General Manager
samz@emanuel.org.au

Sam Zwarenstein, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and moved to Sydney in January 2006 with his wife and 2 children.

He has been involved with Jewish communities and organisations for 22 years, having grown up in Netzer South Africa and serving as a member of the national leadership team for 4 years, participating in the Machon (Shnat) programme in 1989, and serving in numerous capacities including Shaliach Tzibur in Shalom Independent Congregation from 1996-2005, and National Vice Chair of the South African Zionist Federation from 1994-1998 and lay leader at Emanuel Synagogue since 2007.

Sam has 16 years experience in Retail and Operations management, in telecommunications networks in South Africa, Israel, and Australia.

Financial Controller
sara@emanuel.org.au

Sara Joffe was born in London and moved to Australia in 1989. She qualified with KPMG as a chartered accountant in England and transferred with them to Sydney where she converted her qualification to become a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. After working in accountancy practices and commerce Sara began working for not-for-profit organisations. Sara worked for a children’s cancer charity, a non-profit social venture organisation and with school associations where she gained a detailed understanding of special regulations in the non-profit sector. Sara joined Emanuel Synagogue in May 2007. As financial controller she is responsible for overseeing the accounting functions, budgeting and reporting requirements of Emanuel Synagogue, NSW Board of Progressive Education and associated entities.

Director of Education
sandyh@emanuel.org.au

Sandy Hollis was born in South Africa, lived in Israel and migrated to Australia in 1986. She has been involved in Jewish Education for over 20 years and served on the NSW Board of Studies Consultative Committee for Studies of Religion, the Modern Hebrew Curriculum Writing Committee and the Modern Hebrew HSC Exam Writing Committee. Passionately involved in Inter-faith dialogue and Education, Sandy has taught at Masada College and has been actively involved in leading the March of the Living Holocaust program to Poland and Israel for many years.

She is Director of Education for Beit Midrash Emanuel and the Board of Progressive Jewish Education in Woollahra. Along with the Rabbis of the congregation, Sandy teaches the Bar Mitzvah students, the Basic Jewish Concepts class and the Advanced Jewish Concepts class. She also coordinates the booking of B'nei Mitzvah and organises the festival and family education days. Married with two children, Sandy lives in Sydney.

Shaliach Tzibbur and Youth Director
martinyafe@emanuel.org.au

After months of waiting for the Visa, we finally welcome Martin Yafe, our new shaliach tzibbur (service leader) and youth director, who you will remember as the inspiring singer for the Masorti service last Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Martin was born in Cordoba, Argentina, 29 years ago. Son of a prominent conservative rabbi, he was exposed to a variety of communitarian positions and experiences. Martin spent over 10 years working in the Jewish informal education area leading different youth departments as well as serving as shaliach tzivur for synagogues in Argentina, the United Stated and here with us at Emanuel Synagogue the past two years. Martin also worked many years for the communitarean security office in Buenos Aires and, lastly, he was very much involved in Israel advocacy in Argentina.

In reation to his studies, Martin received his bachellor’s degree in International Relations with a minor in Law in Argentina and his Masters in Government with specialization in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security at IDC - Herzliya in Israel. In addition, he studied for several years at the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary taking courses in Jewish and cantorial studies.

We are thrilled to have Martin, a warm and generous man with a beautiful voice and engaging spirit in our community; please extend him your personal greeting at services.

Community and Netzer Shlicha
shlichansw@netzer.org.au

Anat Baruch was born in Haifa in 1978, growing up in the Scouts Youth Movement. Anat is a Captain in the IDF and served her country for 6 years. Anat has a BA in Political Science and History of the Middle East and also a BA in Economics. In addition, she is a dance teacher and a Pilates instructor.

Anat arrived in Sydney in November, 2009 to be Shlicha (emissary from the State of Israel) for the Progressive community in New South Wales and the Netzer Youth Movement. For the next couple of years in this position she plans to help Netzer achieve its goals as a Jewish progressive and Zionist youth movement and to bring Israel and the connection to it to the community of both Emanuel Synagogue and North Shore Temple Emanuel.

Accounts Receivable/Office co-ordinator
toni@emanuel.org.au

Toni was born in Israel and arrived in Australia when she was two years old. She went to Randwick Girls’ High and began her working career when she was 15 years old in a solicitors office which led to a career in real estate. She married her husband, Mark in June 1975 and has three wonderful daughters. When her children were all in pre-school she began a career in the video industry and managed Grace Bros. Videoland in Grace Bros, Bondi Junction and then Mostly Movies in Chatswood and Centerpoint.
Toni joined the Synagogue in August 2001 as part-time receptionist. This past year Toni has been full time, involved in office co-ordination and Accounts.
She loves watching good movies and enjoys cooking especially in her newly renovated kitchen.,