Tell Magazine - March 2018 / Sivan 5778

within the social justice sphere of
this synagogue a most satisfying
and fulfilling experience.
EARLY LITERACY SUPPORT
PROJECT
Owen Ratner
I have been a member of Emanuel
Synagogue from the time that I
was married at Temple Emanuel in
1973. In my early years as a member
I was very involved in the life of the
Emanuel community principally in the
establishment of The Emanuel School.
I am not religious and apart from my
involvement with the school I have had
very little to do with synagogue life.
Nevertheless, I value my Jewish identity
and have struggled for years with how
to maintain that identity without being
an active member of the synagogue.
When I saw the request by Emanuel
Social Justice for volunteers to help
with their new literacy program
aimed principally at helping young
indigenous children I thought this
would be perfect. It was not only an
activity that would involve me with
the Emanuel community but it also
gave me the opportunity to help the
advancement of young students in
the local aboriginal community.
I have been volunteering now for 2 years
at Alexandria Park Community School.
From my discussions with Nehama
and other volunteers, I think it would
be fair to say we all find the class work
exhausting and exhilarating at times but
always fulfilling. I love engaging with
the young students and developing a
relationship over the school year. The
feedback we receive is always positive.
I am proud to do my bit to help
educate young children in need of
encouragement and support and
honoured to be doing this as a
representative of the Jewish community.
EMANUEL TO EXODUS
Project Co Ordinator Nehama Werner
Emanuel Synagogue has a long
relationship with the Exodus
Foundation, which was established by
Reverend Bill Crews of the Uniting
Church in Ashfield. In the early
1990s Emanuel volunteers began by
cooking and serving lunch on Easter
Sunday to the hungry and lonely
people Exodus’s staff call their guests.
Exodus’s program has grown to match
the increasing numbers of needy and
so has Emanuel’s contribution. On
the second Sunday of every month,
our volunteers set the tables, serve the
meals (now cooked by professional staff)
and clean up. Guests reflect the multiethnic
character of Ashfield across all age
groups. The majority are men, elderly
women and often women with small
children. All receive a hot meal of meat
and vegetables, fruit and beverages.
ASYLUM SEEKERS CENTRE
MITZVAH LUNCH GROUP
Co-ordinators Leigh Redding and Morris Eskin
The Newtown Asylum Seekers Centre
is a not-for-profit organisation relying
entirely on grants, donations and
volunteers. The ASC assists with
finding accommodation, financial relief,
legal advice, employment assistance
to those allowed to work, education,
nutrition and social support.
Our group of 22 people has now
been involved for over 5 years. We
cook regular lunches in our homes in
teams, which we serve at the centre,
together with delivering frozen
meals prepared by Our Big Kitchen
on Fridays, to be enjoyed over the
weekends in their accommodation.
We recently inspired Emanuel School
students to collect and donate nonperishable
food and toiletries. They
went to the Centre and in distributing
their donations, they interacted
with the refugees who rely on the
Centre for much of their social,
emotional and economic support.
For our few hours of work, the benefits
are enormous. The words of gratitude
and the smiles of enjoyment from the
women, men and children, make it all
so worthwhile. A true MITZVAH.
Volunteers in the Early Literacy Support Project
32