Women in Unity in Sydney

Aidel Bloom

On Sunday June 5th the women of Sydney held their second evening of Women in Unity at the JLC. The first evening was held just after the murder of the Fogel family in Itamar. Nearly 200 women from across all of the Sydney Jewish Community from every shul attended.

Shternie Althaus chaired the evening, and started her talk with the purpose of the inspiring evening called “Women In unity.”

Through all women in Sydney from all communities uniting together for a good cause, many Brochos can come down to the community and the world at large. Women have a special connection to new life through the Mitzvah of Mikvah and we were dedicating all monies raised to both the Fogel family in Ithamar and the Sydney Mikvah.

A beautiful talk on the relationship between Dovid and Goliath by Fruma Shapiro, Shlucha from North Shore, was given in honor of shavouos. She spoke about the complexities caused by the maternal relationship between Ruth (Dovid’s great grandmother) and Orpah (Goliath’s grandmother). Both women followed their mother in law Naomi back to Eretz Yisroel but while Orpah kissed Naomi, her sister Ruth cleaved to Naomi. Fruma concluded by comparing us today- those who merely kiss their commitment to Yiddishkeit and those who totally cleave to their Yiddishkeit.

After a beautiful choir sung by girls from Cheder Chabad and Kesser Torah – Mushkie Kaye, Elisheva Abush and Elisheva Foxman, and headed by Sheina Mill – the ladies were intrigued by six women who spoke about what it means to be a Jewish woman in 2011 in Sydney. Avital Harkham, Deborah Blackman, Chana Warlow Shill, Romy Krassenstein, Jody Ariel and Nechama Dina Moss all spoke about the challenges faced in their lives.They gave chizuk and included stories and funny anecdotes to inspire women in their Yiddishkeit even in seemingly difficult challenges.

The evening concluded with a fantastic raffle of delicious cakes, beauty packages, gym membership and a stunning piece of jewellery.

An amazing supper of cheesecakes and other treats was served. All money collected was split between the Fogel Family in Itamar and the Sydney Mikva. The Mikva was chosen as a beneficiary of the tzedaka raised because of the strong connection between mikva and new life, therefore a beautiful way for the Neshamos of the Fogel family to have an aliya, and bring more light to the world.

The evening would not have been a success without the planning of many dedication women including Shternie Althaus, Galit Gershowitz, Chana Michla Dietz, Liat Rueben, Yosefa Friedman, Rivka Shapiro, Dannielle Greenwald, and the generous venue from the JLC.