Jewish Life at Emanuel School enriches the mind, spirit, and being of our students, embodying values such as pluralism, egalitarianism, joy, literacy, meaning-making, and empowerment.
Emanuel School proudly embraces a diverse student and family body spanning the breadth of the Jewish community, from Progressive to Orthodox, Masorti, and those unaffiliated. Our school is a place where varied opportunities for religious expression and learning reflect the wide diversity within our community. Additionally, we encourage students to engage with religious practices and spaces that may differ from their own, fostering a culture of integrity, unity, and enriching educational experiences.
Joy
At Emanuel, the essence of Jewish Life is deeply intertwined with authentic expression, encapsulating mind, spirit, and being. We foster an environment of playfulness, love, and joy within our Jewish learning and practices. This joyful spirit manifests in various ways, whether through singing along to the guitar and drums during a Tefilah service, embracing the festive energy of cheering for Mordechai and Esther while booing Haman during a Megillah reading, or celebrating together with songs, dance, and traditional foods at a Pesach seder.
Zionism/Israel
Emanuel School proudly identifies as a Zionist institution, deeply valuing our connection with Israel while fostering a strong sense of commitment and engagement with our Australian homeland. Our students delve into the history of Israel, exploring the diverse perspectives of Zionist thinkers. We honor Israel's Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzmaut, and remember Yom Ha'zikaron, Israel's Memorial Day. This bond with Israel reaches its zenith in Year 10 with the Chavayah, a five-week immersive program in Israel.
We encourage our students to embrace a broad and visionary understanding of Zionism, seeing it as a pathway to unlock the cultural, spiritual, ethical, and political aspirations of the Jewish people. Furthermore, we invite them to engage thoughtfully with the Israel-Palestine conflict, considering inclusive and peaceful futures for Israel as a homeland for all its citizens and a place of refuge.
Jewish Life and Learning
Emanuel takes our students on a journey through Jewish text and history, engaging them with the richness of Jewish tradition and relating ancient ideas to modern sensibilities. Our classes empower our students through Jewish literacy, giving them a grounding in Torah and Tanach, cultivating a love for our stories and Jewish practice and ethics. We look at different parts of Jewish history from ancient rabbinic history to the history of Holocaust. We encourage our students to develop a sound knowledge and make their own personal choices in Jewish life. We teach our students to listen, to question, to be curious and to reflect. We instil in them the idea that there is always more than one interpretation and many pathways to find the truth of our tradition.
Community and Tefilah
At Emanuel, our approach to prayer encompasses morning services, Birkat Hamazon (Grace after Meals), and Kabbalat Shabbat, infusing our Tefilah with music, education, spirituality, and a humanist perspective. This inclusive environment enables students to connect with the divine and their spirituality in a manner that resonates personally with them. A distinctive feature of our prayers is the 'ru'ach' or 'spirit' segment, where students come together to dance with joy and enthusiasm to Israeli music, embodying the communal spirit and energy of Emanuel.
Oseh Shalom Bimrumav, Hu Ya’aseh Shalom Aleinu Ve’al kol Yisrael, ve’imru Amen But God who makes peace on high make peace for us all, for all of Israel and for all the world and let us say