The Emanuel Synagogue
The Emanuel Synagogue models the future of congregational Judaism, in that it offers, in addition to diverse prayer services and myriad learning experiences, a variety of programs to attract people of all ages and backgrounds to build an interconnected and religiously directed community.
We see the future of Judaism beyond the world of denominations, where we share the pursuit of justice and, where each learns from the other and we all learn from our God and our tradition.
Our synagogue is a place in which we discover meaning within the complexity of life and the mystery of God. Each of us has our own personal journey of spiritual exploration and growth; that journey is enhanced in the welcoming company of like-minded, warm-hearted souls.
EMANUEL NEWS
In March 2000, a suitcase taken from a pile at the Auschwitz museum, arrived at the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center in Japan, inscribed: Hana Brady, born May 16, 1931, Waisenkind (orphan)
It inspired much conversation among the children at the Center. All we knew about Hana was her name, her birthday, and that she arrived in Auschwitz in October 1944 and was sent to the gas chamber on that same day.
The children visited the suitcase and began writing stories about what Hana might have been like as a child. Their interest prompted us to find out more. Eventually, we found her only surviving family member, who provided us with a glimpse of her life and her personality, and some photographs.
Hana’s suitcase has become a bridge to a beautiful little girl named Hana.
“Hana’s Suitcase”, is now a multi-award winning book by Karen Levine and a film by Larry Weinstein.
Australians will now be able to meet Fumiko Ishioka, from the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center and Lara, Hana’s niece, who will share the universal messages of the consequences of hatred, and our responsibility today, to promote tolerance.
See “What’s On?” for details
The film is being presented at the Emanuel Synagogue following the screening at the museum.
Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio of Sydney’s Emanuel Synagogue was a surprise panellist on ABC-TV’s highly popular Q & A.
Tony Burke, Patrick McGorry, Rabbi Jacqeline Ninio Tony Jones, Richard Dawkins, Steve Fielding and Julie Bishop pic courtesy ABC-TV
The charismatic Rabbi Ninio heard at 4 p.m. yesterday that she was to be a member of a panel including the Deputy Leader of the Opposition Julie Bishop,
Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio as she appeared on Q&A Photo courtesy ABC-TV
Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry, Senator Steve Fielding, leader of the Family First Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke and the renowned evolutionary bioligist Richard Dawkins, author of the book “The God Delusion”.
Sister Veronica Brady cancelled due to health issues.
Dawkins is in Australia to promote his new book “The Greatest Show on Earth” in which he produces his evidence for evolution.
This Q&A session was entitled “God, Science and Sanity.”
The session started by dealing with the subject of being able to believe in evolution and God, with Dawkins emphasising the point that the planet was 6.4 billion years old. Rabbi Ninio said that she believed in the Big Bang and that Gad was somehow involved in it. She said that “human beings struggle to understand”
Dawkins touched on the subject of religious education claiming that children were brought up in environments in which they were indoctrinated into the religious beliefs of their parents. Moderator Tony Jones asked Rabbi Ninio her views. She said there was an obligation to teach children and believed in a “healthy spirit of questioning”. She said that when chikdren reached adulthood there was no obligation for them to follow their parents’ beliefs.
Rabbi Ninio told the panel that within her scope of Judaism, there is no indoctrination. She answered further questions on immigration and afterlife.
Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins, spiritual head of the Emanuel Synagogue, told J-Wire: “I was thrilled to see our rabbi on Q&A. She spoke clearly and intelligently with honesty and sincerity about difficult topics. Rabbi Ninio expressed clearly how Judaism related to the points under discussion.”
Watch the entire program here
How do you trust life if you don’t trust your mother?
Alana Ruben Free’s play FEAR AND DESIRE – about spirituality and the relationship between a Jewish mother and her daughter – will be performed in a rehearsed reading by Jewish actress Lee Ann Simons and Vee Malnar. It takes up the story when “Eden” visits Jerusalem – specifically the Kotel/Western Wall – and feels compelled to become a more observent Jew… to the horror of her secularised mother! This is the sequel to the acclaimed play “Beginner at Life” performed at the Tap Gallery last year and returning to Sydney for performances April and May in Newtown Theatre and the Bondi Pavilion. The New York-based playwright Alana will be visiting to direct the reading and to lead a discussion about the psychology of Jewish Mother/daughter relationships.
Sydney’s Emanuel Synagogue introduced wine-making as part of its Purim party parade.
The Inaugural Emanuel Synagogue Kiddush Wine Making Competition tested the palate and the stomach of judge Steve Denenburg, president of the Union of Progressive Judaism. Congregants and staff brewed their Kiddush wine concoctions for months leading up to the tasting and put plenty of time and creativity into each name and label.
The Megillah reading was a riot of noise and got the crowd warmed up for the return of Emanuel’s famous Purim Spiel. This year’s spiel “A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to Purim” was a rollicking roman romp which had the audience singing along and tapping their feet.
Celebrations continued with a children’s carnival on Sunday. The courtyard of Emanuel Synagogue was filled with stalls, crafts, games, face painting and tons of fun. Families and children were invited along for the children’s costume parade and were delighted with a retelling of the Purim story as had never before been heard; Haman was booed, Esther and Mordechai were cheered along and children of all ages got into the spirit of Purim. And of course – there were hamentashen for all to enjoy!
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