Tell September 2018 Tishrei 5779

{FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE WAXMAN FAMILY
WITH EMANUEL SYNAGOGUE}
Leon Waxman
For four generations the Emanuel Synagogue has played, and
continues to play, an integral part in the Waxman family life.
12 years after the congregation
was established, 23 years old
Ted and Betty Waxman were
married at Temple Emanuel,
in November 1950. Two years
later, their firstborn Diane was
welcomed by the congregation;
Leon was born three years later.
Their commitment to the Synagogue
began in 1976, when Betty joined
the Temple Emanuel Women’s
Guild. In 1978 the Temple
Emanuel Kindergarten was reconstituted
under the auspices of
the Women’s Guild. Under her
leadership as President of the Board
of Management, the Guild made
enormous contributions in areas
such as catering for Kiddushim
and chaggim, and organising
fundraising fetes, etc., providing
financial contributions toward
shule projects and to Liberal Jewish
education. Betty worked tirelessly
at the helm for 22 years. When
she was farewelled by the Temple
Emanuel community, a plaque
honouring her dedicated service
was affixed to a tree in the kindy
ground - “The Betty Waxman-
Playground”. Betty proudly attended
and spoke at the 25th Anniversary
Party of the Temple Kindy in 2003;
her last official function. Sadly,
only three years later, Betty passed
away at the age of 78 years.
During these incredibly dedicated
years of service by Betty, Ted was
equally committed to the Synagogue,
contributing his own legacy over 30
years of continuous service to both
the Synagogue and Emanuel School.
Ted’s story began in 1975, when
he was elected to the Board of the
Temple Emanuel. He held a number
of offices on the Board, including
overseeing the shule’s security needs.
He and his son Leon assisted the
security guards on High Holy days by
checking entry
of congregants,
and welcoming
them into
the shule. He
was elected
President of
the Board in
1983. Largely
due to his
efforts during
his three years
as President, the
Administration
and Education
wing was built.
In 1985, Ted
received an
O.A.M. in
the Queens’
Birthday Honours
for his work in Scouting, Jewish and
General community, of which his
commitment to the Synagogue was
a major part. The following year Ted
was elected Vice President of the
Australian & New Zealand Union of
Progressive Jewry, and then elected
its President in 1990 till 1994.
He served as Vice president of the
Temple Emanuel Board for about
four years until 1991, and continued
on as a Board Member. In 1999 Ted
was honoured by being nominated
as an Honorary Life Governor. Four
years later, Ted was the recipient
of the Union of Progressive Jewry
Vatik Award for continued service
to the community, and outstanding
commitment to Judaism outside
of their own congregation.
Inspired by Rabbi Brian Fox’s call
to action to establish a Pluralistic
Jewish Day School, Ted became the
Leon Waxman and family at Aliza's bat mitzvah
founding President of the Emanuel
School in 1983, and stayed on in
that role for 14 years. He and his
fellow Board members worked
tirelessly in creating Emanuel School,
which today, is acknowledged as
a major educative contributor to
our community. Five years after his
retirement from the board in 2005,
Ted passed way at the age of 83.
As regular shule attendees, Ted and
Betty ensured that their children,
Diane and Leon received a Jewish
Education, by attending Temple
Emanuel Sunday school from a
young age. Leon has wonderful
childhood memories of growing
up in the congregation. Each year
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