Rabbi Ninio’s silver jubilee
Emanuel Synagogue’s president Grant McCorquodale said Rabbi Ninio has been “instrumental” in growing the shule’s membership to the largest in Australia.
More than 500 people filled Emanuel Synagogue’s heritage sanctuary last Sunday to celebrate senior associate Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio’s silver jubilee with music, laughter, moving words and a dash of lively Israeli folk dancing.
In 1998, Rabbi Ninio was appointed Emanuel Synagogue’s first female rabbi and just the third Australian-born female rabbi.
This year, she became the first female rabbi to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
Emanuel Synagogue’s president Grant McCorquodale said Rabbi Ninio has been “instrumental” in growing the shule’s membership to the largest in Australia.
“Marriage equality, gender equality and human equality are principles that we take today with acceptance, but it took pioneers like Rabbi Ninio to champion these causes,” he said, adding, “You’ve guided us all to be better humans”.
“Rabbi Ninio is an outstanding and compassionate female rabbi, [but] it is my wish and honour that you are remembered as just an outstanding rabbi.
“We not only reflect on your past years of service, but also look forward to the continued blessings that your leadership will bring.”
NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper praised Rabbi Ninio for “her 25 years of commitment to education, social justice and care for the needy … of touching hearts and lifting the spirits of countless individuals and families … and her work promoting harmony across our multi-
faith and multicultural state”.
The shule’s senior rabbi, Jeffrey Kamins, said Rabbi Ninio “is a natural leader, and a personal example of how one should relate to others, with a compassionate commitment to justice and equity”.
“She serves tirelessly and selflessly with insight, wisdom, understanding, gentleness and humour, and her dedication is unsurpassed.”
Other highlights of the reception included video messages from rabbis from Australia and overseas, the shule’s first female president Caroline Haski presenting Rabbi Ninio with a special gift, a humorous and touching speech by Rabbi Allison Conyer of Melbourne’s Temple Beth Israel about “the kind and clever red-headed rabbi” and a singalong by the shule’s choir and Rabbi Ninio’s daughter Willow.
Rabbi Ninio’s mother Lynette – who was recently very ill – was able to travel to Sydney from Adelaide to witness the milestone moment.
Expressing feelings of “awe, gratitude and humility”, Rabbi Ninio said, “I am the rabbi I am today because you [the congregation] made me one”.
She thanked her fellow rabbis at Emanuel, its past and present staff, and shule families for the “privilege of being invited into your lives”.
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