Jewish museum of Australia_fashion_parade Amanda Briskin opening speech

I’m really happy to be here with you all, and on behalf of the Jewish Museum of Australia would like to thankyou for coming.
This evening has come about due to the work of remarkable people. Tonight, we will enjoy the creative talents of fashion designers our community has produced.

However, the reason we are here is in support of the Jewish Museum. I do empathise with the efforts of our designers
tonight though…

Amongst all these challenges, I have to say in my own experience the support I received from the community was enormous.

So in my role, as a peer to these designers I applaud them, for the effort they have gone to in supplying their wares for this show.
A show which through ticket sales will support the Jewish Museum, but more importantly, tonight’s goal, is to raise awareness of the Museum’s significance, and its need to attract “the next generation”

Led by Yola Rose and Karen Goldenberg, they came together, Efrat Goldberg, Tanya Hamersfeld, Toni Joel, Susie Rosenthal,
Ann Smorgon, Lindy Tamir, and Caroline Wein leveraging their combined;

to produce an event that achieved an astounding result – some 800 ticket sales.
This result would rival and beat a great number of professional fashion parades.

On the basis of this success it is essential to acknowledge critical contributors who deserve reciprocal support from the community based on what they have given.

Sweet design – for graphics
Print dynamics
Greg Tyshing – styling and production Christopher Horne
David Southwick and his team at ICE Events,
Jessica Stimpson at “we are digital”
Nat Frid our media and PR
Lisa Farber choreography,
Gina Samuels consulting
Terry Frankel and the team from Redken
DJ Dimensions
The committee have asked that special mention be made of financial supporters who are integral.
Alex and Heloise Waislitz,
Charles Rose,
DBR Corporation
Metalicus
Zelda and Maurice Rosenbaum

The drive, as I have understood it, came about through Yola understanding from her mother, the need to raise awareness of the Museum, to the “next generation”…..to us! The story of how Zelda Rosenbaum (Yola’s mother), Rabbi Lubofsky… and a small but powerful group of individuals from their generation, initiated and built the Museum, is a point of inspiration to me. It’s a lesson we need to learn from.

How are WE going to take the baton into the future? How are we going to preserve our heritage and culture through the museum?

The Jewish Museum is a celebration of Jewish culture – history, art, architecture and in fact, fashion. By documenting events, and providing a live and vibrant catalogue of our history, it stands as a mark, which is enjoyed by Jews and non Jews alike.

Amongst the great number of important reasons for it to exist, Karen shared with me one that has left me thinking…..the Museum helps educate those outside our community about Judaism, from a cultural perspective as opposed to a religious one – education and information counter ignorance, it humanises and familiarises our culture for people, and this achievement alone can counter anti Semitism in a productive, positive and enriching way.

I love the idea that we can deal with fundamental fears by educating future generations of Jews and non Jews – to do so we need
a home for the history to live in, to be corded in, and cared for, in a creative and dynamic way that attracts and inspires us all.

The Museum experience is vastly different to that of engaging in the practise of religion. Through the Museum we see and engage with Judaism, the culture. The Museum offers connection to various stages of life. In my own experience last week, I found myself particularly interested in the wedding and Bar mitzvah sections …Yola’s wedding dress and hair were fabulous, Heloise’s bridesmaid dresses were 80’s show stoppers.

Of interest to me, is the level of international recognition our Museum holds, making its preservation and growth even more significant because we are making a contribution to our culture on the world stage. Personally speaking, I find it hardest to make
a start. I think the answer is to visit, visit again and take others, volunteer, and spread the word, support if you can or fundraise.

This evening is in fact a sample of the creative style of vision and determination that has built the Jewish Museum over decades – like mother like daughter and beyond. It has come about due to the work of remarkable people; it is essentially our community, past present and future, that the Jewish museum exists for, as a resource, servicing the preservation of the culture that ties us together.

An institution with this goal and meaning surely deserves our consideration and support.