Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio » OAM NSW
A Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), for service to the Jewish community and to interfaith organisations.
“If we can join together and each do our own little part, then together, we create a big impact and we can change the world and make it hopefully a place of peace and blessing for us all,” Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio told The AJN.
For doing her part, Rabbi Ninio has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), for service to the Jewish community and to interfaith organisations.
“For me, it’s all about community and connection,” she said.
“It is such a gift that I found my way to the rabbinate, and that I have the opportunity to do this every day. There is no day that is the same as any other. You never know what’s going to happen.
“And it’s exciting. It’s creative, it’s joyful. It’s also supportive. I just feel incredibly blessed.”
In addition to her role as a senior rabbi at Emanuel Synagogue, Rabbi Ninio has had a long involvement with the Union for Progressive Judaism and the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors.
Asked what aspects of her work have been most satisfying, she said, “I have tried to give a voice to people and groups who have been perhaps marginalised or treated differently or not heard.
“I’ve done a lot of work with the in conjunction with the LGBTQIA+ community, which has been incredibly rewarding.
“The role of women in Judaism and bringing a female voice to a lot of places in the community, that has been also really fulfilling.”
On her interfaith dialogue work, Rabbi Ninio said, “One of the powerful things about interfaith relations and connections with different communities is we’re not just meeting and learning from and connecting with titles and positions and faith.
“We’re meeting individuals and people and we’re forming connections with them.”
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