Community invited to come along on the climb
Danielle Wolfson, the only Israeli woman to have scaled Mount Everest, will soon complete her "seven summits" challenge.
Danielle Wolfson, the only Israeli woman to have scaled Mount Everest, is gearing up to ascend Australia’s Mount Kosciuszko.
The climb on November 5 will mark the completion of her “seven summits” challenge, conquering the highest mountain on each continent.
“After becoming the first Israeli woman to stand on the summit of Everest in 2021, now I am going to stand on the highest peak on the continent of Australia and be the first Israeli woman to complete the seven highest peaks project,” she said.
The climb of Kosciuszko, Australia’s tallest peak, located in the Snowy Mountains in NSW, is expected to last four to six hours.
It is hoped that around 15 to 20 Australian Jews will accompany her to the top of the mountain to help plant the Israeli flag at the top, but the number has yet to be confirmed.
A ski lift will be available to bring everyone down afterwards.
Wolfson said, “My motto is that every person has their own highest summit. If I succeeded against all chances, every person can reach their dream and stand on every possible summit.”
Zeddy Lawrence, executive director of Zionism Victoria, said he hopes as many people as possible sign up for this historic climb.
“Jewish history is full of mountains. Ararat, Sinai, Moriah and, right here in Melbourne, Scopus; and it’s time to add one more, Mount Kosciuszko,” he said.
Lawrence said Zionism Victoria is thrilled to be supporting Wolfson as she becomes the first Israeli woman to conquer the highest summit on each of the seven continents.
Wolfson, who immigrated to Israel from Russia when she was 10, is a single mother and a successful practising lawyer with her own firm.
In 2011 she suffered a serious ski accident that left her bedridden, and May this year she and her Sherpa guide had to be rescued from the Himalayan peak, Mount Makalu, when weather conditions changed.
“I treat every mountain very seriously in preparing for each climb. We are only guests in nature, and nothing depends on us,” she said.
Before her ascent, Wolfson will be speaking about her experiences and adventures at events in Melbourne and Sydney.
She will be speaking to the Melbourne Jewish community in Hebrew at Beth Weizmann on Tuesday, October 31; and in English at Caulfield Shule on Thursday, November 2.
The Sydney events are to be hosted privately.
Join the climb: zionismvictoria.org.au/kosciuszko
Hebrew talk bookings: trybooking.com/CMCZI
English talk bookings: uiavic.au/everest
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