Recognition for the changemakers

YOUNG adults from across Australia who are helping to make the world a better place were recognised at B’nai B’rith’s Jewish Changemaker Awards on Sunday night.

Sydney’s Liron Smith, who raised money for charity at his bar mitzvah and has given countless hours to many good causes, and Melbourne’s Gary Samowitz, who heads Jewish Aid Australia, were honoured for their contribution to Australian society.

“My parents were great role models,” Samowitz said at the ceremony at Bondi Pavilion.

“We are the only Jewish organisation to empower other vulnerable communities and we want to inspire the Jewish community to help others.”

Sydney’s Jessica Harrison, who has been heavily involved in Netzer and the North Shore Temple Emanuel Synagogue, and Perth communal leader Shayna Slotar – who has worked tirelessly for Maccabi WA, JNF WA and the Australasian Union of Jewish Students in Perth – were recognised for their contribution to the Jewish community.

Joel Kuperholz – who co-created the MUJU Peace Club, a football team made up of Jewish and Muslim teenagers playing side by side in Melbourne – won the Hillel Ezekiel Award for Leadership.

Well-known Sydney communal figure and Shalom Institute’s young adult director Brandon Srot won the final award,

which honours the contribution made by someone working in a paid position for a Jewish organisation.

Ernie Friedlander, the president of B’nai B’rith’s Alfred Dreyfus Unit that hosted the awards, said that it was a very exciting to honour everyone.

“It was great to be able to acknowledge the people that have done so much for the community,” he said.

“It is important to honour people because we hear so much negativity in our society, and so we need to put a greater emphasis on people that have a positive effect on those around them,” Friedlander said.

JOSHUA LEVI

Gary Samowitz

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