Yavneh’s books of rememberance

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LEIBLER Yavneh College will next month honour the memory of Ian Rockman by naming the primary school library in his honour.

As well as dedicating 25 years to the Australian Co-ordinating Committee of the Jewish Day Schools (now the Australian Council of Jewish Schools) as co-chair, Rockman was also chairman of Yavneh and a member of the school executive between 1975 and 1989.

“I knew Ian for a number of years when I was college principal of [Sydney’s] Moriah College,” Yavneh principal Roy Steinman said. “His passion for Jewish education was inspirational and his commitment exemplary.

“However, in my dealings with him, I discovered his true strength — he really understood how to work with people, on an individual level, and generally as a community. He was always a mensch. He never shied away from making tough calls, but did so with dignity and with integrity.”

Steinman added that the school is honoured to “salute his achievements and contributions” in the form of the library dedication, which will take place on Rockman’s second yahrzeit.

Yavneh co-chair Ilana Wald credited the generosity of Rockman’s wife and children, and thanked them for “choosing Leibler Yavneh College as the home to commemorate Ian’s work for Jewish education in Australia”.

In addition to the Rockman family’s contribution, many members of the wider Jewish community have also chosen to commemorate his lifelong contribution to education by making donations to the school in his memory. A memorial board acknowledging these contributions will be placed in the Ian Rockman Primary Library.

Rockman’s wife Beverley and his children Darren and Yael will attend the dedication at the school on August 24. Beginning with ma’ariv, the evening will continue with a Jewish learning session and the unveiling of the plaque. Members of the community are invited to attend.

Enquiries: Dionne Abramowitch (03) 9528 4911.

DALIA SABLE