Grandparents & Friends News - August 2023

From the Development Office

Welcome to our latest Grandparents and Friends newsletter. We hope you and your family are all well. We are all part of a truly amazing community with so much knowledge, wonderful skills and many stories to share. I hope you enjoy reading this latest edition of YOUR newsletter where some of you will recognise names and photos of your grandchildren and/or those of friends, along with information about some of the achievements of our wonderful students, and maybe even a photo of you.

Happy Anniversary to us – celebrating a milestone in the Emanuel journey

The first of our events to celebrate Emanuel School’s 40th Anniversary took place on Tuesday, 3 February 2023 at our Years 3-12 Celebration Assembly. Rabbi Kamins delivered a special D’var Torah, in which he drew parallels with the 40 years in the wilderness experienced by the Jewish people, poised to begin a new phase, with greater wisdom and understanding. We were encouraged to stay true to the values of our School founders, to remain a warm, inclusive and egalitarian community. Our Head of Jewish Life, Adina Roth, gave a blessing to the School, under a tallit, followed by a special cake cutting ceremony.

Our staff and students learned about our School’s journey, which began in February 1983 with 53 students in Years K-6, housed at its temporary home of Temple Emanuel Woollahra. We did not move into our campus until 1985. The School had already grown, with almost 230 students from Years K-8. The grounds, which had been owned by The Little Sisters of the Poor, needed quite some work to transform the landscape into a suitable place to learn and play. Today, almost 920 students walk through the Waxman Gates every day!

If the Founders and visionaries of Emanuel School could take a tour of our School today, and look into our classrooms, halls, theatres and playgrounds, they would be very proud. Their vision of a warm and inclusive community of learners, strongly connected to both its Judaism and to Israel has come to life. Ted Waxman OAM, the first President of our School Board and one of our dedicated Founders, wrote the following at the opening of the Lehrer Family Building (MPH) in 1996: “What we have accomplished will be appreciated by each and every student for years to come. It will make a tremendous contribution to their happiness, their future academic and physical development, to the enhancement of their love and practice of Judaism, as well as their desire to be good citizens of Australia and our community”.

If only Mr Waxman knew that, almost 30 years later, we would be sitting in that very building and that his words would ring so true. Our students were encouraged to imagine, in 10, 20 or 30 years’ time, the then Board President saying very similar words about our new B’Yachad Building that we will open this year.

We have much to be thankful for – and our Anniversary Assembly was all about looking back to our humble beginnings with gratitude and looking forward to our bright future in anticipation of great times ahead!

We are very thankful for the generosity of our donors, at each stage of our Emanuel School journey. Through their support, we now enjoy a beautiful campus, with purpose-built learning and play spaces. Perhaps most importantly, we have a wonderful team of professional, diligent and caring staff.

One of the teachers in the first official School photograph, taken towards the end of 1983, Linda Zurnamer, is now one of our grandparents at the School, and many of you reading this newsletter now, had children as students in this cohort and you too are now back here as grandparents.

An international artist in our midst

We were all very excited to learn that Kornmehl Pre-schooler, Lexi Kalinko, placed 1st in the Art school/child care/school, Australia division, 4-5 years category of the Happy HabitART Competition for Be the Future.

Children in 14 countries around the world were asked to create a drawing of the coral reef of their dreams. Their works were judged according to the artwork’s creativity, how the artist used shape, colour and together as well as the biodiversity of the corals, plants and animals that were included.

Lexi told us about her artwork: “I thought about what to draw and I drew lots of fish, a turtle, sea grass and a kind of clown fish and seaweed. The clown fish is hiding away because a shark is about to come and he is scared so he has to hide. The turtle is swimming in the coral reef. People need to swim and keep their legs up and not on the coral because otherwise your feet can get sore and break the coral. The coral is real and we need to look after it. The person is checking if the coral is healthy. I am feeling happy to win.” Lexi‘s artwork will be featured in Kids Eco News & Green + Simple! and she has won an Arts and Crafts classroom pack and Eco School Box for the Pre-school. We are so proud of Lexi and thank the Kornmehl educators for encouraging her creativity and selfexpression.

We look forward to welcoming grandparents of our Years K-6 students to School on Friday 8 September 2023 for Primary Grandparents & Friends Day. See page 3 for details.

Our Grandparents and Friends newsletter is published twice a year whilst the School newsletter Ma Nishma comes out every Friday during School term. If you do not receive Ma Nishma but would like to, please let me know and we will add you to the mailing list. If you have news to share and/or if you have moved and/or changed your email please get in touch by clicking here

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

Past CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, current Director on the SBS Board and proud Emanuel Grandparent, Vic Alhadeff recently 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

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.

Our HSC Trial examinations finished this week. 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.

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.

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 the near future. In the meantime.

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

Szenes Madrichim

Gabriella (Bella) Freed

Willow Gelin

Elise Kitchener

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

Dear Grandparents and Friends of Emanuel School

I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing as the President of the Emanuel School Foundation to provide you with an update about our Emanuel School and the activities of the Foundation. The Emanuel School is a centre of excellence that continues to nurture our children, imbuing them with a strong sense of Jewish identity, academic rigour, and tikkun olam.

In 2021, the Emanuel School Foundation launched a successful Capital Appeal campaign with an ambitious goal: to create an environment that would further facilitate the holistic development of our students. The B’Yachad Building, which is nearing completion, has been designed as a multi-purpose space that will support diverse educational activities, fostering creativity, collaboration, and social interaction among our students. We are eagerly anticipating its opening in the coming months.

SAVE THE DATE

I want to convey our sincerest gratitude to all those who have supported us during the Capital Appeal. Your generous contributions and unwavering faith in our mission have been the driving force behind our success.

As we celebrate these achievements, we also look to the future with optimism and excitement. Our School is entering a pivotal stage of growth and we need more hands-on-deck to guide us through this period. We’re currently seeking enthusiastic, dedicated, and visionary individuals to join our Foundation Board. We believe in the strength of our community and know that many of you have valuable experiences and perspectives that can help shape the future of Emanuel School. Please express your interest by emailing us at foundation@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au

Your enduring commitment and support of Emanuel School make our mission possible. Together, we are not only creating an exceptional learning environment for our children, but also strengthening the future of our Jewish community.

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

Warm regards

SEPT

8 FRIDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2023

PRIMARY GRANDPARENTS AND FRIENDS DAY

See details on page 3.

Dear Grandparents and Friends

Whilst I cannot believe we are more than half way through 2023, we hope the year has been a good one for you so far. Having entered my third year as Chair of the our 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. 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 and 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 more with our grandparents and friends community, please let Sonia know. We look forward to seeing you at our Primary Grandparents and Friends Day and Rosh Hashanah event on Friday 8 September 2023.

From Kornmehl Centre Emanuel Pre-school

Relationships and families are at the core of our philosophy and values. We recognise how important it is to be able to connect daily with family members and to be able to share information face to face about their child’s day. This also means that we get to see and engage with many different grandparents. We can see how connected the children are to their grandparents and the vital role that grandparents play in their grandchildren’s lives. We see grandparents dropping off in the morning, picking up in the afternoon, joining us for celebrations such as birthdays, Chagim and family days, accompanying us to Bush School and helping out with cooking and baking for various events.

This year, we have a formed a special relationship with a member of our community, Kay Kotzin. Her granddaughter, Megan Finn, started her school journey at Kornmehland went all the way through to Year 12 Emanuel School. Kay comes to visit us every Tuesday morning and spends time in the Starfish group. This is a win-win for us all. Kay has formed lovely relationships with the children, and they look forward to her visits each week. Kay has so much wisdom to share with the children, but most of all she loves reading stories, chatting to our little people, and being involved in creative art projects.

Kay shared: “I love my Tuesday mornings at the Pre-school. The staff are so lovely and they provides such a stimulating experience for the children. The children are delightful, warm, and loving. They ask me lots of questions, engage with me in activities and play. Being at Kornmehl makes my day and gives me something wonderful to do!”

From Kornmehl Centre Emanuel Pre-school (continued)

We have deepened our connection this year with the Burger Centre too. In the past we used to do one visit a year. It’s clear that everyone is craving deeper connections, so now we are visiting twice a term – one for the Starfish group and one for the Dolphin group. Part of the highlight of these visits is the walk in our local community to the Burger Centre on King Street in Randwick. Once there, we are warmly welcomed, and we sing some of our favourite songs, share some dances, chat to the visitors, and enjoy morning tea together.

We also had residents from the Montefiore Home visit us for Shabbat this term. We baked challot together and they participated in our weekly Shabbat celebration.

Connecting our young children with older members of our community is vitally important and has mutual benefits for both young and old. We look forward to deepening our connections with the elderly members of our community as the year progresses. This is a privilege not to be taken for granted and one that has very clear benefits for both young and old.

Jewish Studies and Jewish Life at Emanuel

Primary School

Our Year K students celebrated their start of ‘big school’ with our Year K Pathways ceremony. The students shared what they had learned since starting Year K and their favourite moments at school. The focus of the ceremony was the importance and power of each of the students’ names. Students danced and sung for their families and the highlight of the ceremony was with parents reciting the ‘Birkat Banim’ –Blessing of the Children – before presenting their child with a decorated and inscribed framed hamsa, celebrating the meaning and symbolism of their child’s names.

We welcomed parents and grandparents to enjoy our Primary Family Pesach celebration and a range of Pesach themed experiences. Years 1 and 2 students held a demonstration seder for their families, filled with traditional and modern Pesach songs, dancing and blessings. Workshops for students in Years 3 and 4 provided opportunities for creativity and learning between the generations. In the Year 3 classrooms, students and their accompanying adult shaped and decorated clay cups for their next Pesach seder. These cups were created in honour of the prophet Miriam (the sister of Moshe) and families left with a resource pack explaining Miriam’s important role in the Pesach story and ideas of how to include the ritual of ‘Kos Miriam’ – Miriam’s Cup – into the Pesach Seder.

Year 4 students shared their learning on the meaning and symbolism of the number four in the Seder – the four names for the festival, the four questions, four children and four cups. Following these presentations, students and their accompanying adult/s designed and decorated their own afikoman bag for Seder.

By the time we concluded our daily counting of the Omer, learning and preparing for Shavuot celebrations were ready. In anticipation of our whole school ceremony, each student decorated a letter of the Aleph Bet to be combined on a scroll, representing the idea that each person in every generation was present at Mount Sinai.

Our Primary students learnt songs connected to the Torah service and the giving of the Torah for the ceremony – Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe, VZot HaTorah, Al Shlosha Devarim and Etz Chayim Hi

All students from Years K-6 participated in activities focusing on a different element or theme of Shavout, including:

• Decorating bikkurim baskets, glida (ice-cream) cones and fields of flowers to represent the midrash that Mount Sinai blossomed with flowers whilst the Torah was being given.

• Creating mosaic paper collages, with the two tablets and the Ten Commandments, translating the Hebrew text into English.

• Learning about the Book of Ruth through video and text, then creating a comic strip of the story.

• Identifying, ordering and reflecting on the Aseret HaDibrot (The Ten Statements/ Commandments).

• Paper crafting Mount Sinai and bikkurim baskets.

• Creating a visual, paper midrash based on the Torah’s account of Israelites experience at Mount Sinai.

We cannot wait to have grandparents and friends join us on campus for our annual Primary Grandparents and Friends Day on Friday 8 September 2023.

From the Jewish Studies Department (continued)

High School Informal Jewish Life

The start of the year for the informal Jewish Life team was both very busy and equally amazing. We welcomed two new members of staff who both graduated from the School in 2021, and the Jewish calendar in Term 1 didn’t slow down for anyone.

We had amazing celebrations for Purim, Pesach and Shavuot! For Purim, all of whole High School dressed up in their craziest costumes and learned about the story of Esther and the courage of the Jews to stand up to Haman.

For Pesach, all Year Groups in the High School participated in a small seder of their own with some of them even having the seder made entirely from chocolate.

Shavuot was a highlight – as is the tradition for Shavuot we had a Tikkun Leil (Night of Learning) for the Year 11 students. We had three rounds of speakers on all things Judaism from Israel to Lilith and Kaballah to Peace. The Year 11 students were engaged by this wide range of Jewish learning and took it all in with snacks and intense conversations between each session. Once the sessions had concluded and the formal learning was done, the students then all gathered around a (cardboard cut-out) campfire to sing songs together and bond over their shared learning and their Year Group connections. Overall, the night was a huge success and it was certainly a highlight of the Jewish Life of the School in the first semester. We look forward to the remainder of 2023 and reporting back to you for the end-of-year newsletter.

Adina Roth – educator, leader, psychologist and deep thinker

Emanuel School’s extensive and lengthy search for a new Head of Jewish Life commenced in April 2021. We were looking for an engaging and driven leader who shares in the values of our School – an excellent communicator who can represent Emanuel School within the community and create engaging, meaningful programs for our students to build a sense of pride in their Jewish identity and heritage. They needed to possess a deep expertise in Jewish Studies, and a passion to develop and extend the learning and depth of Jewish knowledge of both our staff and students. The School’s campaign extended to networks, synagogues and schools across Israel, USA, Canada and South Africa. Despite an extensive search, a series of interviews and fresh advertisements across the following year, we could not locate the ideal candidate. It was not until September 2021 that we interviewed Adina Roth, and we struck gold! Adina started full time in October 2022. Andrew Watt, our Principal shared: “We are lucky to have finally found Adina. She has seamlessly integrated into our staff and has already made her mark as an engaging, intuitive and impactful leader. Her significant experience in so many areas of Jewish thought, discovery and education as well as psychology, has added a level of excellence that we have been searching for, for so long. We are excited to see where Adina will take our School, knowing that she has the support of the school’s leadership, staff and students.

We asked Morah Adina a few questions about herself. How lucky are we to have such a wonderful educator and leader in our midst. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My parents were vegetarian and spiritual and, when deciding on where to send me and my sister for our early education, instead of sending us to the mainstream Zionist community school of Johannesburg, King David, they decided to send us to a school where we would learn Jewish mysticism, the Chabad School in Johannesburg – Torah Academy. Even though my parents were not strictly observant and quite alternative in some ways, Torah Academy gave me an amazing grounding in Jewish texts and a love and respect for Jewish learning. I also come from a family of Jewish educators, my late grandfather, Mike Rubinowitz, was the principal of King David Linksfield and Herzlia (both Jewish Modern Orthodox Schools in Johannesburg).

In my early adult years, South Africa was becoming a democracy and it was an incredible time to study at Wits University where I majored in literature and psychology. But I was always drawn back to Jewish learning and eventually did my Masters on the story of creation comparing a Hasidic and post-modern reading of the story.

I spent a year in Israel, including a semester at Pardes. I also worked for the World Union of Jewish students on a women’s leadership training program called Kol Isha, the Voice of Women. This program was life changing. I had come from a South African, traditional background and had never really considered my role as a woman in Jewish life and community, but Kol Isha raised my awareness and led to a life-long calling to create more spaces for Jewish women to find spirituality. I was privileged to be part of

the pioneers in South Africa creating women’s megillah and torah readings, Rosh Chodesh groups and more.

I went to study Bible as Literature at New York University and wrote my Masters there on the story of Exodus, comparing a psychoanalytic and postcolonial reading of the story. I then spent a year studying Talmud at the Drisha Institute in New York. On returning to South Africa, I married my husband Farryl and created an independent Jewish program called B’tocham Education. My focus was on the journey of Bar and Batmitzvah. I worked with very special families in South Africa over a period of 17 years to create rites of passage that included Torah learning and reading, trips to mountains, African and Jewish dancing, Havdalah ceremonies, parent-children lessons and trips to refugee shelters to learn about tzedakah.

At first, my aim was to create halachic spaces were girls could learn for their Batmitzvah from the Torah. As I worked, I realised that girls and boys needed meaningful spaces for learning, experiencing, playing and thriving to mark this very special time in their lives. I eventually also began classes for younger kids and I taught many courses for adults in Tanach, using literature and psychology and ancient Midrash to create meaning from Jewish texts.

I ran a private practice as a clinical psychologist for many years, while teaching Jewish Studies in the B’tocham programs. For me, it was a wonderful balance.

During that time, I was involved in building Limmud South Africa. It was incredibly rewarding to work with people from across the Jewish community and create a diverse space of Jewish learning. Limmud is a festival of Jewish life which celebrates everything Jewish and I learned from volunteering in that space that when people of all ages and from across the denominational and political spectrums can work together with a common vision, the most incredible magic and transformation can happen.

Through Limmud, I met many families who were looking for an alternative space to daven and find community. Together we formed the Jozi Partnership Minyan, which was modelled on the Shirah Chadasha community of Jerusalem. As a grassroots community, we met once a month and on all the Jewish holidays. Our community was a warm and welcoming space for people from orthodox and observant to reform and also for those who were unaffiliated. A few years ago, I started to study towards my rabbinical studies through the modern orthodox Yeshjvat Maharat in New York City. I am studying online and I am currently in the third year of the four year program.

Adina Roth (continued)

What have you enjoyed working at Emanuel thus far?

As I get to know the people more at the School, I realise that there is a very high calibre of person at the school, both professionally and in terms of character and integrity – I feel that this is a place where I can really grow and be stretched. The scope of the job description feels incredibly challenging, exciting, humbling and hopeful. I am familiar with pluralistic community because of my work at Limmud. I feel this is an exciting place to build Jewish education and community.

There is also an openness to innovation in curriculum and to new ideas. I believe deeply that a pluralistic school can have a strong and positive influence on the wider Jewish community, creating both tolerance and openness, while driving passion and enthusiasm.

What is your teaching philosophy / something you’d like to impart to your students?

I am passionate about Jewish texts and text-based learning. I guess I have confidence in my product which at the end of the day, is Torah in all its richness, subtlety, nuance, depth and humour. As the Rabbis tell us, you can turn it ‘over and over’ and it still continues to offer up insight and meaning. I believe the stories of the Torah speak to the human condition. We can find stories of rage, jealousy, loneliness, lust and pain. We can find social injustice and social activism, we can find cruelty and kindness. The challenge is to bring these stories to our students in ways that speak to them.

Younger children still have a sense of wonder and can ‘play’ with the idea of a talking snake or the sea that split. But it’s important to

start to teach them, at that age, that these stories are not simply literal. They have symbolic meaning and even younger kids need to be challenged to relate to these stories metaphorically. This capacity for symbolic thinking will give them the tools as they become older teens, to know that the Torah contains wisdom, even as they become more cynical.

I also like to incorporate creativity into every single lesson I teach, whether it is with younger kids or teenagers. We first do basic textual learning, we engage in commentary and the students share their opinions. We may look at a modern analogue, a movie or a poem. And then we move to acting, art, song, creative writing. The students need to own the text and have fun with it. If it’s alive, you can feel it in the room and if it’s not…you can feel that too.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

It isn’t easy emigrating after spending a lifetime immersed in the South African Jewish community. I do feel that coming to Emanuel School has made it a softer landing. I am grateful for the warmth of the school community and the staff who have been incredibly welcoming, kind and patient. Some of them have taught me technology, some have handed me tissues when I missed my family, some of them have pushed me to stretch myself – they have all shown me kindness.

I am also grateful to the warmth of the wider community. It has been heartwarming to find South African products and delis. I can see that Sydney’s Jewish community is in part, a continuation of the South African Jewish story and it is also a community with its own unique stories of immigration, history and survival. I feel grateful and humbled to have joined this community and to begin a journey here with my husband and two children.

Mazal tov to Emanuel Grandparent Lesley Gild OAM

Lesley, who has three grandchildren at Emanuel School – Claudia Hochroth, in Year 6 and her brothers Liam, Year 2 and Zachary at Kornmehl, received an OAM in the recent King’s Birthday awards for service to the community:

• Member, Social Justice Committee, New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, 2004-2019.

• Chair, Family and Community Services Advisory Committee, JewishCare, 1998-2004.

• Advisor, National Disability Long-term Care and Support Scheme, Productivity Commission, current.

• Advisor, Inclusion Action Plan, NSW Transport, current.

• President, Access Ezer, 2004-2019.

• Co-Chair, EnableNSW Advisory Committee, 2009-2013.

• Founding Board Member, OzHarvest, 2004-2008.

“It is lovely that the Australian community has acknowledged my contribution and the work I have done in a variety of areas in such as social justice, food rescue and human services.

“You just do the work because it takes you into an environment where you can see things that need doing,” Lesley Gild told J-Wire. Her input as a member of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies’ Social Justice Committee and working as Co-Chair on the EnableNSW Advisory Committee were activities that resonated with her. “Making a contribution while representing NSW consumers has been very satisfying,” she said. Lesley is pictured here with her grandson Liam Hochroth.

Parent Security Group (PSG)

Everyone is busy and many of our grandparents still work, but if you have a few hours to spare you might like to be part of this amazing and vital group of volunteers.

Although words are never enough, we say a huge “thank you” to Emanuel parent, Elan Miller, Head of PSG, and to the parents and the many grandparents who already volunteer as members of our PSG. We really appreciate the time you give to help make us safe, and we encourage more of our able-bodied grandparents and friends to join up too.

These volunteers are our eyes and ears each morning and afternoon during school term, as they quietly and carefully walk around the perimeter of the school grounds to help ensure the safety of our students and staff.

Please email Kirsti at: psg@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au for more information on what is involved and how to become part of this very important team that helps keep our campus and students safe.

To share their experience, we introduce two of our amazing grandparent PSG volunteers, Wendy and Peter.

Peter Nothman

Peter’s passion for PSG is evident – his initial email to me had the following heading in the subject line – The proudest PSG volunteer

Peter saiad: “My connection with Emanuel School started many years ago as a parent and now I’m here as a grandparent. My daughter, Daniella Israel, is an alumna (Class of 1990) and her children, my granddaughters, are Lani in Year 11 and her sister, Tara, who finished Year 12 in 2021 and is now studying at Sydney University. My younger daughter Leah Balkin was also a student here up until Year 6 when she left to go to Sydney Girls High School. Her daughter, Maya, came to Emanuel School this year for Year 7. Her brother, Kobi, my only grandson, will hopefully start Year 7 here next year, so I hope to be at call and rostered for PSG for many years to come.

I am 76+ years old. I have two eyes that work to do two one-hour PSG shifts a term. So, what do I get out of doing PSG? I get two hugs and kisses when my granddaughters see me on my shift after school. No matter how cold or hot the weather is, it fills me with joy to know I am doing just a small bit to keep them safe. The girls laugh at me and say ‘How come you can use a walky talky but cannot understand computer games?’

“We don’t hide, we wear a bright fluoro vest (provided by School), so we are highly visible! We have our designated areas around the perimeter of the School every morning and afternoon during school term and we can instantly raise the alarm if needed. This has worked for us to keep our kids, grandkids, staff and property safe.

Wendy Strehlow

“I first heard about PSG through the Grandparents and Friends newsletter and also from reading Ma Nishma, and I wanted to give back in some way. My grandson, Dylan, is at Kornmehl and loves it. I try to do a PSG shift once or twice a month as I work full time. It keeps my steps up!

“The PSG community has been very welcoming and it’s a great way of getting to know people. When I’m not volunteering I am a working actor. I graduated from NIDA in 1980 and have had the great good fortune to work constantly as an actor. I am very proud of my years with A Country Practice. It was my first job out of NIDA and I was very lucky to work with a fantastic group of people, cast and crew who created television history.

“I have managed to work across Film, Television and Theatre and most recently spent six months with Sport for Jove Theatre Company doing A Midsummer Nights Dream, Richard the Third and Henry the Fourth Part One. It was exhausting but such an amazing challenge to work with a remarkable team.”

Note from editor: Some of you may know Wendy as the much loved nurse, Sister Judy Loveday, in the television series A Country Practice from 1981 to 1986 (217 episodes), for which she won a Logie Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1985.

“I urge you to join us as part of this vital PSG team. Do good for your grandchildren’s safety. Enjoy seeing little happy faces arriving for school, big new generations of young men and women leaving at the end of the day in groups of friends, carrying their bags, some with musical instruments, without fear that something bad might happen.

“If we don’t look after ourselves, then who will? I hope to see more ‘alte kakes’ in fluoro vests in the future. AM ISRAEL CHAI! And the bonus is that Lani and Maya always thank their Saba for looking after their safety”.

15 years

This year, we celebrated Tom, our wonderful security guard, who has been working at Emanuel School for 15 years! He knows every parent, student and staff member, as well as most grandparents who walk through our gates, and I am sure every member of our School community will join me in saying Tom, we celebrate you and your service to our school and community. Tom, together with Max and our other security guards, as well as everyone here at School, appreciate all the help and support of our amazing PSG volunteers.

Parents & Friends Association

It is wonderful to be celebrating the milestone of Emanuel’s 40th year and to be a part of this warm and vibrant community. Our year started off with a beautiful Purim celebration, where parents joined in the costume parade and put their acting skills on display as they helped Morah Bar-On retell the story of Esther. We also supported Pesach seders by preparing the tables and seder plates for K-2 celebrations.

Once again, our camping weekend in March provided families with the opportunity to build deeper connections. At the welcome Shabbat, each family was given the card with the name of another family to meet. This set the tone for much sharing (offers of free chai, free coffee, free shakshuka) and lots communal activities including river play, footy games and pita making with the Israeli sofim (scouts). There was an incredible sense of community, openness and fun. We kicked off Term 2 with our annual Mother’s Day morning and stall. The theme this year was Fiesta De Mama and had a record attendance with over 380 mums, grand-mums and kids fressing and dancing to our Zumba class held on Waxman Drive.

Perhaps the biggest milestone of the year has been in the more practical of initiatives. After a number of years in hiatus, we have re-started a Second Hand Uniform sale. Our first sale in May raised over $10,000 for the P&F. The sale has enabled our families to benefit from bargain, quality pre-loved uniforms while supporting our ethos to reduce and reuse. So many of our families were willing to donate uniforms and so many volunteers helped to collect, sort and sell. While it’s the least ‘glamourous’ of our initiatives, it generated a wonderful feeling of goodwill and reminded me of the power we have working together as a community.

Last term, a group of parents met in the Food Lab on campus, to dice, slice and mix many kilograms of fresh ingredients for our Mitzvah Meals program. The cook up of delicious home-made veggie soup, tuna lasagne and chocolate brownies will stock our school freezer, to be distributed to Emanuel families who experience serious illness or personal hardships over the year. Thank you to all those parent volunteers who help ensure that we are able to send a practical and welcome meal, showing our support for our community when life throws a curveball their way.

High School production of The Addams Family

The Addams Family is perhaps best known from the 1960’s TV show and the two movies from the 90’s, but it began as a single-panel comic by Charles Addams in the 1938 New Yorker. When selecting the Musical for 2023, Mr Burley and I were both struck by how the characters were so accepting, supportive and loving despite how creepy and kooky they appeared on the outside.

While so much of what they do is strange and out of the ordinary, it all comes from a place of love. In their world up is down, black is white, ‘happy is sad’ but love is love.

These ideas connect us to our own Emanuel School culture of building acceptance and promoting individuality embedded in the motto: ‘mind, sprit, being”.

Working on this production was an extremely rewarding experience. Each week brought on new challenges and, with them, great rewards. Once we finally learned the choreography, sorted out the costumes, set up the chandelier, introduced the orchestra, tried on costumes, wigs and applied make up, it became clear the cast were “being Pulled in a new direction.”

The success of this show was in no small part due to our brilliant cast and talented musicians who worked tirelessly to give our audience something so much more than One Normal Night and make this production the amazing show it was!

Events at Emanuel School

High School Cabaret

The Cabaret event held at Emanuel School was an enchanting evening, showcasing a group of remarkable student performers. Their exceptional talent and dedication to musical theatre captivated the audience in every moment, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

K-12 Anzac Day Commemoration Assembly

Emanuel School held its annual Anzac Day Commemoration Ceremony, paying tribute to the fallen soldiers who played a crucial role in safeguarding the nation. During the event, two Year 10 students discussed the importance of ‘commemoration’ versus ‘celebration’ and addressed the ongoing tension surrounding these perspectives. The ceremony also recognised the significant contribution of 1,000 Indigenous soldiers who fought in World War I. Rabbi Kaiserblueth delivered a personal address, sharing his experiences as a Chaplain in the Royal Navy.

Head Madrichim, Coby New and Ruby Brody, represented the school at the NSW Association of Jewish Service & Ex-Service Men & Women Ceremony, where they paid their respects to fallen Australian soldiers and acknowledged the contributions of Jewish Australians by reciting the Ode.

Years 1-2 Swimming Carnival

The much anticipated annual Carnival saw Years 1 and 2 students having a wonderful morning. Highlights included duck diving, 25m events, kickboard races, dog paddle, and tennis ball scramble. Parents also joined the fun, taking part in the parent and child piggyback race and the highly competitive parent relay.

Kol Ha’kavod to the Year 6 House Captains, who skilfully marshalled the students, started events, made announcements and provided assistance in the pool.

Photos: Ofer Levy

Events at Emanuel School (continued)

High School Athletics Carnival

Our students had a fantastic day of friendly competition among the different Houses at the Athletics Carnival. Combined with some sensational performances, the exuberant House spirit and comeraderie set the scene for another wonderful and memorable day.

Photos: Ofer Levy

Kornmehl Centre Emanuel Pre-school Family Day

The Pre-schoolers celebrated Family Day with a delicious breakfast with their families. The children enjoyed various activities with their loved ones, including orange squeezing, mint tea parties, crafts, self-portraits, dancing, and even massages. What a morning of connection and community!

K-2 Athletics Day

It was a sunny and active morning for our Year K – 2 students late last term when they benthusiastically participated in their Athletics Carnival, captured in action by photographer and Emanuel parent Ofer Levy. The morning was a great success and lots of fun was had by all.

Photos: Ofer Levy

Events at Emanuel School (continued)

Shavuot

For Shavuot this year, the Primary and High School created a giant Emanuel artwork Torah scroll. Every single student coloured in a calligraphy-style Hebrew letter, which we assembled into a parchment scroll. The idea behind this is that every letter in the Torah represents a person and that as we learn and interpret the Torah we become a part of it. At the Shavuot ceremony, the students were asked: “What really happened on Mount Sinai?”. They watched a student-made movie on the topic, performed plays about it, sang songs and watched a dramatic reveal of the Emanuel students’ handmade Torah scroll alongside an actual Torah.

The High School turned the Lehrer Family Building (MPH) into a giant ‘house of study’ and learned texts in partnership, called Chevruta, in loud, animated voices. On completing the learning, they received a clue which became their password to a scoop of delicious gelato at recess to honour the tradition of eating dairy on Shavuot.

Pop-Up Community Choir

To celebrate the School’s 40th anniversary, the Music Department invited parents, grandparents, alumni and staff formed Emanuel School’s first Pop-Up Community Choir. Like most ‘Pop-Ups’ this is a short-term project, culminating in a Community Choir performance at The Night of Song, on 28 August 2023. We look forward to sharing photos of their performance with you.

Social Media @ Emanuel

INSTAGRAM

Check out Mr Watt’s Instagram page – watt.s_up_at_emanuel, where he posts the latest news around our campus, through his eyes. We request that for privacy reasons, please ensure that your Instagram page is ‘private’. Click here to join

FACEBOOK

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

Emanuel Shuk This is the place to swap, sell, buy and advertise pre-loved and new items, holiday homes and cars… in fact anything that is of value (actual or perceived) can be advertised here. If you have a business, you are welcome to tell us what you do, but please make it interesting and a special offer for the Emanuel community is always a bonus! Click here to join.

Thank you to everyone for their contributions to this newsletter, and I look forward to sharing more news in our weekly Ma Nishma and the end-of-year newsletter.

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

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Please send an email to Sonia Newell at snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au Stronger