Sydney Women Unite for Fogels

Tami Weiser – Student of UNSW, Sydney

When it comes to putting pen to paper, its difficult to describe emotion. It is for this reason the women of the Sydney Jewish community rose up from letters and emails to join together in a night of strength and remembrance for the Fogel family who were brutally murdered.

The night was filled with inspiration given from women who live amongst you and me, in Sydney. It certainly was the first time such an outpour of togetherness was felt accross all groups of Jewish people under one roof for a cause so worthy, by the women , for the women. attendance of the night exceeded anyone expectation as to how many women would put their busy schedules on hold to show support for the Fogel family and the young men and women injured in the bombing of the number two bus, it was truly heart warming.

A range of women from throughout our community such as Chabad, Mizrachi, JLC, sherut Leumi, Israeli Shul, Adass, Great Synagogue, just to name a few, came together in a spirit of unity and compassion for those who are facing hard times in Israel.

The night included speeches from Shternie Althaus from Chabad, Rabbi David Blackman from the JLC, myself as a university student of UNSW, Michelle Eisenberg, Rebbitzen Pnina Feldman, a Shlucha to Sydney and Simone Brill from Mizrachi. As well as Yosefa Friedman who read aloud a personal reflective recap from one of the Magen David Adom ambulance workers who was first on the scene.

But whilst sitting amongst these incredible women it wasn’t hard to see and hear the message this night was set to imprint in our hearts. This message was not to sit and cry to HaShem asking ‘why?’ rather it was for us, women, daughters, mothers and grandmothers to see that although we are far away from Israel there is still so much for us to do. We are the voice of Israel in Sydney, Australia. If we don’t band together and show our support who will?

Beyond this message for our community, the message was for the individual, to take upon herself an extra good deed be it lighting shabbat candles as said by Shternie Althaus or helping someone in need, something positive in the memory of the Fogel family. This night showed a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel and ignited inspiration, hope and strength inside the hearts and minds of women who might have become dampened due to the past few events in Israel.

The night was interwoven with a beautiful girls choir from Cheder Chabad girls high school featuring the Sherut girls from Moriah College. A very moving video was also played showing the funeral of the Fogel family and an inspiring interview with Tamar Fogel was shown.

Towards the end, the message of Tamar Fogel, the daughter who came home to find her house, her family and her life in complete ruin, rang clear – “the most important thing to them [her parents] was the unity of the Jewish nation.” We must understand this – unity amongst us is what makes us a strong nation and it is now that we must come together and realise this. If over 250 women from our community old and young can get together to show support, what can you do? you must ask yourself ‘what am I doing for Israel that is protecting and fighting for my nation?’, ‘what am I doing to show the soldier standing on the outskirts of Jerusalem, that I, in Australia stand behind you and support you?’

For those who were attended this night of remembrance and strength, I commend you and Israel, I’m sure, thanks you. We were there for them in a time of need and Chanie Belfer, Danielle Greenwald and Shternie Althaus really did a fantastic job in coordinating this evening. In the words of David Broza in his song ‘Yihiheh tov’ – “All will be good, yes, all will be good.”

“Shake of the dust. Arise! Put on your splendid clothes my nation” – Ruth Fogel. This was message to our nation when her family was being uprooted from Gush Katif. All the money raised on the night is going to the remaining Fogel children, well done girls!