First solidarity community Kabbalat Shabbat

Emanuel School recently brought its community together at its first ever Solidarity Community Kabbalat Shabbat, with more than 500 students, parents, grandparents and staff gathering on campus for the event

The event centred around the theme “The Heart of Emanuel is Community”, reflecting the school’s core values of community (kehillah), kindness (chesed), inclusion (hachalah), respect (kavod), and excellence (metzu’yanut).

Conceived and brought to life by the school’s P&F, co-presidents Amy Friedlander and Lynn Ross said: “Following the events at Bondi, we felt strongly that gathering as a community was more important than ever.

“We wanted everyone to feel welcomed, embraced and supported by the amazing Emanuel community, and we are so grateful for the support that helped bring this vision to life.”

Families enjoyed a pre-Shabbat meal seated at long communal tables and colourful picnic mats designed by years K-6 students, each decorated with hand-coloured hearts. Music from the student Klezmer band set the tone, followed by a performance from Hylton Chilchik that inspired everyone to form circles and dance horahs.

The evening was filled with singing, ruach and dancing, with Rabba Adina Roth leading Shabbat blessings and songs alongside Emanuel’s high school students.

Students enjoyed a range of activities to honour the Bondi victims, including painting rocks for the memorial, creating Shabbat crafts with alumna Gena Been, beading bracelets in honour of Matilda Bee, and spinning the “mitzvah wheel” to receive a mitzvah dedicated in their memory.

The event took place before the official commencement of Shabbat, so that families could enjoy the event and get home before Shabbat candle lighting.

Shabbat packages were supplied with candles, grape juice and challah to perform the mitzvot of bringing in Shabbat at home.

“Events like this remind us that education isn’t only what happens in the classroom; it’s about the relationships we build, the values we share, and the community that we create together.

“Our school community is a gift to be treasured. It’s a place where every family, every child, and every member of staff is valued for who they are and what they do,” said Emanuel School Principal Linda Emms.