Greek mayor visits Our Big Kitchen
Sydney’s Our Big Kitchen has acknowledged the input into its foundation by the Greek community in the presence of the mayor of Thessaloniki.
Enjoying OBK
OBK’s founder and Director, Rabbi Doctor Dovid Slavin, told J-Wire that OBK owes a great deal to members to the Greek community.
“We have always been incredibly grateful to the Greek community for joining our dream right from the start and making the kitchen a reality. I always promised myself that once we had made the kitchen into what it was created for, the massive contribution of the Greek community would be acknowledged” Rabbi Slavin said.
“I have never forgotten the names of each member of the Greek community who donated to the kitchen – and it gave me pleasure to acknowledge them to the visiting dignitaries. In time I intend to hold a special tribute to those people whose past generosity is now responsible for enabling up to 1,000 people in need to be fed each week at no cost” Slavin said.
The Greek contingent included:
Ambassador of Greece to Australia – Charalampos Dafaranos
Consul-General of Greece in Sydney – Dr. Stavros Kyrimis
Mayor of Thessaloniki – Yiannis Boutaris
Deputy Mayor of Thessaloniki – Konstantinos Zervas
Councillor Spiros Pengas
Leonidas Makris (Advisor to the Mayor)
The attendance of the Mayor of Thessaloniki was particularly impactful. When he was inaugurated as Mayor he wore the yellow star Jews were forced to wear under Hitler.
“The Mayor explained to us that one-third of the population prior to the war was Jewish and with the removal of the Jews was also the loss of the town’s soul.” Rabbi Slavin explained.
In a very powerful moment, OBK’s oldest volunteer and holocaust survivor Mrs Vesely talked to the dignitaries about her own horror during that period.
“What made the moment so impactful however was that as Mrs Vesely spoke she was holding on to the arm of a young girl for support –that girl is Daniella – a young German girl who is in Australia doing a university internship at OBK” Greg Fisher OBK’s GM enthused.
The Greek contingent was joined at OBK by:
Tony Kay Dep Mayor Waverley
Cr. Bill Mouroukas
Cr. Joy Joy Clayton
Cr Miriam Guttman-Jones
Cr Leon Goltsman
