Vice Chancellor watches as a new mezuzah is affixed to Miriam’s door
Vice Chancellor Mark Scott watched as Miriam Itzkowitz’s grandfather affixed a new mezuzah after someone ripped off and stole hers in the students’ quarters at Sydney University.
Rabbi Eli and Elke Feldman, Mirim’s grandmother, Miriam,her grandfather Paul, Darren Goodsir and Mark Scott Photo: Henry Benjamin/J-Wire
Distressed, she told the university’s Jewish chaplain, Rabbi Eli Feldman. He told the Central Synagogue’s Rabbi Levi Wolff, who immediately offered a new mezuzah.
And later today, just in time for Shabbat, Miriam’s grandfather Paul affixed the new mezuzah with the University’s Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott and CEO Darren Goodsir and Miriam’s Holocaust survivor in attendance.
Before Miriam’s grandfather Paul affixed the mezuzah, Rabbi Feldman explained to Mark Scott and Darren Goodsir: “So the idea is that God provides the protection of the blessing, but God helps those who help themselves. And we need to work together, and that’s why we’re happy to have the university’s leadership here to show support to Miriam as a Jewish student and by extension, the Jewish community at the university.
The people in charge are going to make sure that this place is going to be as hospitable as possible and welcome to you as welcoming as it was for your grandparents who escaped the Holocaust to come to this country.”
Rabbi Feldman’s Wife, Elke, translated the blessings for the mezuzah into English. She said: “Let no sadness come through this gate. Let no trouble come to this dwelling. Let no fear come through this door. Let no conflict to be in this place. Let this home be filled with peace and blessing, and let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.”
Mark Scott told Miriam: “Miriam, lovely to meet you and your family. I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances. Our commitment at the university is very clear; everyone is welcome. It’s meant to be a safe, happy and welcoming place, and we invite students from all faiths and communities from all around the world.
This blessing is a keepsake for you and a reminder for you of the support and the commitment of the community to you.
I also want to thank the rabbi for his leadership and his commitment and his encouragement of us at the university to take seriously and mindfully our responsibilities to every student and to create a wonderful place of learning and scholarship and support all in our midst.”
Following the ceremony, Mark Scott said: “We were heartened when the rabbi reached out to tell us what had happened, but to be saddened to hear the story. We aspire to be a community that welcomes all in our midst. And the richness of the university community comes from diverse people of different backgrounds, different faiths, a vibrant community coming together.
That’s what a university is all meant to be about. So, I was delighted by the steps of the rabbi to quickly make amends. This afternoon, I was pleased to be able to join, and lovely to meet Miriam and to hear about her studies, work, ambition, and plans.
We aspire to be a place that’s safe and welcoming for all our students, irrespective of their background. It’s been a challenging year. I think we’ve learned from the experience. We’ve made some changes to our policies, our practices and our processes for the second semester. We think that they have largely worked well. We’ve been very pleased that the number of complaints or expressions of concern from students has dramatically dropped in the second half of the year, and that tells us we’re on the right track. By no means are we perfect. No parts of society are perfect, but the senior leadership team of the university, the executive, and the Senate of the university are all absolutely committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all our students and for Jewish students who’ve long been a vibrant part of our community at Sydney. We look forward to welcoming them back in 2025.”
