A strong Jewish voice

“At Emanuel School, we aim to foster a love of Jewish learning and living by embedding Jewish values, understandings and practices within our pluralist context, focusing on respect and inclusion.” – Emanuel School Principal, Andrew Watt

Lily Berger (class of 2022) shares how the school’s values have helped her to step into the world “ready to make a positive and lasting difference to society”.

Emanuel School’s values are engrained into every part of its being.

As an Emanuel student since Year K, these values have helped mould me into the graduate I am today. The values of compassion, justice and community stand out to me the most. Every day, when I walked into the school gates I felt like I belonged, that I could be myself and that I was cared about and capable of making a difference.

Emanuel’s values of justice and community were clearest to me when I visited Villawood Detention Centre in 2020 as part of the school's engagement with refugees. I met some of the loveliest, warmest and strongest people seeking asylum in Australia. The experience was extremely confronting as I tried to grapple with their harsh reality, how many of them were stuck in detention indefinitely and how this was happening to innocent people in my backyard. Upon reflection, I was able to recognise how Emanuel’s values of justice and community allow us to see the true reality of what our society looks like.

Part of creating a compassionate and respectful environment at Emanuel is the role modelling by Emanuel’s fantastic teachers. My teachers were some of the most supportive, kind and encouraging people I had ever met. They love what they do and genuinely care about every student.

Many of Emanuel’s values have become my own. These values help me feel ready to take on the challenges of the world and make a positive and

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lasting difference to society. Jesse Herdan and Eden Glass (class of 2022), share how their daily experiences and opportunities have helped mould and develop their connection to and practice of their Judaism and identity.

Emanuel wouldn’t be Emanuel without the opportunities we have to participate in the overarching Jewish life of the school. It changes Emanuel from just a school to a community and a family.

Weekly Shabbatot provide a glimpse into the supportive and participatory culture that is integral to Emanuel life, with students singing, dancing and celebrating as a community. Planning and leading these activities has taught us lifelong skills.

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Through the Social Action and Sustainability Va’adim (Committees), students live the Jewish principle of Tikkun Olam. Emanuel’s Jewish spirit is spread across the school, with students being encouraged to get involved, engage and have fun celebrating Chaggim, customs, rituals and traditions.

As an egalitarian, pluralist Jewish school, Emanuel faces a major challenge in its practice of Judaism: how can a school maintain its Jewish identity while fostering growth and individual acceptance? And yet, it is this very struggle that creates such a powerful Jewish education. Through the Shabbatot, pe’ulot, festivals, school camps and general school culture, every student has space to grapple with their personal connection with religion. Discussions about the role of modern Jews, the adaptation of Jewish law and the symbolism behind Torah stories are central to this growth.

Emanuel’s egalitarian values are integral to its culture of acceptance and equality. All religious opportunities are presented independent of gender or sexuality. These values are vital in creating a safe, welcoming space for all.

Emanuel has given us the tools to approach the world from the perspective of acceptance and understanding. Founded on discussion and community, we have forged a powerful Jewish identity.