As we prepare for the arrival of Pesach, it is important for us all to lean on one another, to stay true to our Jewish values and to prioritise the healing of our society. We are committed to fostering a culture of understanding, respect, and harmony among all members of our diverse community, and believe that it is through dialogue, empathy, and cooperation that we can overcome hatred and division and build a society where every individual is valued and respected.
We want to remind you that you don’t have to go it alone. Come to our services, join us at our seders, and reach out to our rabbis at pastoralcare@emanuel.org.au.
Since closing registrations for our Pesach seders last night, we have received a few requests for late bookings, so we’re reopening the bookings until 4.00 pm today, Friday 19 April, but we must close them after that to ensure we have your name on the door (security will not be admitting unregistered guests) and that Nora’s Kitchen has enough time to prepare a beautiful dinner for everyone.
If you would like to join us, please save your spot via the link below –
We also hope you will be with us at our Pesach services, some of which will also be streamed on emanuelplus. See below for details and please note that on Friday 26 April, we are combining the Progressive and Masorti services to commemorate ANZAC Day. This service will be offered in person only.
If you’re starting to feel the pinch of Pesach prep, Rabbi Zwarenstein has three tips to get you sorted, and here are some handy seder plate substitutions for vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian households.
As we observe the festival, our office will be closed at times over the next fortnight, as well as on the ANZAC Day public holiday. Please refer to the Pesach section below for details.
In the spirit of the holiday, we are ramping up our Pesach appeal and calling for more donations of non-perishable food items—an excellent use of your chametz—and period products. Every donation goes a long way to bridging the gap for those members of the community who are doing it tough. Thank you for your continued generosity.
In exciting news this week, we are happy to announce the launch of Kol Nefesh in the Inner West on Friday 17 May. Find details under Regular Programs below and please register your attendance here. Rabbi George Mordecai, Young Adult Engagement Coordinator Avishai Conner and Netzer Sydney invite you to this new iteration of the musical, participatory, truly cross-generational Kabbalat Shabbat service you all know and love. As is Kol Nefesh tradition, the service will be followed by a vegetarian potluck dinner. Bring a plate and bring a friend. In the meantime, please join us for the next Kol Nefesh at Emanuel Synagogue (see some lovely moments from the March edition here) on Friday 3 May.
This Shabbat we pray for healing for our congregation and our wider community. The safe return of the hostages stays firmly front of mind and our desire for peace to come quickly remains unwavering. If you’re not joining us for Pesach, we wish you chag Pesach kasher vesame’ach.
Shabbat shalom.
