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.
Jewish life is the soul and heartbeat of our School. You can feel it when students enthusiastically take part in Ruach on a Friday morning, in anticipation of Shabbat. You can feel it when the little voices of our Years K - 2 sing the Birkat Ha'mazon (grace after meals prayers) with enthusiasm at the end of lunch. You can feel it when the students from Kornmehl - Year 12 come dressed up for Purim, having put thought and effort into their costumes and you can feel it when our Year 7 students present their Shorashim projects, reflecting on the importance of their heritage and roots.
The journey each Emanuel student takes through our school is fundamentally a Jewish journey. We strive to build a community of caring and knowledgeable individuals, who experience Judaism as personally engaging and meaningful. With a diverse student body and staff, we honour and promote pluralistic expressions of Judaism as enriching and deepening our shared heritage.
Our inclusive and welcoming school environment serves to nurture responsible and concerned individuals, contributing to both our Jewish and world communities. We proudly embrace 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. 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.
Zionism and 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.
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 Amen.