OUR RESPONSIBILITY

We are both extremely passionate about social action and Emanuel has enabled us to engage with many issues and discussions surrounding social justice, particularly within the context of Tikkun Olam.

Tikkun Olam – the notion of making the world a better place – is a concept that is at the heart of the values and actions of Emanuel. Leaving school and moving into a new chapter, we believe that it is our responsibility as engaged Jewish and global citizens to use our passion for social action and Tikkun Olam.

In 2019, we were fortunate enough to go to Timor Leste, an experience that sparked a deep love of learning about different cultures and ways of life. Learning from the Timorese people enabled us to reflect on our own lives and forced us to see the world differently. We have since been involved in many events and experiences that have fostered and facilitated our passion for world issues and working to repair the world.

Throughout our time at Emanuel, we have been able to participate in many discussions about Tikkun Olam, showing us how much of an impact our actions can have on the world. The High School Jewish Studies course, specifically the Speaker Series in Year 11, taught us about many issues faced by people around the world and in Australia. Hearing from experts on poverty, human trafficking and ethical farming (to name a few), and engaging in discussions about these issues and how they are relevant to us, has pushed us to expand our worldview and seek to involve ourselves in further action to create the world we want to live in.

This year, we were given the opportunity to participate in an Indigenous education excursion run in Centennial Park by Deadly Ed. We learned about the traditional uses of native plants and the unique tools used for hunting, fishing and shelter. This eye-opening experience showed us that Indigenous culture is rich within Australia’s landscape, both when we are aware and when we are not.

We were asked to write an article reflecting on this experience for the Australian Jewish News, which enabled us to spread awareness and educate others about the interesting things we learnt. The breadth of opportunities we are presented with at Emanuel and the platform we are given to seek justice and express our views is what empowers us as students to make a change to this world. Moreover, we feel it is our responsibility as Jewish people to be part of the solution and the fight for social justice in today’s world.

By Isabella Filipczyk and Eden Grynberg Class of 2022