A hand worth playing
The impact of Orah reaches far beyond the women involved. It touches partners, children, schools, synagogues and the broader community.
Jewish continuity doesn’t begin in boardrooms. It begins around kitchen tables, in conversations with children, in homes where values are lived and passed on.
That is why organisations like Orah matter so deeply.
Orah is built on a powerful premise: when you invest in women, particularly mothers, you strengthen families, deepen Jewish identity and fortify the future of our community. Through education, leadership, connection and Jewish learning, Orah empowers women not only to grow personally, but to bring that growth back into their homes and into communal life.
I experienced this firsthand when I travelled to Israel with Orah last October. What I found was not simply a program, but a sisterhood. Two hundred women from around the world united by a shared desire to grow, learn and bring more meaning and Judaism into their lives and families.
It was my beautiful Sydney Orah cohort who made an extraordinary journey even more special. We laughed, learned, cried, reflected and celebrated together, and those bonds have continued well beyond the trip. Our monthly shiurim during this year of learning are something I deeply treasure, and I love knowing we will keep walking this path together. Those friendships have enriched my life in the most meaningful way.
Our Sydney group was also paired with four remarkable Israeli women from the Arava, whose warmth and spirit connected us to the living heartbeat of Israel, as well as an extraordinary group of women from Los Angeles, many from the Iranian diaspora, whose stories of exile, resilience and identity added another profound layer to the experience. Together, these relationships made the journey feel not only global, but profoundly personal, a living expression of the connection, solidarity and shared destiny that Orah nurtures.
We arrived at a particularly moving moment in Israel. The living hostages had been been released only weeks earlier, and there was a palpable sense of relief and joy in the air. Israeli life felt vibrant and alive, and we were privileged to share in that spirit while also visiting places marked by loss, honouring grief before stepping into celebration. That tension of sorrow and joy, heartbreak and hope, felt deeply reflective of Israel itself.
In many ways, it captured the spirit of Orah itself, connection, resilience and strength through community.
The impact of that reaches far beyond the women involved. It touches partners, children, schools, synagogues and the broader community.
It is also why fundraising for Orah matters. Orah is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation. It does not sit under a larger communal umbrella, and its programs, including these transformative Israel journeys, are heavily subsidised so that no woman seeking this opportunity for growth and connection is left behind for financial reasons. Fundraising is what makes that possible.
Which is why our upcoming Orah Poker Night matters.
This isn’t just a fun night out , though it will be that. It is a chance for men to actively support something that strengthens Jewish family life from the inside out.
And there is something fitting about supporting Orah through poker.
Poker is about reading the table, backing what matters and knowing when something is worth the stake. Supporting Orah is a bet on Jewish continuity.
It is backing stronger families, deeper connection and a more vibrant communal future.
So pull up a chair. Bring a mate. Book a table. Because this is a hand worth playing.