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Message from the President
Dear Members, Hope you are all well – and not too affected by our crazy or should I say freezing weather. This week, I hear it is warming up!! For those that were not at our mid-year combined meeting last week, you missed a special and excellent afternoon, with the very best entertainment. There were around 150+ people in attendance with about 40 who were not members. It was a great opportunity to relax, catch up with friends as well as promote the wonderful work of BBVic. Well the AGM’s and the Installations have begun. I encourage you to support them, go along to the Units – meet up with fellow members and find out about the “happenings” of other Units. August 2016, should be a great month, with many wonderful events happening:
We have very recently employed a Community Development worker Toni Pikoos for 10 hours a week. Her work will focus on engaging with the BBYA 20’s to 30’s group. We have also continued with the employment of Antony Adelman who has worked with us for some months. He will spend 5 hours per week focusing on the BB Chaverim group in their 40’s to 50’s. All this of course will stretch our funds, given we are attempting to work within a budget, which has become extremely tight (with interest rates almost non-existent). You have all been amazing and have done extremely well supporting the Father Bob Maguire Foundation, parting with your scarves, beanies, jumpers and blankets. We have had two rounds of collecting, with the last one including tinned food. We need a bigger pick-up truck each time and Father Bob thanks you sincerely. To show our support to the ADC and for all the very important work they are doing in the community, a fundraising event has been arranged for Sunday afternoon 11 September 2016, at the Classic Theatre, Elsternwick. The film “Sully” starring Tom Hanks and directed by Clint Eastwood is bound to be a winner and a must see. Dvir Abramovich Chairman of the ADC will open the afternoon prior to the start of the film. Tickets are $25 each and includes a very nice afternoon tea at 3:00 pm. The start of the film is at 4:00 pm, note flyer attached. Tickets $25 pp from Presidents and from BBVic Office. I do wish to highlight that when we fundraise and support organisations, whether it be locally or overseas, we are not only supporting them/the needy or assisting with social justice causes, but we are also building positive and collaborative relationships as well as promoting BBVic, something to be valued and recognised. As you can see, BBVic continues to be action packed and thank you - for continuing to be passionate about our organisation and for taking part in all of this. Faye
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MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT
Dear Members, Firstly mazal tov to President Les Heimann on receiving the prestigious OAM Award in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List. This is a very well deserved honour for a person who has done so much for both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities - Les’ work epitomises what B’nai B’rith is all about. It is with sadness that B’nai B’rith Victoria acknowledges the passing of one of our stalwart members Past President Masha Zeleznikow OAM. Masha is renowned for all her tireless work for the Jewish community and especially her passion and work within B’nai B’rith Victoria. She was a President, sat on various committees, assisted in establishing the Wallenberg Yad Vashem Teachers’ Seminar, with her husband Avram and with a small group of Wallenberg members founded B’nai B’rith Courage to Care in 1991. They were the energy behind Courage to Care. Masha will be truly missed by her B’nai B’rith family. July is a very active time in the B’nai B’rith calendar. Sunday, 10th - will be our second Combined Units’ Meeting for the year - world class entertainment by Alan Kogosowski and Elizabeth Lewis. Our Guest Speaker is Dean Cohen, an outstanding young man and the force behind Camp Sababa. He will be speaking on “The New Generation of Jewish Leadership.” See flyer for all details. Fellowship Concert on Monday, 11th - with Piaf style singer Lucymona performing at the Glen Eira/McKinnon Bowling Club. BBVic AGM & Presentation of the Bernard Lustig Memorial Scholarships will be held on Thursday, 14th - at the Caulfield Park Pavilion at 7:30 pm. All members are invited to attend. The BBVic Annual Reports of all Joint Committees was emailed and posted to all members earlier this month - please read and see all the hard work that has been done for and on behalf of B’nai B’rith. Thank you to all the behind the scenes people who helped to make all these projects and activities the success they are. The Opening of the 21st - Shalom Menorah Unit Jewish Youth Arts Competition - on Sunday 7th August at the Glen Eira Arts Complex. It is wonderful to see the artistic talent of our youth on display. See flyer for information. Supporting the Father Bob Maguire Foundation - we are having a tremendous response to this winter collectathon. Thank you to those who have already made donations. As we have been having such cold days and nights - it was decided to donate earlier - and extend the collectathon until Monday, 18th July. So there is still time to go through your cupboards for warm clothing, blankets etc. Don’t miss out on activities happening in B’nai B’rith Victoria. Take the time to read through Preview and see what other Units are doing - all members are more than welcome to join any B’nai B’rith Units’ events and functions. Kath Kath Kolb MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Members, Hope you are all in good health - and have had a good start to 2016. Although it has been holiday time, some of us have continued to meet and focus on the needs of B’nai B’rith Victoria – with the aim of growing and strengthening the organisation. Pop Up Barista – this event is to take place at the end of January and aims to interest those in the 40’s to 50’s age group. Although the evening will focus on promoting two of BBVic’s key projects: Courage to Care and the Raoul Wallenberg Yad Vashem Studies Grants – attendees will also find out more about B’nai B’rith. BBYA - Ilana Silver and a group of young people are planning a future event for those in their 20’s to 30’s. The event is to have a focus on Mental Health issues and its impact on young people. Stay tuned for further details. February Workshop - B’nai B’rith Victoria with Jewish Care are providing a Job Seeking Development Workshop for members wishing to re-enter the workplace. This is to be held at the B’nai B’rith office on Thursday 18th February from 9:30-2:30 pm. The cost is $20 per person including material as well as morning tea and lunch. The workshop still has space for a few more people – if you wish to attend or know of anyone who might be interested to come along, it is not too late to register (but must be asap). Topics likely to be covered are: Job search – tips for job seekers; New technology (Linked In, SEEK Profiles); Networking your way into jobs; Connecting with other job seekers and sharing experiences; Forming Job Clubs Combined Meetings – Our Combined meetings over the past year have gone extremely well, providing exceptional speakers and entertainment. We had 150 attend the December 2015 event and feedback has been excellent. On Sunday, 21st February at 3:00 pm, we have the first Combined Meeting for the year and this also promises to present B'nai B'rith with quality entertainment by Nathan Lay, Encouragement Award Winner of the 2015 Harold Fisher Memorial Opera Scholarship and our guest speaker is well-known Author, Producer and Presenter on Radio National - Dr Rachel Kohn. Her topic is: “Saints, Sages and Charlatans - a life in The Spirit of Things.” Rachael is coming from Sydney to join us for the afternoon. (See flyer for details). It should be an interesting and special afternoon and I hope you will all come along – also keep in mind that if it is a hot day, Beth Weizmann is well air conditioned and the cooling is great. In One Voice Festival - Sunday, 20th March – an all-day event which brings our community together is to be held within the Elsternwick Cultural Precinct. Last year it was a wonderful day, great fun and a terrific opportunity to promote B’nai B’rith Victoria and its projects. Once again BBVic will be represented and we will have a stall (including umbrella) which will need to be “manned” by B’nai B’rith members - a roster will need to be organised; so please inform Frances if you are interested in helping for a few hours. Raoul Wallenberg Commemoration – on Sunday 17th January, I attended the annual Raoul Wallenberg Commemoration which is sponsored by The City of Port Phillip at the St Kilda Town Hall. It is always very special. The guest speaker was Dr Avril Alba - Lecturer in Holocaust Studies at the University of Sydney. She was excellent and the stories presented were very moving. It is with great thanks to the City of Port Phillip for its ongoing support and to the members of Raoul Wallenberg Unit for their efforts to ensure that the work of Raoul Wallenberg lives on. Office shredder looking for a home - recently our office shredder was replaced with a new more easily movable and lighter shredder. The old shredder is in good condition and works well, but is heavy at the top (when emptying). To make it easier for our volunteers who help in the office we have purchased a new one. Please let Frances know if you are looking for a “give away” shredder. If we are inundated with interest – we may need to look at a hat draw. BBVic Units’ activities over the December, January holiday period - this is a time when organisations stop for a break and it can become quiet and lonely for some. I did note in Preview that throughout this time there were many activities for our members to attend – as outlined below: Chanukah parties, a visit to the Jewish Museum, brunches, walks, picnics, Fressers & Shmoozers, dinners, calico doll making – and not to forget New Year’s Eve. I certainly had a wonderful time sharing this night with Unit Akiba who were dinner and dancing until after midnight and what fun it was. If any member needs respite from the heat - the BBVic office is air conditioned and also has cold water in the fridge. You are more than welcome to pop in - read (we have various reading materials), chat and most of all, be cool. B’nai B’rith is not only an organisation to be proud of, but also an organisation well aware of its “family”. Warmest wishes for the year, Faye |
Faye DubrowinPresident B'nai B'rith Victoria Archives
August 2016
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