About Us
Our Mission
jwave connects families outside of the NSW Jewish school system. Together, we’re building an inclusive and supportive Jewish community.
Through jwave’s local networks and social activities, jwave families form new and deeper relationships, and foster stronger connections to Jewish values and community.
We are powered by BJE.
Our Values
These six pillars guide jwave in everything we do and how we do it.
Inclusivity
An open, connected, and vibrant Jewish community is inclusive. We welcome all backgrounds and embrace all families who seek Jewish connections.
Connection
We actively cultivate a deeper sense of belonging and create pathways for connection as a family, a community and with our personal sense of Jewishness.
Good Vibes
We are energised by our togetherness and find joy in creating new relationships and memories with one another.
Kindness
Kindness is our way of being. We lift each other up with support and respect everyone’s uniqueness.
Commitment
We are passionately committed to jwave’s purpose and seek continuous improvement in order to better serve our community.
Repairing the World (Tikkun Olam)
Everything we do has a ripple effect. We seek to heal the world through self-improvement, social justice and environmental conservation.
Our Story
jwave started with a desire for stronger Jewish connections
jwave was formed in 2019 when Rochelle Solsky, whose kids had recently enrolled in a non-Jewish school, found her family missing something: the feeling of strong connection to Jewish community.
As an alumnus of a Jewish school and active member of the Sydney Jewish community, Rochelle did not want her kids to miss out on that magical feeling of belonging to Jewish community that she so cherished in her own life.
So Rochelle – a community-builder by nature – reached out to over 170 parents at non-Jewish schools from all corners of Sydney’s Jewish community. What she found was that despite different geographies, schools and backgrounds, nearly all of them harboured the same desire for more Jewish connections for their family.
With this as their fuel, the parents banded together and generously gave their time, energy and ideas to form jwave: a community built by and for their families. Even a pandemic couldn’t stop them!
jwave is now powered by BJE and is working every day to make their vision a reality.
What Makes Us Special
Our Parent Volunteer Program
It takes hearts and hands to make everything we do happen. We can’t do it without our amazing group of parent volunteers!
Learn more about the many ways to volunteer and help create the community you want for you and your family.
Our Inclusive Community
We welcome, respect and include all families who seek Jewish connections.
We see diversity as our strength and aim to create a community where you can access Jewish life in a way that feels right for you.
Our Team
Natalie Gainsley
Natalie is the Program Manager for jwave. Her role is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of jwave’s events and experiences. This also includes marketing activities designed to promote jwave’s many initiatives and build continued awareness and support within the community for the progam itself.
Natalie has over 15 years experience working in a number of brand building and marketing roles both in Australia and the UK. Having spent 7 years living in London, it is here where she met her husband and started a family before relocating back to Sydney. Natalie loves to travel, search for beautiful sunsets, enjoys cycling and drinking lots of coffee.
Jaime Resnik
Jaime’s main focus with jwave is to engage with parents and work together on developing and implementing events that bring families together in a socially Jewish context.
Jaime has extensive experience in not-for-profit development and sharing impacts of social change in both the international aid and development and disability sector. She is an experienced campaigner, having worked in the Fundraising space before moving into Community Engagement.
Jaime grew up in Toronto, Canada, and has lived in Sydney, Australia for the past 6 years with her husband and young son.
Connecting FAMILIES. Creating COMMUNITY.
Follow our community
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters of Australia, and pay respect to all Elders - past, present and emerging.