Minister praises Jewish House at gala dinner
More than 700 people packed the Le Montage function centre for the Jewish House gala dinner.
Jewish House is “an incredible partner” with the NSW Government in helping to tackle homelessness, Housing Minister Rose Jackson said at the organisation’s gala dinner last Thursday.
More than 700 people packed the Le Montage function centre for the event, at which former Brisbane Roar footballer Jamie Young delivered the keynote address and Operation Golda founder Shoshanah Eisner was honoured with a humanitarian award.
“Earlier this year, I released the first New South Wales homelessness strategy. This is the first time we have committed to a 10 year vision to address homelessness,” Jackson said.
“The one organisation that has always stood steadfast to encourage and demand ambition from the NSW Government is Jewish House.”
Recounting the disparate highs and lows of an extraordinary week in his football career, Young said having faith saw his through his crises.
“And that’s what you give every day here at Jewish House, faith when people can’t find it for themselves,” he said.
“Thank you for all the work you do at Jewish house, for walking beside people in their darkness, for championing their return to light.”
Fivex managing director Lesli Berger told of how Eisner founded Operation Golda “within hours” of the October 7 atrocities.
“She United thousands of people in our community and gave anyone who wanted a chance to connect, a pathway to make a difference, turning activity and anxiety into action, grief into generosity, and compassion into tangible help,” he said.
Accepting her award, Eisner said, “Operation Golda was formed as an emergency support network, but after collaborating with Jewish House, I quickly realised that that’s exactly what they’ve been doing.
“They are an emergency support network, and they’ve been doing this for years, quietly, compassionately and with incredible efficiency.”
Rounding out the evening, Jewish House CEO Rabbi Mendel Kastel said, “It’s just very special to be in a position that we can really help people and change their lives.”