Network.org.au

This section is to inform the rest of the community what young adults contribute and for them to see the young adults who work in the community and the diverse jobs they’re involved in, making a difference.

Tooti Jacobs

Network Programs and Community Liaison Manager

About my work: I work creating fun, educational and social events for young jewish adults between 20-39 yrs in Sydney. My job is to make sure that there are events and programs happening continuously throughout the year. This is important to ensure that young Jews have the opportunity to connect and network with other members of the community. Why I love working in the Jewish community: Working in such a pivotal organisation in the Jewish community helps me find meaning in my personal expression of Judaism. Also the team of young Jewish professionals aren't too shabby!  An interesting fact about myself: I have an addiction to salsa - the dance not the dip.

Aviva Beecher Kelk

Network Coordinator

About my work: I work at Network organising a range of cultural, poltical, social and educational activites for young Jewish adults in Sydney. I support other young adults' ideas for new programmes with funding and advice through Network's Small Grants programme. Why I love working in the Jewish community: Definitely the people I work with. I feel very privileged to work with individuals who are  passionate and enthusiastic about the work they do. An interesting fact about myself: I am a cat person. Like half cat, half person.

    Israel Programs Co-ordinator

About my work: I get to send Jewish young adults on fabulous educational trips to Israel, Poland, Prague and Nepal. For many of our participants this is one of the best experiences of their lives :) Why I love working in the Jewish community: A sense of fulfillment that I am making a contribution to people's lives and their Jewish identity. I also love the fabulous support base within the community. An interesting fact about myself: I sneeze in 9's. My car is called Robocop. And yes, these are my real teeth.

Simon Holloway

Director of Education, North Shore Temple Emanuel

About my work: I run the Hebrew and Religion School at North Shore Temple Emanuel, and facilitate various adult- and family-education programs. A lot of my work is administrative, but the highlights are always the opportunities to teach! I am especially interested in the Hebrew Bible ("Tanakh"), the development of Rabbinic Judaism, and the history of the Hebrew language. To further the dissemination of these ideas in the community, I run two Night Schools every year, with a diverse range of lecturers and presenters. Why I love working in the Jewish community: I feel that it is very important for Jewish adults, irrespective of affiliation, to have a strong basis in Jewish history and literature. Given that my passion is adult education, working within the Jewish community helps me develop those aims locally. Of course, a lot of my work is done outside of the Jewish community as well. I feel that a better understanding of the Hebrew Bible is something that can also benefit the broader community, irrespective of their personal religious affiliation. An interesting fact about myself: I maintain a blog, on which I like to rant! I'm also doing a PhD in Classical Hebrew and Biblical Studies, so sometimes my rants might be worth reading. I wish I could say "most of the time", but "sometimes" is probably nearer the mark.

Danielle Kacen

Fusion Events Coordinator

about my work... My Objective is to develop the Fusion Brand through organising a variety of social events for Jewish 20 – 25 Young Adults.  I want to create events that are different and unique which capture this ‘fringe market’ and appeal to members of the Jewish Community, who are not interested in or attracted to existing communal events and organizations. My aim is to change the Young Jewish Community perspective of the significance of the meaning to be Jewish and the importance of networking. Why I love working in the Jewish community... it allows me to express my passion and involvement with the Jewish Community. I enjoy the satisfaction of designing fun, innovative and unique events for young Jewish adults and seeing their gratification and enjoyment, while networking at an event. I also enjoy meeting different members of the Jewish Community and developing relationships with them. An interesting fact about myself ... I have been water skiing since the age of six.

Sarah Myerowitz

Hillel Director

about my work...My job entails mentoring and developing Jewish university students to achieve their potential and to provide them with Jewish experiences that they cannot find anywhere else. Why I love working in the Jewish community...because it affirms my own Jewish identity and gives me the opportunity to help others realise and cherish theirs. I also enjoy supporting students in preparation for what lies ahead in their uni career as well as life after. An interesting fact about myself ...I have a tattoo of a chamsa with my Hebrew name emblazoned across my back. I got it on my 25th birthday in Tel Aviv after leading the most amazing Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. I got it to always remind me about why I have a Jewish professional career.

Michael Misrachi

Program Director, Encounters @ Shalom

about my work...I manage some of the major adult Jewish learning programs offered in the community – Melton, PJ Learning and Limmud-Oz. My work is about providing people with the opportunity to engage with their Jewishness in a more thoughtful and thought-provoking way, and empower them with greater Jewish knowledge. There’s a fair amount of organisational stuff, communication and marketing on a day-to-day basis but I also get to be involved in some great projects and meet some extraordinary people.  Why I love working in the Jewish community...  I left the corporate world to work in the Jewish community because I wanted to make a difference in the little piece of the world that I really care about. Working in the Jewish community is also part of a bigger picture – the Jewish world – and I feel that most strongly when I think about Limmud. Limmud is bringing dynamic Jewish educational and social experiences to tens of thousands of Jews around the world – from Poland to New York to Ashkelon – and is profoundly changing the Jewish landscape as we speak – literally. That’s something incredible to be a part of! An interesting fact about myself ...  My previous job was at Westpac, where I started as a graduate. Due to Westpac wanting to show that they have a diverse workforce, and due to my “Middle Eastern appearance”, they asked me to feature in their graduate recruitment campaign. So my face was plastered on posters and promotional material all over university campuses (which was somewhat disconcerting but very amusing). During my time at Westpac, I also managed to get roped into other roles – they used me in some of their training materials, including in a OH&S video where I had to pretend I’d received a bomb threat over the phone! The funny thing is that even now that I’ve left Westpac, they’re still using my face in their graduate recruitment campaign.

Janet Granek

Director of Youth, Young Families and Young Adults

About my work... My fabulous task is to work with the young people of our congregation and make Judaism and our synagogue relevant and meaningful for them. I help parents run a 0-3 year old playgroup, run Shabbat Tot pre school aged activities, work with the teenagers in our community in tefillah service leading and educational programs, and coordinate 18-25 and 25-35 young adult social, cultural and religious events. Why I love working in the Jewish community...Firstly I love coming to work in Thai fisherman pants, jeans and whatever other non executive clothes line my cupboard! I love being part of this vibrant Sydney Jewish community where there is always a new project to get passionate about and meaningful work to be done. Education, Social Justice and Community Buidling are the cores of this work for me and I love the diversity that it offers. An interesting fact about yourself ...  I'm a mum of a super cheeky and fun little girl named Noa. (And pregnant again). Jono my husband is the most supportive community partner… always happy to jump on the sausage sizzle team or shlep when needed:) Although I have a near perfect Australian accent, I lived in beautiful Cape Town for the first 14 years of my life.

Shai Feniger
Aliyah and Habonim Dror Shaliach

about my work...In the Aliyah office, I help people to make Aliyah (immigrate) to Israel and strengthen the connection between the Jewish community and Israel. In Habo I mentor the Leaders and help them to run the movement, alongside keeping the connection between the movement and Israel. Why I love working in the Jewish community...   I love working in the Jewish community because it is so diverse. I strongly believe that a live dialogue within the Jewish community is vital for its continuity. An interesting fact about myself ... I came to Australia at the beginning of 2009 with my husband. Unfortunately gay marriage is not legal in Israel, but we had a great wedding and a commitment ceremony just before we arrived, so I'm practically a newly wed!

Brandon Srot

Sydney Director, ZFA

About my work...I am the Sydney Director and representative of the Zionist Federation of Australia, which is the federal roof body of Zionist activity around the country. In very broad terms, my job is to therefore professionally assist in creating, maintaining, enhancing and uplifting the relationship between Australian (well, Sydney) Jewry and the State of Israel. This is achieved through a number of Sydney-specific matters and National projects of the ZFA within which I am involved. Additionally, I coordinate the local team of employees of the World Zionist Organisation’s Hagshama and Dor Hemshech Departments in Australia.  Why I love working in the Jewish community...Community to me is everything! It is where we live, exist, socialize, think, do, understand, achieve and learn. It is where we hopefully find our place of comfort in this world and in doing so, understand who we are and how we can contribute to humanity. Community is about values, ethics, morals, commonality and camaraderie. For me, to work in our Jewish community, is to combine these elements with my deep connection to and appreciation of Jewish heritage. I am inspired continuously by the incredible people that I meet and work with and am humbled by the opportunity to be involved in work that actually matters and affects peoples’ lives. An interesting fact about myself: I used to live in a socialist commune in Jerusalem for 2 years. I would also love to go into Marketing – but I am colour blind!

Lizet Markovitcs

ZFA, Sydney Office Director

About my work ... My job is to bring Israel closer to Australia. To engage the Sydney Jewish Community in the wonders and magic Israel has to offer and connect every Jewish individual to its Home Land. I facilitate the relation any Jewish Institution wants to have with Israel and reinforce the bond between them. I encourage the connection with Israel at any level it being personal, social or academic by bringing different programs to schools and institutions, and sending Australians to Israel. I offer Israel as a place to embrace and keep close to your heart. Why I love working in the Jewish community... I love working with the Jewish Community because it fills a place in me that nothing else can fill. It encourages me to learn not only about my surroundings but about myself in addition to helping me to grow in ways no other job can. It allows me to give back what I’ve been given: the pleasure and advantage to be Jewish.  An interesting fact about yourself ... I love to travel! I’ve had the pleasure to live in different countries around the world including three years in Israel. My home town is Quito, Ecuador and so as a born and raised Latin girl I’ve danced for as long as I can remember. I actually consider dancing an addiction… together with my true “hidden” addiction: gummy bears!

Roy Freeman

Co-organiser of Dayenu - Sydney's Jewish GLBT group

About my work ... I help organise social events for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender Jews, as well as Dayenu's float in the Mardi Gras parade and annual Mardi Gras Shabbat dinner the night before.  I also maintain the group's website, Yahoo group and Facebook group. As well as social events, Dayenu also provides a counselling service to help those who are coming to terms with their sexuality.Why I love working in the Jewish community... I love working in the Jewish community as I am passionate about helping GLBT Jews come to terms with their sexuality. An interesting fact about yourself ...  I have a third nipple :)