will be moving into their new ‘home’ in early Term 4.

The Addams Family

Each year, despite our relatively small numbers, our School puts on a magnificent production. Over four performances, the audience were treated to a colourful, lively and polished musical production, in terms of both the acting and the choreography. The set design and costumes were also outstanding and the orchestra (consisting mainly of our beloved Music staff) further enhanced the quality of the show.

The Addams Family can be described as “a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and is every father’s nightmare”. The storyline is based around Wednesday Addams (Alice Milner), who has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family (Leo Masnick), who her parents have never met. Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams (Jesse Barrel) must do something he has never done before; keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia (Chloe Biller). Everything changed for the whole family one fateful night when

they hosted a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents (Willow Gelin and Sam Salamon). Mazal tov also to Sophie Masnick (grandmother), Eitan Hamilton (Lurch), Ariel Solomon (Uncle Fester), Max Salamon (Pugsley), and our outstanding team of dancers.

Careers Expos

Careers Expos provide a wonderful opportunity for our soon-to-be graduating students to experience the offerings from a variety of universities and other Tertiary Institutions. Our Year 12 students joined with a range of schools located in the city, to be part of the Sydney Schools Careers Expo, held at Sydney Grammar School. Parents were also welcome to attend. The range of events included an Expo, presentations and ‘curious conversations,’ with students roaming around and attending those sessions that were aligned with their interests.

You are the reason why

JCA’s major community fundraising event took place at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, marking the culmination of several months of planning. As one of JCA’s 25 member organisations, Emanuel School was invited to participate as an exhibitor. I had the privilege of being one of four panel participants, discussing Education, specifically focusing on Special Needs Education.

Many Emanuel staff members and students were actively involved in the preparations leading up to the event and during the evening. I may be biased, but our exhibition stand was both inviting and professional, especially with the addition of 500 Emanuel branded cookies, baked and decorated by our Year 10 Food Tech class.

I am grateful to Dr Lynn Joffe and Adina Roth for their time at our stand, answering questions about Special Needs Education and Jewish Life at the School. A heartfelt thank you goes to the individuals who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the evening, including Michelle Favero, Belinda Levin, Isabelle Anne, Diana Springford, Lisa Starkey, Adam Majsay, Adam Ezekiel, Claudia Bloom, Stacey Rosenfeld, Shelley Ezekiel, and Gavin Dennis.

Unpacking the Jilkminggan experience

Our School has developed strong connections to the remote aboriginal community of Jilkminggan. Located a 1.5 hour drive southeast of Katherine on the Mangarrayi Aboriginal Land Trust, Jilkminggan has a population of approximately 300 people. Emanuel School has been visiting this community for the past 13 years and we highly value the relationships we have built with many families. Students from the Jilkminggan School have visited our campus on two occasions.

This year, visits to Jilkminggan have been organised for both Primary and High School students. For all students, Primary School parents and staff involved, the Jilkminggan trips are an amazing cultural immersion experience and provide a wonderful opportunity for the School to celebrate our connections with and commitment to the Jilkminggan community. There is much about the Jilkminggan experience that is unique, and for some, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Primary parents to accompany their child, experience the richness of the community and learn about the Aboriginal culture, language and wisdom. It also provides a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents and children in an informal setting, resulting in many lasting friendships from the trip.

The positive impact that our School has on the Jilkminggan School community should also not be underestimated. The experiences shared, the friendships formed and the opportunity for two-way learning are of benefit to all. One parent described the Jilkminggan experience in glowing terms: “The trip I have just been on has changed how I feel. I cannot express to you what an incredible trip it is for the parents and the children. The staff were organised, supportive and held the group in a loving and practical way. The guides external to the school were just incredible people to get to know. The group had experience after experience that would only have been possible with the presence of the guides we had. I learnt a lot from their knowledge and way of being in the world. I have done a lot of traveling in my life and have lived overseas in a lot of different places, and this trip stands out as a highlight. Both my son and I got a LOT out of it in many different ways. We had time to bond more deeply with one another, we faced some fears together and came out the other end stronger for it. I think it is a highlight of school life at Emanuel.”

Primary School Northern Territory visits

Due to the high demand for this program, two trips have been organised, one in May/June and the other in October. The program involves a parent and child travelling together. Each trip involves 40-45 members of the Emanuel community, who visit various sites including Darwin, Litchfield National Park, Edith Falls and Mataranka. The Primary School students spend time at the Jilkminggan School, learning together and exploring the local area. Another highlight is the beautiful Shabbat experience spent in the outback.

High School Northern Territory visits

Students departed in July 2023 for five days in the Northern Territory. The program is similar to the Primary School experience, but without parents. Our students were immersed in Indigenous culture and participated in activities with the students at Jilkminggan School. Prior to attending this trip, students took part in a cultural awareness training day.

From the Principal’s Desk (continued)

Growing the next generation of entrepreneurs

Our current strategic plan seeks to unleash the potential of every student, to enable them to make a difference in our world. Our ‘Emanuel Graduate Attributes’ reflect the value we place on encouraging an entrepreneurial and inquiry mindset, on seeking new ways of thinking and doing that will enable them to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced and rapidly changing world. We view entrepreneurship as an important vehicle for change, providing an opportunity for our students to live a life filled with passion and creativity, solving problems and making a positive impact on our society.

To this end, our bespoke Business Creators Course in Years 9 and 10 explores innovative and entrepreneurial practices, providing practical applications across a range of business start-up models. Our students discover that, even with a great idea…. the road to entrepreneurship is often a treacherous one, filled with unexpected detours, roadblocks and dead ends. There are many sleepless nights, plans that do not work out, funding that does not come through and customers that never materialise (Generation Entrepreneur).

Students workshopping business ideas

Our Business Creator classes recently participated in our annual Generation Entrepreneur Competition. This one-day workshop was conducted by Generation Entrepreneur, a Not-For-Profit that aspires to instil an entrepreneurial spirit within the future generation of young Australians. The competition program required students to work in teams, with the aim of building a business. Our students were encouraged to brainstorm, research, design and present their ideas to a panel. This workshop provided a unique opportunity to gain an insight into an entrepreneurial mindset, and to develop and apply creativity, critical thinking, leadership and public speaking skills, within a high-pressure environment.

Some of the business ideas that surfaced include:

• Paper IT: A business that works to reduce office waste by recycling paper into items such as notebooks, grocery bags, toilet paper and tissues.

• Vitality: A company that utilises AI technology to develop personalised fitness, workout and diet plans for unique goals and environments. The winning team, Vitality, will progress to the next stage of the competition, where they will compete with students from all over NSW. Mazal tov to Zachary Sherman, Dean Stein and Liam Danon. Thank you to Max Friend for leading this annual event and to Shane Ryan for his help on the day.

Emanuel School Madrichim 2023-2024

The recent Madrichim election process invited staff and students in Years 7 to 12 to vote for our formal student leadership roles. I am pleased to announce our Madrichim for 2023-2024:

2023-2024 MADRICHIM

Head Madrich Kian Hamburger

Head Madricha Amelie Trope

Madrichim Ruth Durbach

Jack Goldberg

Ethan Hirst

Charlie Kerlander

Oren Levin-Kahn

Romy McCorquodale

Alice Milner

Sienna Poswell

Meir Madrichim Tamarah Aaron

Jesse Barel

Rabin Madrichim Maya Foreman

Rashi Madrichim

Gabriella (Bella) Freed

Willow Gelin

Elise Kitchener

Szenes Madrichim Katia Auerbach

Reece Carr

As the 2022-2023 Madrichim team complete their leadership responsibilities to focus on their HSC studies, we acknowledge their outstanding role in leading and motivating our student body for the past 12 months. Trying to balance their leadership and academic commitments has been challenging, and their dedication has been both admired and appreciated. As highlighted in my Principal’s Address:

“You have encouraged our students to engage strongly in a range of activities – and to be proud to be an Emanuel student. Thank you for reinforcing our culture of care and inclusion. Your efforts to promote our Jewish connections, our commitment to sustainability and our commitment to community service have strengthened our school culture. You have been gracious, kind, and caring leaders…. and perhaps most importantly, you have never lost your sense of perspective or humour.”

With best wishes

Andrew Watt, Principal

Where are some of our alumni now?

Karen Davids (Class of 2017)

After finishing Year 12 in 2017 I took a Gap year in 2018, followed by a Bachelor degree (double degree: Media/Communications & Geography) between 2019-2021. I tutored at the same time (high school and university students across the Social Sciences, all levels of English, and the Environmental Sciences).

Then in 2022 I undertook my Honours Thesis in Circular Economy Infrastructure and Design. I also worked full-time at Canva as an Education Content Analyst with teachers around the world. Through my thesis connections, I was able to land a job as a full-time Environmental consultant, specialising in waste management/the circular economy, at MRA Consulting Group, a leading waste and resource recovery consultancy in Australia. We work with all levels of government, social enterprises, and small to large-scale business to design and implement more sustainable waste practises.

I am pleased to say that I am following my original field of study! My current work very much draws on both my media/communications background and passion/ expertise in environmental science. My main objective is to communicate the “what” and “why” of the circular economy transition in Australia. This involves working with all levels of government to build policy and legislation that address extractive resource practises.

As for overseas travel, I have to say taking a Gap year was the best decision! Six months and around half solo, which I fell in love with. It’s such a great way to meet life-long friends and take a well-deserved break from academia. And this is coming from someone who adores studying/would love to do a PhD at some point. If anything, travelling makes you realise how much you truly love learning because it provides a new lens through which we can gain different types of knowledge (outside of academia)/a deeper cultural awareness).

You ask what are my fondest memories of Emanuel School? I’d have to say Human Geography with Mr Whitecombe for sure! And of course the general camaraderie of Emanuel School students. I am still in touch with my group of friends from school and we all catch up regularly.

My interests and hobbies include research/reading, writing, educating, public speaking, travelling/hiking/swimming, and socialising in any form.

Future plans? I want to continue working as an environmental consultant for a few years and then potentially complete a PhD overseas in this field of research. There is a lot of work to be done in this space! So, I welcome everyone who is keen to join the industry to reach out.

We have many alumni who have followed their passion for music and performance since their school-days. If this is you, we’d love to hear from you for our next newsletter

Where are some of our alumni now? (continued)

Music in Year K and beyond

For some members of our community, it is their school music experience that sends them on a music journey far beyond their school days. Ben Adler is one such musician. Although he did not complete his schooling at Emanuel, it is where, in Year K, he began learning to play the violin. He fondly recalls those days and says it was that experience that started him on his journey to become an accomplished violinist today. Ben left Emanuel School at the end of Year 4 in 2001 for the Year 5/Year 6 OC program at Woollahra Public School before going on to attend High School at Newington College. Ben was a speaker /presenter at LimmudOz in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and if you saw the recent production “Violins of Hope” at the Bondi Pavilion, you may know that Ben was the violinist for these performances. Some of our Year 10 students attended one of the performances and Ben told these students how important Emanuel School was in his formative years, having taken up learning the violin as a five year old. His band Chutney, founded in 2019, featured at The Sound of Terra multicultural music festival recently. As Ben says, What a joy to play Jewish and Israeli music on a glorious day in Liverpool Plaza. He also performs with Monsieur Camembert at Camelot Lounge in Marrickville, and at Emanuel Synagogue.

Before the King

Four garage-rock cultists from the bohemian suburbs of Sydney’s Inner West form Before the King. Three of them are from the Class of 2016 – Dean Smuskowitz (vocals/guitar), Daniel Radomsky (bass) and Gabe Jammy (drums) – having performed together since their school-days. They are now joined by Oscar Dalkin on guitar. You can follow them on Facebook – Known for their electric live shows and ‘good vibes only’ approach to music, says their FB page, Before the King are working hard to make themselves an act that is impossible to ignore. With their infectious ‘can-do’ attitude, the band has packed out venues across Sydney (such as Waywards and The Lansdowne), successfully campaigned to have a burrito named after them by Beach Burrito Co., organised a soldout fundraiser mini-festival for the QLD/NSW floods in just 2 weeks, and raised over $3500 for various charities. Before the King have played alongside acts like The Lazy Eyes, Mel Blue, The Million, The Tinderboxers (Tas) and Salarymen, as well as festivals such as GreenHaus (2020). Across their career, the band has garnered support from pillars of the local scene, such as Triple J Unearthed, MTV, FBi, MusicFeeds and Tone Deaf, just to name a few. With even more ambitious plans in the pipeline, Before the King are showing no signs of slowing down

Whilst I cannot believe Rosh Hashanah is almost upon us, we hope the year has been a good one for you so far.

As we continue to hold Alumni Reunions, we encourage you to attend these events and to come back to visit us from time to time. It was a real The Class of 1990 held their belated 30-year reunion last month, with a fabulous attendance given it was a group of 26 students finishing their schooling with us. Some of them were part of our first intake of students in 1983.

As Chair of the our 2023 Gesher committee, I extend a warm welcome to Margaret Lowe, Deputy School Principal as a

new member and thank Andrew Watt, School Principal for his years on the committee attending all our meetings with the exception of one when he was on Sabbatical. Our other committee members are Michelle Favero, Manager, Marketing and Communications, grandparents Kathy Passman and Tammy Keller, alumna Asha Friedman (Class of 2020), alumnus

Joshua Moses (Class of 2011), Samantha Butt – alumna and current parent, Carli Rothman – current parent, Sonia Newell, Development Officer Alumni & Community Relations. If you would also like to join our committee and/or have some ideas about how best we can connect further with our alumni community, please let Sonia know.

Staying in Touch

We thank you for sharing your news. Mazal tov to these alumni:

Engagements

• Mitchell Weiss (Class of 2007) and Gemma Tesoriero (1)

• Amy Meyer (Class of 2009) and Steve Brown (2)

• Chad Pashut (Class of 2009) and Courtney Colborne (3)

• Ben Wilheim (Class of 2009) and Evelin Smolensky (4)

• Anneliese Apps (Class of 2011) and Max Gencher (5)

• Hayley Chester (Class of 2014) and Robbie Ezekiel (Class of 2013) (6)

Weddings

• Abigail (Abi) Smith (Class of 2009) and Jack Whitten – 17 December 2022 (7)

• Sarah Engel (Class of 2004) and Brittany Lotter – 18 December 2022 at Crooked River Winery, Gerringong (8)

• Heather Abulafia (Class of 2011) and Steve Reiffer – 31 January 2022, at Traquair House in the Scottish Borders. As Heather says, “It was a crisp winter morning but such a beautiful sunny day!” (9)

Staying in Touch continued

Weddings continued

• Nathan Wells (Class of 2011) and Taryn Geller

28 December 2021 (10)

• Ami Mane (Class of 2012) and Liam O’Donnell

4 February 2023 (11)

• Gia Singer (Class of 2011) and Matthew Galyer

26 March 2023 (12)

• Ari Levin (Class of 2014) and Mia Grossman

2 April 2023 (13)

• Madeleine Radnan (Class of 2010) and Cameron Cannings

20 May 2023 (14)

• Hayley Chester (Class of 2014) and Robbie Ezekiel (Class of 2013) – planned engagement party turned into a surprise wedding! – 28 May 2023 (15)

Births

• Elisa Guth (Class of 2002) and Raph Freedman

Navy, born 8 December 2022, brother to Ziggy (16)

• Bianca Dubb (Class of 1999) and Marcus Lasarow

Skye Eden Dubb-Lasarow, born 24 January 2023.

Sister to Saige (17)

• Bella and Adam Harpaz (Class of 2013)

Nelson Bjorn Isakson Harpaz, born 12 April 2023 (18)

• Dan Samowitz (Class of 2004) and Alana Ramler

Ezekiel (Zeke) Dor Ramler, born 11 May 2023 (19)

• Amy Meyer (Class of 2009) and Steve Brown

Callie Kate Brown, born 26 June 2023, in Adelaide. Sister to Chelsie and Ellie (20)

Alumni Reunions

Class of 2010

Reunions have resumed including some that were delayed two or three years because of the pandemic. Everyone will agree that “better late than never” has never been more true! The Class of 2010 reunion was organised by Eliza Levy and finally held on 2 June at The Golden Sheaf, Double Bay. She says “It was so nice to catch up with old friends, some who still see each other on a weekly basis and some who haven’t seen each other for 13 years! We had around 25 come along including Jordan Kahn and Tom Rabin who flew up from Melbourne, and Jess Black who came from Adelaide. Madeleine Radnan commented the reunion was great. Surprised me how special it was to see everyone (well, nearly everyone) again”

Class of 2001

The Class of 2001 20 plus reunion originally planned for the afternoon of 13 August at the Rugby Club in Rose Bay will be rescheduled due to City2Surf – If you are from this Year Group, please let me know if you do not receive updated details – date and venue are still to be confirmed. For anyone wanting to help organise a reunion but don’t know of a suitable venue, you might like to consider one of the “new” venues we used last year – The Phoenix, Woollahra, Charing Cross Hotel, The Corner Shop Bondi and The Duke of Gloucester (The DOG), Randwick. We would love your feedback about these venues if you were there, and also any other venues you think might be suitable too, as we plan reunions for the remainder of 2023. Please also let me know if you would prefer to have your reunion at School.

Social Media @ Emanuel INSTAGRAM

Check out our Instagram page – watt.s_up_at_ emanuel, where the latest news around our campus is posted to members of the Emanuel School Community. It provides an opportunity for special moments in the life of Emanuel School, big or small, to be shared on a regular basis. Please join for access to regular highlights of life at Emanuel School. We request that for privacy reasons, please ensure that your Instagram page is ‘private’.

LINKEDIN

We’d love to connect with you in future via LinkedIn, so remember to include Emanuel School in your profile.

FACEBOOK

Alumni Facebook Page: This page was created to foster a sense of community among our former students and to keep the spirit of the School alive, long after your days at school have passed. We now have nearly 1000 members. Please join and stay in touch. Feel free to post on this page if you want to connect with other alumni and/or just let us know what you are up to.

Community page If you are not already a member, please join us to know what’s happening around the School. Click here to join.

2023 Reunions

If your Year Group was scheduled to have a reunion anytime in the past three years but you did not do so, it is not too late to organise one this year. I can help advise on venues if needed, and will also help you get in touch with past teachers and your peers if you do not have current contact details for them.

Going back to our regular schedule of five yearly reunions, we hope these year groups will have a reunion sometime during the year:

We would love to see reunions celebrated every five years but we know this is not always possible. Whatever the cycle is, I am here to help you get your reunion organised: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

We hope you enjoyed reading this newsletter and we look forward to your contributions in the future. To join our mailing list, please email your contact details to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

Thank you to our staff and other members of our Emanuel School community for your invaluable contributions to this newsletter.

We believe the information included is correct at the time of printing. Any errors are regretted.

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO STAY INVOLVED WITH EMANUEL SCHOOL

• Send your news and photos for publication

• Help to organise and/or attend your reunion

• Speak at a school event

• Contribute to our School Archives

www.emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au