After returning with his daughter from Emanuel School’s Jilkminggan program to the Northern Territory in 2021, Michael Pollak was deeply moved and inspired by the experience of being welcomed into a remote Indigenous community and learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and realised his own deeper connection to land. He also felt that, at a time when his daughter was about to be Bat Mitzvah, she could see first-hand that when we see an injustice, we have a responsibility and ability to do something about it. As a result, Michael founded Tikkun.
In late 2021, after many conversations with both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and within the Jewish community, Michael became more acutely aware of the injustices faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and created the Tikkun Giving Circle. He partnered with Australian Jewish Funders, working closely there with Lisa Pillemer, to develop an innovative and unique intergenerational pilot giving circle for 18 Emanuel Students from the Jilkminggan trip, exploring the Jewish concept of tzedakah, and discussing how core Jewish values including justice, hope, service, responsibility and loving kindness shape our approach to philanthropy.
Over five months, the students were challenged to each raise at least $180 (10 x 18, traditionally the Jewish number signifying ‘life’). They collectively raised over $5,000. The students washed cars, baked cakes, mowed lawns, walked dogs and came up with other entrepreneurial ways to raise funds to pool together. Along with a matching donor, the students had over $10,000 to invest philanthropically to change an Indigenous life, family or community. The Tikkun Giving Circle funded five meaningful and impactful projects, each created in conjunction with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations. In late 2022, Tikkun ran a trip to Kempsey in NSW, to spend time with two Indigenous pre-schools that the giving circle supported.
Graham Toomey, CEO of Gunawirra, said: “As an Aboriginal community led non-profit organisation, Gunawirra was very excited to be approached by Michael Pollak and the Tikkun Giving Circle to build a bridge between our two organisations. We connected and shared, and really appreciated the authentic interest and support the Tikkun Giving Circle provided to the pre-schools we work with in Kempsey, which is one of the largest Aboriginal communities in NSW. Gunawirra greatly appreciates the funds that the Tikkun Giving Circle has provided and we know this will forge a strong and lasting friendship between our two communities.”
In 2023, Michael created Tikkun Wakulda, a Jewish-Indigenous parent/child Nature Connections Retreat, which was a collaboration between Emanuel parents and Stand Up. The 3-night retreat was held at Wangat Lodge, situated in a rainforest at the foothills of the Barrington Tops, which was attended by fifteen year 7 Emanuel students, each with a parent, spending time on country and learning from Indigenous educators and leaders from the Woromi Aboriginal Land Council. Pollak said:
“We were generously gifted the word ‘Wakulda’ for our retreat by Justin Ridgeway from the Woromi Aboriginal Land Council, which means ‘together’, and when combined with the word ‘Tikkun’, our retreat literally meant ‘to heal together’. The name reflected a key objective of our retreat, which was to contemplate the meaning of reconciliation, and forge an enduring bond based on our cultures. It was a true honour and privilege to come together, to listen, learn, connect and share with one another.”