Our History
It all began with a bag of potatoes.
In 2007, Vivienne Bensky was asked by a community member for a simple thing: a bag of potatoes. This was the moment that she realised that our community needed to come together and help those amongst us, experiencing hardship.
In August, 2007, Perth Jewish Needy was created by Vivienne Bensky to support the efforts of Phillip Saddik. At that time, Phillip, as the WA Chai Foundation representative in Perth, had tirelessly helped those less fortunate for many years but it had become apparent to him that the need was significantly growing.
Back then, the community was unaware of the need, so Vivienne began to ask the community for their surplus unwanted goods. The community began to bring their unwanted goods to her garage and these items were then either given to families in need or sold at a Sunday Swap Meet to raise funds for their sustainability.
When this initiative outgrew the garage, the Maurice Zeffert Home donated usage of a retirement village home for sorting goods and a donated space in Newcastle Street for furniture and surplus.
Len Atlas became a volunteer in the Swap Meet initiative and wanted to extend his kindness. With the suggestion of Phillip, he formed the Northern Suburbs Jewish Hardship Fund via Noranda Shule in October 2008 which Phillip could access for funding.
As both the need and activities grew, the Menora Charity Fund was registered as an Australian tax-deductible charity with DGR status on the 10th January 2011 to serve those who were vulnerable and needing the hand of kindness in our community.
With the desire to create one community organisation focused on the challenges within our community it was decided in 2016 to amalgamate this Hardship Fund into Menora.
In 2021, Jewish Care dissolved and the Menora Foundation incorporating Jewish Care WA was formed as one voice for those who needed the hand of kindness. Shalom House was also granted usage by Menora from the DCP.
On the 22 January 2017 Menora moved into our 350 square metre purpose-built warehouse behind the Jewish Centre on Maccabi land near the Maurice Zeffert Home. As Menora now had a permanent home, a complete volunteer management structure was developed to manage the warehouse, run communal fund-raising activities and involve the youth of the community with mitzvot through Menora.
This brings us to today, when Menora has become the umbrella that brings together our community in kindness, love and the desire to ensure that every member of the Perth Jewish Community has an opportunity to thrive.
History in photos
Take a look through our history and key milestones that brought us to where we are today.
Menora’s Co-Founders Vivienne Bensky and Phillip Saddik.
Barney Wasserman z”l our first volunteer to join on 16th August 2010. Early days in the garage polishing shoes. Barney was a volunteer for 15 years.
Cynthia Witkin, Jane Figgis, Louise Nidorf and Leslie Goldman 16th September 2009. The garage days – sorting teams prepared the goods for the Swap Meet at Karrinyup Shopping Centre. Cynthia and Louise are still members of the warehouse sorting team.
Carmel School Students came weekly to sort in Viv’s garage after school. 16th August 2010.
Jake Steed and Blake Flinkier sorting in Viv’s garage. University students were an active cohort of volunteers in the garage. They also provided great support with furniture moving at Phillip’s home. 27th June 2011.
First large communal sorting day. Held at a donated space in Newcastle Street by the Beinart and Adonis Families. Percy Schwartz volunteered in the electrical department. 1st March 2010.
3 generations attended Swap Meet at Karrinyup Shopping Centre. Dedicated Team Captain Sue Willner and her daughter Tamar. Sue’s nephew Ariel Walters and his daughter in the front Charlotte. September 2019 Swap Meet.
Debbie Benn and Carmel Students with donated food for Rosh Hashana. Organised by Debbie Benn, the Carmel School family still donate food items for Rosh Hashana, Pesach and Shavuot. Debbie Benn introduced and encouraged the students to raise funds for the Elul Project for Rosh Hashana and matanot l’evyonim for Purim since 2010.
Unit 302 – volunteers saying goodbye as we’re packing up to move into our new home. December 2016.
March Long Weekend 2015. Hyde Park Set Up Display Team. The event lasted for 2 days at Hyde Park with over 100 volunteers manning the Menora stall over the two day event.
Facilitated by Ian Green and Phillip Saddik, this is the land that Joan Hillman and Mark and David Adonis found for Menora on Maccabi land. The journey of getting the building designed, Phillip and Viv fundraising and signing off on the deal with Maccabi took 2.5 years! 22nd May 2013.
Phillip dedicating the warehouse with its front door mezuzah, surrounded by board members. Vivienne Bensky, Irwin Tollman, Denzil Twyman, Len Atlas, Phillip Saddik, Ilana Sasson, Jonathan Saddik, Leith Flinkier. January 2017.
First garage sale team held at the warehouse. July 2017.
First Menora warehouse open day for the community to see the warehouse. Function catered by Menora Volunteers. Shelley Krasenstein z”l, Jessica Karotkin, Leith Flinkier and Beth Paletz. July 2017.
Warehouse thank you function for volunteers. Rita Saddik z”l, Vivienne Bensky, Melanie Greenfeld, Jonathan Saddik, Phillip Saddik, and Karen Silbert. September 2018.
First Mitzvah Day garage sale at the warehouse. Debbie Benn organised the Carmel School Judaica Staff volunteering at the Menora garage sale. The Carmel Staff still volunteer at Menora on this world international day event. Mitzvah Day November 2017.
Rosh Hashana biscuit bake for Menora Families. Initially created and led by Sharon Cherney in 2012 encouraging her daughter Gila to be involved in chesed for her Bat Mitzvah. Sharon then continued to lead this initiative for 10 years for Menora. September 2017.
Paul Sander established the Menora Muscle Power Team to support the warehouse sorting team. This initiative provides much-needed muscle power to help reorganize the warehouse after sales, ensuring efficiency and smooth operations. Pictured is Ashley Hadassin, Trenton Barrett, Brendan Bensky and Paul Sander. September 2019.
Purim Carnival run by youth for Menora Families. Community youth groups Netzer, Habonim and Bnei Akiva. March 2020.
Phillip Saddik’s Menora farewell function. Phillip with board members Leith Flinkier, Len Atlas, Irwin Tollman and Ross Wasserman. June 21st 2020.
Join the Menora volunteer family
Our volunteer cohort is a vibrant group ranging from school children to retirees and many in-between. We have people working in the warehouse doing a range of jobs from clothes sorting, jewellery, electrical checking and tagging and more. We also have volunteers who offer pro-bono services and skills that benefit our clients. We are always looking for new volunteers and are open to new opportunities, so if you have a special skill, we can find a place for you at Menora.
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