Coming up

Sukkot brought together the whole community for a joyful celebration that included a family sukkah decoration and service and our Shakshukah in the Sukkah (pictured) collaboration with Netzer—see highlights here.

Following this morning's Hoshana Raba service, we are looking forward to Shemini Atzeret tomorrow morning. Then, join us for Simchat Torah from 6.15 pm, as we unite to simultaneously commemorate and celebrate, finding joy, even as we remember the events that unfolded at this very time last year. In addition to the service, expect live music, dancing, singing and a light supper prepared by Nora's Kitchen. Register for Simchat Torah & October 7 Reflections here to save your spot and find details about our offering over the next few days in the High Holy Days section below, including programs for children, tots, teens and young adults. 

An integral part of the Simchat Torah service is the naming of this year's honours. With great delight, we announce the 2024/5785 Chattan Torah, Avishai Conyer, and Kallat Bereshit, Sandy Hotz. Join us in marking this special moment for these two pillars of our community.

If you would still like to participate in our drive to combat food insecurity, please drop off your bags of non-perishable food items before the end of this week. Big thank you to everyone who has so generously donated to date.

Shabbat Live returns this week (25 October) as we welcome the remarkable Jillian Segal AO, Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism and a valued member of our congregation, for our sold-out, biggest-ever Shabbat dinner. Seats sold out very quickly, so if you missed out this time, please keep an eye out for an announcement of our exciting final communal Shabbat dinner for 2024.

With November just around the corner, make sure these dates are in your diary—

• ShabbaTot w/ special guest Wendy Dolowitz – 1 NOV – REGISTER HERE

• Kol Nefesh Inner West w/ special guest Daniel Sherrel – 15 NOV – REGISTER HERE
• Lior Live in Concert [SELLING FAST] – 23 NOV – BOOK HERE 
• Mitzvah Day – 24 NOV (details coming soon)
• People of the Books – 26 NOV (author to be announced soon)

If you've enjoyed our spiritual, educational and cultural programs this year, please consider donating to our annual Kol Nidrei Appeal so we can continue to present the diverse and inclusive range of engaging programs that have become our signature. Your support helps us bring our vision to life and allows our clergy to continue their important work. Please give generously here.

On a sombre note, it's with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of Alan Obrart, a dedicated and committed member of our congregation who was known for his kindness, gentle nature and generosity. Read more about Alan's accomplishments in the IN MEMORY section below and join us in sending love and condolences to his loved ones. May his memory be a blessing.

Thank you for choosing to spend this sacred season with us. We're so proud of our beautiful community and look forward to seeing you in person and online as these High Holy Days come to a close.

Chag sameach.

23 – 25 OCTOBER 
SHEMINI ATZERET / SIMCHAT TORAH

The High Holy Days continue with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah—where we come together for joyous celebrations and spiritual renewal—starting on Thursday, 24 October 2024, for offerings including a morning service, a special embrace, children's programming, October 7 reflections for our young adults (please register here), and a Simchat Torah evening service. Then, on Friday, 25 October, don't miss our Simchat Torah morning service and fun children's activities (please register here). Click the button below to download the full program and join us on campus or online.

HELP COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY

Thank you to everyone who has been dropping off bags full of non-perishable food items for our drive to compat food insecurity in our wider community. There's still time to participate; please bring your donation to campus at times that serives are running, noting our office closures over the High Holy Days.

HIGH HOLY DAYS OFFICE CLOSURES

There will be friendly staff and volunteers on campus to help guide you to services and programs, however, our offices will be closed as follows.

• Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah – Thu 24 and Fri 25 October
• Weekends throughout (as normal)

​​​​​​​While we will be making every effort to check messages periodically, in the unfortunate event of a death in the family, please contact Sydney Chevra Kadisha for burials (9363 2488) and Walter Carter for cremations (9389 3499).

GIVE GENEROUSLY THESE HIGH HOLY DAYS

In this, the season of tzedakah (righteous giving), we invite you to donate to our Kol Nidrei Appeal. Your support empowers our clergy to continue their important work in unting our community with engaging, diverse and inclusive spiritual, educational and cultural programs, and safeguarding our progressive Jewish values. We have big plans for the future—you can help us realise them.

Yael Aisenthal-Kordevani decorated her sukkah in the city of Modi'in with symbols of the year since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, October 15, 2024. (Courtesy Aisenthal-Kordevani)

• ARZA Australia: Standing together for unity, peace, and justice amidst adversity.
• Israelis decorate their first sukkahs since Oct 7 with hostage photos.
• Dancing again on the Jewish anniversary of October 7.
• Former SodaStream CEO offers $100,000 reward for return of hostages held in Gaza.
• Raise awareness of hostages with a yellow ribbon pin, available for pre-order on our website here.
• Conversations About Israel will resume online on 28 October and 4 November. To join us, Click here and use the following details to access the stream: Meeting ID: 863 4677 4488, Passcode: 887067. Catch up on previous editions here, on emanuelplus.
  
  

 24TH OF TISHREI

Torah: Genesis 1:1-6:8
Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5-43:10
Candle Lighting (Friday): 6.59 pm
Havdalah (Saturday): 7.36 pm

FRI 25 OCTOBER   

SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER

Simchat Torah: Morning Service

9.00 am | Millie Phillips Sanctuary

Simchat Torah: Kids Service
10.15 am | Upstairs Education Centre

Masorti Shabbat Service
6.15 pm | The Neuweg
Baby Naming of Lilah Angela Horwitz

Shabbat Live
6.15 pm | Millie Phillips Sanctuary
Watch live on emanuelplus here

SOLD OUT: Shabbat Dinner with Jillian Segal AO and Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins OAM 
Following services | Heritage Hall

Masorti Shabbat Service
9.00 am | Millie Phillips Sanctuary
Bar Mitzvah of Micah Fidler

Progressive Shabbat Service
10.00 am | Heritage Sanctuary
Bar Mitzvah of Ethan Czeiger

Baby Naming of Lilah Angela Horwitz (Adam & Elspeth Horwitz)
Bar Mitzvah of Micah Fidler
Bar Mitzvah of Ethan Czeiger

BEREISHIT
RABBI JACQUELINE NINIO OAM

This week we begin the Torah again and begin at the beginning with the story of the creation. God forming life and being out of chaos, tohu va vohu. God’s first act is a gathering of the chaos, separating it and making space for the world. God brings light, not as we understand light, but a light of discernment, goodness and compassion, a light of knowledge and wisdom, a light which will touch all creation with its inspiration and awe filled beauty.

Continue reading

We extend our heartfelt sympathies to those in our community who are mourning the death of their loved ones and we grieve the loss of so many lives in the current war in the land of Israel.

_________________________

REMEMBERING ALAN OBRART

We are saddened by the passing of Alan Obrart, a dedicated and committed member of our congregation, who gave tirelessly to the community, and was known for his kindness and generosity. Alan served on the board of Emanuel Synagogue and as our synagogue’s representative on the Emanuel School board. He also served on the building committee where he brought his extensive expertise and guidance over many years to the development of the Millie Phillips Building and restoration of our Heritage Sanctuary. For this and more he was honoured with the Union for Progressive Judaism’s Ner Tamid Award in 2020.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday 27 October at 10am in the Millie Philips Santuary where we will celebrate Alan’s life.

Zichrono livrecha. May his memory be a blessing.

_________________________

PASSED AWAY IN THE PAST 30 DAYS

Alan Obrart, Nusia Koslowski, Noah Brieger, Mark Kanevsky, Milly Goldman, John Goodman.
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YAHRZEIT
On the anniversary of the death of a loved one, Yahrzeit (annual remembrance) is observed by their relatives. Every year, in the lead up to this day, we will contact you to advise that your loved one's name will be read on the Shabbat before the Yahrzeit.
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​​​​​​​We invite you to arrange a call up to the Torah in memory of your loved one by completing the form at the link provided in the reminder email.
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SELLING FAST:
LIOR LIVE IN CONCERT

WITH NOMAD STRING QUARTET
Saturday 23 November | Doors open 8.00 pm 

Appearing for one night only, we present critically acclaimed and ARIA Award-winning singer/songwriter Lior, exclusively at Emanuel Synagogue. Join us for an extraordinary evening as Lior performs some of our most beloved favourites from his extensive back catalogue and be among the first in the world to hear new songs from his highly anticipated album 'Blue Parade', created with Melbourne-based guitarist/composer Cameron Deyell and produced by Lachlan Carrick.

PROGRAM CHANGES OVER

THE HIGH HOLY DAYS

Please note: Conversations About Israel will be online only on 28 October and 4 November, and will be taking a break altogether on 11 November.

To join us online, click here and use the following details to access the stream: meeting ID: 863 4677 4488, passcode: 887067.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

• CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ISRAEL – 10.00 am Mondays, on campus and online on emanuelplus – see EYE ON ISRAEL above for topic details.
• MEDITATION & KABBALAH – Returns 8.30 am Mondays from 11 November (online) – register
• MORNING MINYAN – 7.30 am online every Monday to Friday and in person on Thursdays.
• ​​​​​SPEAKEASY – 5.00 pm Tuesdays (online)
• PARASHA STUDY – 12.00 pm Wednesdays
• IN THE CIRCLE WITH RABBI MORDECAI – 7.15 pm, monthly on the last Thursday of every month. Upcoming dates: 31 October, 28 November.
• KOL NEFESH – 6.15 pm, Friday 1 November. Service followed by a vegetarian potluck. Dates for 2024: 6 December.
• KOL NEFESH INNER WEST – 6.15 pm, Friday 15 November with special guest DANIEL SHERREL, who will speak briefly at the potluck dinner about potential climate policies heading into the next Federal election in honour of Australia's national climate shabbat (organised by the Jewish Climate Network). 
  Daniel Sherrell is a climate and union movement organizer and strategist. He has helped lead campaigns to win a Green New Deal bill for New York State, create good union jobs in renewable energy, and pass America's first federal
  climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act. His first book, Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of Our World (Penguin 2021), was named a Best Book of the Year by the New Yorker and Publisher's Weekly, and shortlisted for the Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, the Guardian, the Nation, and the Drift, among other outlets. He currently lives in Sydney, Australia, where he is the Senior Adviser on Climate and Energy to the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Australia's peak body for organized labor. Register to join us here
  
   

• SHABBATOT – 4.30 pm, monthly on the first Friday of every month. Upcoming dates: 1 November, 6 December – Register
  SPECIAL PROGRAM ON 1 NOVEMBER: INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING WITH WENDY DOLOWITZ – Wendy Dolowitz is PJ Library's Program Manager for NSW & ACT, curating and delivering engaging events for young families and is responsible for PJ Library administration. She has an early childhood education background and has worked in a variety of childcare settings as well as been a Play Therapist at Sydney Children's Hospital and a Director at a premium Long Day Care Centre. She is passionate about engaging all children based on their individual needs and thrives on the potential impact she can have on an individual child, their family and the community.
  
• YESOD – 10.00 am Sundays; 4.00 pm Mondays and Tuesdays – Register
• INNER WEST SHIURIM – 3.00 pm first Sundays of the month – Register
• CHILDREN'S SHABBAT SERVICES – 10.15 am weekly on Saturday

Our Emanuel Woollahra Preschoolers were in for a treat this week as they took part in a hands-on Sukkot experience, shaking the lulav and etrog in celebration.

Emanuel Woollahra Preschool is a pluralistic community open to all, providing an inclusive environment enriched with Jewish heritage for preschool children. Activities include Hebrew language learning, celebrations of Jewish festivals, Shabbat, and Israeli dancing throughout the year. 

ENROLMENTS OPEN FOR 2025

Emanuel Woollahra Preschool is accepting enrolments for 2025 and Emanuel Synagogue members save 5% on fees. Learn more and sign up today to give your precious little ones the best possible start to their education.

Emanuel Synagogue members have free access to our streaming platform, emanuelplus. Please contact info@emanuel.org.au or call us on (02) 9389 6444 if you need help getting started.
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REVISIT THIS YEAR'S UPLIFTING
HIGH HOLY DAYS SERVICES

Thousands joined us on campus for services, and thanks to the magic of emanuelplus, thousands more joined us in real time online. Claim your front-row seat to revisit the services below and experience the beautiful music, poetry, and prayer—no matter which corner of the world you find yourself in.

Erev Rosh Hashana 

Rosh Hashana Day 1

Rosh Hashana Day 2 
Kol Nidrei
Yom Kippur

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