Moriah College
At Moriah, our creative energy is infectious. Our Leadership programs,
Co-curricular opportunities and Jewish ethos permeate every second of life at this wonderful College. As one of our students said, “The opportunities are endless. You just have to reach out and grab them!” I hope you will enjoy browsing through our website and will be inspired by the depth and breadth of the Moriah experience. Please arrange to visit us in person if you wish. We would love to show you around.
MORIAH NEWS
The Sydney Jewish community will honor the memory of one of its best known teachers…Aliza Siderowitz.
Aliza Siderowitz
Siderowitz taught Yiddish and Hebrew at Sydney’s Moriah College for over 20 years, making a lasting impression on almost every pupil who shared a classroom with her.
The Holocaust survivor who passed away in also conducted a Shabbat segment on an ethnic radio station.
Fay Sussman, a member of the steering committee for the B’nai B’rith “Day of Jewish Culture” on October 25, told J-Wire: “I accepted the position on the committee on the condition that the fabulous contribution Aliza Siderowitz made to the Sydney community would be officially recognised.”
Naomi Jones is compiling a series of anecdotes and memories of the fabled teacher who shared with her pupils her passionate love of both Yiddish and Hebrew literature and poetry. The contributions will take shape as “Devarim LeZichra Shel Aliza” – a series of stories and memories from students and staff whose lives were touched by Siderowitz. The presentation will be produced by Yiddish singing star Fay Sussman and will feature Donna Jacobs Sife, Dahlia Dior, Len Mahemoff, Shirley Politzer, Carla Sperling, Nogah STrum and Bettina Bock.
The Moriah College Primary School Prize for Jewish Continuity will be launched in honour of Aliza Siderowitz.
Aliza Siderowitz passed away in Sydney a year ago.
Contributions can be sent to tribute.to.aliza@gmail.com
Sydney’s Moriah College students met acclaimed Aboriginal artist Barbara Weir who was Artist in Residence at the school last week prior to their drive to assist needy Aboriginal children living in remote areas.
Barbara Weir shows Moriah students the finer points of Aboriginal art
The artist shared her life story with the school’s 1500 pupils ranging from preschool to Year 12. She took them on “a journey” to her birthplace Utopia, 240 kms north-east of Alice Springs. Yeundemu …a community enriched with artistic talent north west of the Alice was another stop on this magical journey.
A spokesperson for the school said that the children will gain an understanding of the challenges faced by Aboriginal children.
This week Moriah students are participating in a collection drive aimed at teaching them how to give to others in need. Through their families, the children will donate clothing, swimming aides and educational items to help Aboriginal children in need.
Curator of the Shalom College Gamarada Aboriginal art exhibition Jenny Hillman lectured the Moriah students on the subject of Aboriginal art. She told J-Wire: “Heidi Melamed and I created the Kesher Shalom Gamarada initiative to link Jewish schools with the indigenous community through art. The children got involved practically…painting and decorating T-shirts. We hope to make this an annual event involving Jewish schools in all States.”
Yiddish theatres from around the globe have held an international festival in Canada…Australia was represented by Melbourne’s Alex Dafner.
Held in Montreal, the eight day event featured troupes from Austria, Canada, France, Israel, Poland Romania, the United States…and Australia. It ends today.
Alex Dafner, a Melbourne teacher and broadcaster, attended the festival which honored the 50th anniversary of the Dora Wassserman Yiddish Theatre.
The Festival had a special meaning for Dafner as he renewed his acquaintance with Golda Tencer who runs the Yiddish Theatre in Warsaw…it was only the second time they had met since their Lodz schooldays.
Shmuel Atzmon-Wincer, artistic director of Tel Aviv’s Yiddishpiel Theatre told media that as long as the Yiddish culture lives “the Holocaust will be remembered”.
A Year 12 Moriah student will fly to Bulgaria in August…part of a four man team contesting the International Olympiad in Informatics.
Daniel Berger wearing the team uniform
Under the sponsorship of the Government’s Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Daniel Berger and his team-mates, all pupils at James Ruse Agricultural High School, will compete in Plovdiv, Bulgaria against the cream of the world’s talent in the informatics arena.
Informatics is the science of information, the practice of information processing and the engineering of information systems.
Daniel Berger is no stranger to international competitions. He was a member of the team which won the 2008 International Schools Software Competition in India…the first time Australia had tasted victory in the competition’s twenty year history.
