A very special piano in memory of Anne Wiseman o’h

This year there is a new piano in the music room at the Emunah Elisheva High School in Pardes Chana.  This piano was donated by Emunah Sydney in tribute to their esteemed and greatly missed member, Anne Wiseman o’h.

Anne’s daughter Sara Stein, from Ranaana, describes her mother’s life and her deep connection to Emunah.
“From Hungary to Israel to Australia and back to Israel, my mother planted roots around the world and touched the lives of many people. During her 72 years, my mother was an inspiration to all who knew her. Blessed with intelligence and a sense of humour, she was constantly learning new things – whether it be Italian and a second university degree, or Hebrew ulpan in Jerusalem.

Emunah was very close to my mother’s heart. She spent a year in Israel as a child and used to tell us how she would go to the grocery store with ration cards for sugar or margarine and then return home and watch her mother cook on a primus stove. She was well-aware of the hardships endured by families managing with less, and wanted to help alleviate their day-to-day experience.

My mother got a first-hand glimpse of the disadvantaged sector when she toured Emunah’s projects throughout Israel as part of the Emunah Australia delegation. She was thoroughly impressed with the depth and breadth of Emunah’s work.

Back in Sydney, my mother was an active and devoted member of the local Emunah group and together with Eva Wittenberg she served as co-treasurer. In the words of Eva, my mother did “so many mitzvot, just quietly without any fuss.” My mother’s desire to better the lives of others was seen in Gittel’s List, which she set up with Dianne Kuchar in 2008. Inspired by the community lists in Efrat and Raanana, the idea was to provide the Sydney Jewish community with a similar platform. People could give away and sell things, post lost and found objects, look for advice, employment, house swaps, and holiday rentals. My mother thought of a way to charge for advertising by scale to generate revenue for Emunah in Israel. Together with Di, my mother co-moderated the constant stream of posts, and she continued to moderate the list after moving to Israel.

It’s a beautiful and fitting tribute to my mum, who always enjoyed music and concerts with my dad, that Emunah Sydney has set up a special fund in my mother’s name to donate a piano to the Emunah Elisheva high school in Pardes Chana.”

May Anne’s memory be a blessing to her family and to all of Klal Yisrael.