A LEADER AMONG US

Emanuel School has made us the leaders we are. Coming into such a compassionate and welcoming community, our love for the School grew exponentially every year, and we found encouragement from the people around us to pursue our passion for leadership, and most importantly for Tikkun Olam and Social Action.

“To be a leader, you do not need a crown or robes of office. All you need to do is to write your chapter in the story, do deeds that heal some of the pain of this world, and act so that others become a little better for having known you. Live so that, through you, our ancient covenant with God is renewed in the only way that matters: in life. Moses’s last testament to us at the very end of his days, when his mind might so easily have turned to death, was: choose life.”

RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS, Lessons in Leadership: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible

A crucial program during our time at Emanuel has been the Nitzavim program. The word ‘Nitzav’ is a Hebrew word meaning ‘one who stands’, and is the word used to describe any and all of the Year 12s who help lead the School, whether it be running programs for the students, organising important events, contributing to the Jewish Life of the School and so on. We would all as Madrichim or Nitzavim meet up in Va’adot (Committees), to work together and take part in running the School, with groups such Social Action, Festivals (Chaggim), Sport, Sustainability, Shabbat and more.

Our experiences as leaders have been multifaceted, yet each incredibly rewarding. Our time as Head Madrichim kickstarted with a Capital Appeal, run entirely over Zoom, from our own bedrooms. With the phenomenal work and support of the Marketing team, and with a couple pairs of brightly coloured sunglasses, we hosted over 800 online guests and looked into Emanuel’s Bright Future. Later on in the year, we were able to join special guests for the new building’s groundbreaking event, where we saw firsthand the power of a community coming together in support of an important project.

The Nitzavim program encourages leadership across the Year Group. As happy as we were to be the Head Madrichim, we were even happier to see our peers become Nitzavim and play an essential part in running the School and guiding the student body. It resulted in us feeling a greater connection as a Year Group that led together.

The most important lesson we carried with us was that a leader must always be a ‘Dugma Ishit’ (meaning ‘to lead by personal example’). In fact, we believe all leaders – student and adult alike – must hold with them the notion of Dugma Ishit. As we graduate, this notion of leading by example will guide us as we continue to strive for compassion, kindness and enthusiasm within our personal leadership journeys.

By Victoria Miller and Myles Cohn, Head Madrichim, Class of 2022