Eastern suburbs branch opens
Coming up in early April at the new eastern suburbs branch will be a hadracha camp, and a get-together for families in the North Shore branch, plus outdoor activities...
THE Israeli Scouts (HaTzofim) Australia has been flourishing for almost a decade in Sydney, based mainly at the North Shore Synagogue in Lindfield.
This month, due to popular demand, it launched a new branch called Shevet East Sydney, with its own hub and program of regular activities and events, for children and teenagers in families who have moved to Australia from Israel.
A soft opening day for the branch was held on March 5 at the Jewish Folk Centre hall at 5 Saber Street, Woollahra.
The next weekend saw well-attended opening sessions take place for the hadracha (leadership) course for years 8 to 10 students, the peula (activities) program for the years 6 and 7 group, and a post-Purim party for parents and friends at Easts Rugby Union Club.
Coming up in early April at the new eastern suburbs branch will be a hadracha camp, and a get-together for families in the North Shore branch, plus outdoor activities at both branches.
HaTzofim Australia executive director Michael Manhaim said, “For many years, the Israeli community in the eastern suburbs of Sydney wanted us to have a local base there.
“We’d planned to do it, but then the pandemic happened, so we had to put it off for a while.
“But we’re pleased to have set it up now in the Bondi Junction/Woollahra area, and it will help build the next generation of Tzofim in the eastern suburbs.”
Manhaim said HaTzofim is the largest organisation in Australia that has a focus on the Hebrew-speaking and Israeli community, and its various chapters in Melbourne and Sydney work with local Jewish schools and communal organisations “to be more part of the broader Jewish community, and to make sure their voice is heard”.
“More and more Israeli people and organisations in Australia are contacting us, and wanting to get involved, or to collaborate with us, not only in Sydney and Melbourne, but for example, recently in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.”
Manhaim added, another exciting offering via HaTzofim Australia in recent years is the Tzofim Shnat Sherut Israel gap year program for Hebrew-speaking senior high school students.
“I did that gap year program when I was 18, and it offers amazing volunteering opportunities in Israel’s periphery regions, taking participants completely off the tourist trail, to offer something totally unique.
“It’s about helping to make sure that these students keep their connection to Israel.”
To find out more, visit shevet_eastsyd on Instagram, or email east.syd@israelscouts.org
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