Nominees test page - JNF Australia

Adam Dostalek

Ruby Levitt

Adam Kellerman

Zachary Morris

Tasin Ospovat

Davi Smith

Liora Hayman

Sarah Greenbaum

Julia Manoy

Adine Herz

Sarah Teitler

Tsur Tsaban

Adam Dostalek

Adam is a remarkably young man. He has achieved a lot for person relatively young in the field of humanities and his professional life. He founded " Live Differently Production " in 2021 with a passion for socially impactful filmmaking. He is both a director and producer having the insightful & powerful dialogue from his subjects- this being most effective - allowing him to capture the raw emotions and personal stories that bring his documentaries to life. He has a keen eye for detail. Adam's involvement spans a wide spectrum of Jewish organisations , including JCA, Jewish Care, Friendship Circle, Moving Forward Together, JNF, Launch Pad, Emmanuel, Shalom- Mount Sinai - Moriah Colleges, The Choice Foundation, Jewish House. His unwavering dedication to the Jewish community has left an undeniable mark on these organisations that he worked with. His selflessness and tireless efforts have made a profound difference in raising awareness and vital funds for their institutions. His ability to help organisations and connect to their donors to provide funds to operate successfully. One of his most remarkable achievements was the creation of the film ‘One in Six’ in collaboration with the Australian Jewish Fertility Network. This outstanding production was voted as the #1 film of the year in 2022 for ABC’s Compass. It shed light on the struggle of couples grappling with fertility with compelling narrative and impactful storytelling – it struck chord with viewing resulting in an astounding $ 1.3 million in donations. Over the last 8 years, Adam has directed and produced multiple of documentaries for networks such as ABC, SBS, Channels 7 & 9. Titles include award winning productions ‘It takes a Village’ – ‘Ride like an Anzac’ – ‘One in Six’ all which highlighted his commitment to evocative and human focused stories. His latest work is producing a powerful and thought provoking documentary ‘Beyond the Divide’ – it delves into the complexities of interfaith relations and the ongoing struggle against racism and discrimination. It follows Hala Sbat, a 39 year old Australian Muslim woman, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and growth through the annual ‘March of the Living’. Viewing issues of xenophobia, islamophobia and anti-Semitism and their impact on global communities. Adam is truly a person of vision, aiming and inspire for a more inclusive, harmonious world. Beyond the Divide - Teaser https://vimeo.com/838149451 Password: beyond

Ruby Levitt

Ruby is an active Volunteer and Ambassador for Will2Live is a not for profit organization that provide basic necessities for people living on the streets of Sydney - in order to help them live a happier life and healthier life, Ruby visits Wentworth Park every weekend. She cooks the breakfast in addition she spends time socializing and interacting with them. This plays a critical role in supporting the marginalized and disenfranchised members of society. These people now look forward to seeing Ruby - putting smiles on their faces. She is doing now in the 4th year. With the support of her school, Reddam House, to raise a significant amount of money for Will2Live. Ruby's initial involvement with Will2Livewas the result of participating in Challah Bake to bring blessing . In this spirit all the additional Challahs were ti be distributed to those in need. As a result Ruby visited Central Station with her Challahs in search of hungry people, where she stumbled upon Will. She was touched by his personal story and challenges , and she recognised his ongoing dedication and selfless commitment to helping others, that felt compelled to become involved - to make a difference in her own way. This year Ruby has joined the Friendship Circle, a charity that brings people with and without disabilities together to develop friendships through backdrop of fun programs , weekend activities, school holiday camps , getaways and vocational opportunities. Ruby regularly volunteers during school holidays at their Holiday Camp programs in addition she is a weekly volunteer for the ' Friends@Home' program. has teenage volunteers spending quality time with children with special needs in their homes. Furthermore Ruby has been appointed by Unity Earth to the World Unity Week Ambassador for 2023, her the youngest Ambassador for the organisation. This has involved Ruby appearing at several summits along a group of international guest speakers and dignitaries, throughout this year to present her view on World Peace and Unity as Australian Youth Ambassador and as a voice of the next generation of leaders. Ruby is also very artistic - she is a winner of the Harmony Poster competition and made a presentation in NSW Parliament at the Prize Giving on her perspective of LIVE.

Adam Kellerman

Adam Kellerman's journey is a compelling testament to the power of the human spirit and the ability to inspire positive change. From surviving a harrowing battle with bone cancer at the young age of 13, he has continued to amass a remarkable series of achievements that have shaped him into a leader within the community. As a professional wheelchair tennis player, Adam represented Australia in two Paralympic Games, attaining a career-high world ranking of 8. His unwavering dedication to his sport and his exceptional achievements on the court underscore his relentless pursuit of excellence. However, the story doesn't stop there. In 2018, Adam undertook an extraordinary endeavour by walking the treacherous Kokoda Track, despite relying on a wheelchair for seven years. What sets this achievement apart is not just the physical feat but the fact that Adam did it to raise funds for charitable causes, emphasizing his selflessness and his deep commitment to improving the lives of others. But there's more to Adam's remarkable journey. In recent years, his life has taken a profound turn, reconnecting him to his Jewish heritage. After a period of disconnection, he has embraced his faith and spirituality in a way that has added a profound layer to his already inspiring life story. He now actively engages with various groups within the Jewish community, sharing his personal challenges, triumphs, and his journey back to G-d. This reconnection has not only provided Adam with a newfound sense of purpose but also enriched his narrative as a motivational speaker. He now speaks with a depth of experience that resonates with those who have faced their own challenges, infusing his talks with the transformative power of faith and spirituality. But Adam's aspirations for the future extend far beyond his remarkable past. He aims to complete writing his book, a testament to his journey of resilience, faith, and personal growth. He plans to continue his motivational speaking, sharing his unique story and insights with an even broader audience. Furthermore, Adam envisions offering coaching that focuses on building resilience, mindfulness, and well-being. His goal is to help individuals overcome their challenges, find strength within themselves, and achieve personal growth. In the longer term, he has a vision of opening a retreat centre, a haven where people can come to rest, heal, learn, and grow as individuals. Through this, he aims to strengthen not only individuals but also the community as a whole. His future goals align perfectly with his extraordinary journey, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to inspiring positive change in the world. His story embodies the essence of resilience and transformation, demonstrating how one individual can inspire change, healing, and reconnection in the lives of others, and his vision for the future promises to continue this legacy of inspiration.

Zachary Morris

Zac Morris is driven by a personal ethos to make the world a better place, and leads by example by stepping up to advocate for and support others, both within the Jewish community as well as the broader student community. Zac developed his leadership skills as a Fellow in the Susan Wakil Fellowship in 2020, a leadership program for young changemakers. He has applied these skills in myriad contexts to mentor and support students to thrive. Zac is currently studying Politics Philosophy Economics (PPE) Law, and was the founding co-President of the UNSW PPE Society, which he established to bring together the cohort of this newly established degree, and to collaborate with staff to develop the degree and its reputation. In this role, Zac designed a Work-Integrated Learning scheme for disadvantaged PPE students, working with stakeholders to establish ESG consulting internships across leading private sector firms. He also served as the Disabilities Officer on the UNSW Student Representative Council, where he fostered an inclusive environment to assist and advocate for these students. After doing a university assignment on the adverse impact of gambling, Zac took the initiative to draft and present a policy paper on gambling advertising reform to the Minister for Communications and secured the Minister’s undertaking to implement his recommendations. Zac currently serves as Chair of the UNSW Student Leadership Team, and as Undergraduate Representative on the UNSW Academic Board. In his role on the Academic Board, Zac has succeeded in advocating for the wellbeing of students, by successfully leading the campaign within the University Leadership Team to amend a longstanding policy to expedite assessment extensions for vulnerable students encountering difficulties in their studies. He is currently working with the university leadership and relevant MPs on a discrimination prevention strategy for UNSW. In 2022, Zac accompanied young political leaders on an Australia-Israel Mission, building positive relationships with leaders across the political spectrum, particularly with respect to fostering their understanding of and empathy towards Israel and its political context. Zac is a vocal representative for combatting antisemitism at university, being featured in the ABC’s 7.30 Report focussing on antisemitism on campus in August 2023. He was instrumental in facilitating Young Labor’s adoption of the IHRA definition of Antisemitism, and continues to work towards the adoption thereof by the UNSW Student Representative Council. Zac has been appointed as AUJS Federal Vice President for 2024, to allow him to continue his passionate advocacy for all Jewish students across Australia to be able to freely express their Jewish identity without fear of antisemitism. His leadership, commitment to driving positive change, and advocacy on a broad range of issues in the Jewish and wider community make Zac a truly deserving nominee for this award.

Tasin Ospovat

Tasin became involved with Bnei Akiva at a young age and consistently stood out due to her enthusiasm, responsibility, and leadership potential. By the time she reached year 11, she became a Madatz (young leader) and led activities for younger Bnei Akiva members. She continued her journey with the movement and took a Bnei Akiva gap year in Israel. Upon returning to Sydney, she became a Madricha (leader). In this role, Tasin distinguished herself with her dedication, excitement, passion, and commitment to the community. Tasin decided to step up further by becoming the Sganit, the vice director of the movement. This role involved various responsibilities, including overseeing the Junior group and the Madatzim (young leaders), who are year 11 kids. Tasin successfully recruited many year 11s, nurtured their passion, and prepared them for their leadership roles. Tasin leads the junior kids, the Junior Madatzim, and the Madatzim with passion, love, and care for each individual. Her enthusiasm and hard work led to a remarkable achievement: the movement tripled the number of junior kids attending weekly activities. In addition to her role at Bnei Akiva, Tasin's positive influence extends to the wider community, where she regularly volunteers with Friendship Circle.

Davi Smith

Davi's involvement with Bnei Akiva began at a young age, starting in year 2 when he first became part of the movement's activities. As a participant, he consistently stood out due to his enthusiasm, sense of responsibility, and leadership potential. When he reached year 11, he took on roles as a young Madrich, Madatz, and led Bnei Akiva junior kids. Following his gap year experience in Israel, Davi's dedication to Bnei Akiva took on new dimensions. He transitioned into leadership roles as a Madrich, where his commitment and passion continued to shine. His journey within the organization exemplifies his unwavering commitment to the movement and its values. Over the past three years, in addition to his Madrich role, Davi assumed various leadership positions. He served as the head of Minyan for two years, Head of security and head of Kitchen on camps. His involvement in Bnei Akiva goes far beyond words. This year, Davi serves as the Merakez, the director of the movement. Since taking on this role, Davi ensures the movement is efficiently led. Davi is known for his ambitious dreams and leads the Hanhaga and the Madrich body of the movement with immense passion. Thanks to Davi's dedication and leadership, the movement is thriving. He has expanded the number of Chanichim (participants), invested in the personal growth of the Madrichim (counselors), and set high goals for himself. Despite the demanding nature of his role, Davi gives it his all, and his positive approach influences those around him. In addition to his role at Bnei Akiva, Davi's influence on the wider community is inspiring as he works at Moriah College as a Jewish life educator. His commitment to imparting knowledge and values goes beyond the classroom, where he works diligently to foster a sense of community and responsibility among his students.

Liora Hayman

Liora is a remarkable young woman with a strong Jewish identity & love of Israel. She graduated from Keser Torah in 2013 and completed a Bachelor of Education at UNSW in 2019. She is currently the of Head of Jewish Life & Experiential Education at Masada school, she is a dedicated teacher & leader at Masada, focusing on providing students with a rich Jewish education that shapes their Jewish Identity. For the last 3-4 years Liora has curated & led the year 10 Israel & Poland program as well as the school's Pathways camps for high school students. In these initiatives, she places Jewish education & values at the forefront, providing students with a meaningful, educational experience. Liora's work is always of the highest caliber, & she is known to those around her as someone who gives her all. Liora's accomplishments are marked by her ability to create a thriving Jewish educational environment at Masada fostering a strong sense of Jewish identity & values throughout the school & the wider community on Sydney's North shore. Her future aspirations are to further elevate the standard of Jewish education at Masada collaborating with different Jewish day schools throughout Sydney & expanding her reach to more students. Liora is continuously evolving her programs to meet the ever-changing needs of the community & her dream is to unite Jewish day schools in Sydney while providing the next generation with Jewish education that will ensure Sydney's community will thrive for years to come. For these reasons above I am thrilled to nominate my Granddaughter Liora Hayman for the Joshua Levi Young Professional award.

Sarah Greenbaum

Sarah has shown consistent commitment to creating welcoming spaces where members of the Jewish community can come together. She is currently co-chair of the UPJ Biennial Conference working towards a conference that will allow progressive Jewish communities across our region (Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan etc) to come together and identify ways we can do better to engage our existing members and deliver services that are meaningful to more parts of our community. Sarah has had the opportunity to build on her experience in voluntary capacities in Jewish communities around the world. She served on the board of the Hong Kong Jewish Women's Association where she supported fundraising and social impact work. She served on the committee of the Progressive Jewish Congregation of Bangkok where she fostered community by volunteering to organise social events. While living in New Delhi she collaborated with other Jewish diplomats and the local Jewish community to find ways to bring people together. She was also Vice President of the ACT Jewish Community and convenor of the progressive congregation of the ACTJC where she led a multi-year project to strengthen the progressive congregation by fostering community, securing in professional rabbinical support and organisational change. Sarah is a passionate campaigner for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. She has delivered training to hundreds of volunteers and led volunteers in door knocking thousands of houses to allow the campaign to connect with undecided voters. She worked closely with campaign staff to provide logistical support and planning to ensure campaign activities were well equipped and organised to ensure the campaign was best organised when we commenced having respectful conversations about constitutional recognition. In her professional life Sarah works in the pharmaceutical industry seeking to secure policy changes to ensure patients have the strongest possible health system. She was previously Chief of Staff to Julian Leeser MP and a diplomat who worked on advancing Australia’s cooperation with India and getting stranded Australians home during COVID. Sarah recently settled in Sydney after several years of itinerancy, she has joined Emanuel Synagogue and is looking forward to further deepening her roots in the community through volunteering.

Julia Manoy

Julia planned a fun afternoon of netball, organising the event and encouraging her friends to participate, to raise fund for the charity, Dignity. Dignity provides supported temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness and provides services to help people at risk of homelessness. Julia has been supporting Dignity since her Batmitzvah. Julia, in Year 8 at Emanuel School, discussed the Netball Dignity Day with the School's Deputy Principal and asked her to share the flyer she had designed with the high school students and staff. Julia also approached the Sports Staff to borrow the school's netball equipment. Julia and her friends raised almost $1,500 for Dignity. 100% of the funds raised will be used to purchase items to assist in fitting out the homes. Julia has shown great initiative at such a young age. She used her skills to organise and run the event, encouraged her peers to join and even brought the Deputy Principal onboard to help her promote the Netball Dignity Day. She is an excellent role model and her commitment to Tikkun Olam is evident in her words and actions.

Adine Herz

Adina has always been dedicated to the service of her community. From a young age and continuing till now, Adina has performed as a singer in a multitude of community events over the years. Adina has been a soloist with the Sydney Jewish Choral Society since the age of five and has contributed her vocal talents for a multitude of community-based events such as Sheer Madness, The Ballad of Mauthausen and at the Montefiore homes. Adina has been very involved with AUJS in a number of roles, both on campus and for NSW region. She was selected to attend the Leadership Development Program and utilised her leadership skills to bring the Jewish community together (virtually) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adina also enjoyed helping young people learn about Judaism through volunteering at Hineni as a youth and camp leader. As a young adult, Adina joined CSG and for the past 4 years has been dedicating herself to the service of her community through volunteering, at first as a member of the Young Adult Division, and now as a Commander in the Control Division. Adina is clearly a kind, devoted and selfless member of our community, seeking out every opportunity to give of herself, help others and contribute to our community on every level. I feel that she thoroughly deserves this award.

Sarah Teitler

Sarah is an 18-year-old 2023 graduate from St Catherine’s School (STC) who is highly regarded as a young leader within her school community evidenced via her appointment as School Prefect, Cadet Captain (2022-23) and Band Captain (2022-23). Sarah is also an active member within her Jewish community at Maroubra Shule and an enthusiastic member of South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club (SMSC). Sarah started in surf lifesaving since a nipper in the under 6’s. She is a passionate surf life saver and leader at SMSC. Since attaining her Surf Rescue Certificate in 2018, she has completed 242 hours on patrol, including 90 of those to be additional volunteer hours. Sarah’s Surf Lifesaving career has heavily involved her leadership not just within the club, but also throughout the Surf Life Saving Sydney (SLSS), and Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW). Within the 2018-2019 season, Sarah was appointed the SMSC Junior Club Captain and then went on to win the SLSS Junior Life Saver of the Year. This allowed her to attend the 2019 NSW Junior Life Saver of the Year Camp. Sarah was one of the youngest members selected to attend SLSS Young Leaders Program both in 2020 and 2021 in addition to winning SMSC Most Outstanding Cadet of the Year (2019-20). Over the 2021-2022 season Sarah was not only selected to attend NSW Youth Opportunity Makers camp but was awarded the SMSC Most Outstanding Junior (which she won again in 2022-23) and went on to win the SLSS Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, and a finalist for the NSW State award. Through 2021-2023 Sarah has been an Age Manager at SMSC, accumulating in winning the prestigious SLSS Age Manager of the Year for 2022-23. In 2022-23 she was a member of the SLSS Youth Advisory Committee and MC’d the 2023 Syndey Branch Awards of Excellence. Over the last four years Sarah has facilitated the SLSS U11 and U13 development camps, in which over 100 participants in each age group attend. Sarah is currently not only the youngest female, but the youngest member at SMSC to hold the following Life Saving awards. • Surf Rescue Certificate • Bronze Medallion • Advanced Rescue Technique Certificate • IRB Crews • Silver Medallion IRB Drivers • Silver Medallion Aquatic Rescue • Silver Medallion Patrol Captain Award • Vice-Captain of a patrol Sarah has continued her leadership journey within her school community, being the STC Public Speaking and Debating Prefect 2022-23. Within school Sarah is a member of many groups and clubs, one of which being the Waverley College Cadet Unit (WCCU); which Sarah has been apart of since 2020. Her achievements, including working her way up the ranks to Cadet Under Officer and being appointed the Operations Officer and Logistics Officer of the unit; have been acknowledged via the following: • WCCU Most Efficient Corporal 2021 • WCCU Most Efficient Senior Rank 2022 • Colonel R J Marr DFC QC Cane for Meritorious Service 2023 At graduation this year Sarah was awarded the 2023 ADF Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award for her involvement in all the above and hopes to continue to make a constant effort to lead her Jewish and SLS community.

Tsur Tsaban

Tsur was born in Or Yehuda, Israel and at age 6 moved to Perth with his family. Tsur's parents made an intentional decision to not be involved with the Jewish community in Perth, but Tsur found his way to the community and has been committed and involved ever since. He spent a full year in Israel in 2020 and that's what got him excited to join Habonim Dror in 2021. He is currently the Federal Gizbar of Habonim Dror Australia (Federal Treasurer). Beyond his constant involvement at Habonim Dror, in April this year he opened, together with 4 other friends and fellow Habonim Dror volunteers, Moishe House in Perth. Our organization wasn't actively looking to open in Perth, but this group knocked on our door and we were so impressed we decided we had to invest in them and in the young Jewish community of Perth. Tsur was instrumental in making this happen, working with staff at MH and energizing and mobilizing the group. Tsur demonstrated passion, dedication and a clear vision of what they wanted to offer to the Perth community, why they were needed, why a Moishe House would bring value to the community. Tsur also traveled to Belgrade, Serbia, for our international resident training conference, being the only resident from Perth there. He proudly presented his community in front of a crowd of over 100 participants from all over the world and created strong connections with everyone there. Him and the MH residents have been stellar residents, extremely diligent, creative, and above all, caring. The young Jewish community in Perth is certainly seeing that, and events are well attended. They were able to raise over 400 USD within hours, as part of Moishe House's annual fundraising campaign. Tsur and his other roommates are excited to continue building community in Perth and MH is proud to support them.

Adam Dostalek

Ruby Levitt

Adam Kellerman

Zachary Morris

Tasin Ospovat

Davi Smith

Liora Hayman

Sarah Greenbaum

Julia Manoy

Adine Herz

Sarah Teitler

Tsur Tsaban

Adam Dostalek

Ruby Levitt

Adam Kellerman

Zachary Morris

Tasin Ospovat

Davi Smith

Liora Hayman

Sarah Greenbaum

Julia Manoy

Adine Herz

Sarah Teitler

Tsur Tsaban

Joshua Levi Young Professional Award

Young Adult Volunteer 18-36

Young Volunteer Under 18