Menorah Awards Presentation Ceremony 2025
Honouring Light, Courage and Community at the 2025 B’nai B’rith Menorah Awards
The 2025 B’nai B’rith Menorah Awards, held on Sunday November 25, brought together more than 200 community members for a moving celebration of volunteerism, resilience and Jewish values in action. The ceremony opened with the lighting of the seven-branched menorah — the emblem of B’nai B’rith – symbolising Light, Justice, Peace, Benevolence, Friendship, Harmony, and Truth. These ideals set the tone for an evening honouring individuals who bring these principles to life.
This year’s recipients demonstrated an extraordinary breadth of community service:
Talia Boltin, whose creativity and inclusive leadership have made the Emunah Purim Spiel a source of joy, belonging, and meaningful support for vulnerable families in Israel.
Fairlie Nassau, whose quiet, steady dedication has uplifted refugee families, strengthened community organisations, and nurtured a spirit of care across generations.
Evelyn Flitman, whose decades of energetic service across an extraordinary range of causes continue to enrich and empower our community.
Dassi Erlich, Elly Sapper, and Nicole Meyer, who turned their personal trauma into a courageous, world-changing campaign for justice, law reform, and survivor empowerment.
In accepting their honours, each recipient spoke with humility about what it meant to be acknowledged by the community. For Dassi, Elly and Nicole, this moment carried particular weight. They shared that receiving a Menorah Award was more than personal recognition – it was a profound affirmation that the community stands with survivors of abuse. Their acknowledgement signalled not only support for their courageous advocacy but also a collective commitment to ensuring that survivors are heard, believed and upheld.
Guest speaker Kathy Kaplan OAM shared her family’s story with honesty and strength, reflecting on the profound meaning of volunteering and its power to transform both giver and receiver.
Reflecting on the significance of the evening, B’nai B’rith Victoria CEO Ellana Aarons said, “These honourees remind us that in challenging times, bringing light into the world requires heart, courage, kindness, imagination, and the willingness to act.”
The event, held on Mitzvah Day, affirmed a timeless truth: small deeds and steadfast dedication can illuminate even the darkest moments.
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3 Comments
Community service, within the Jewish community and also in the wider community, is one of the ways in which individuals can make significant contributions to other people’s quality of life, in many different ways. The people who do this and devote their time, often over decades, do not do this to seek public recognition. Events like the Menorah Awards, however, remind us of the value of their efforts, and perhaps motivate us to expand our own efforts. Sunday night’s event was superb, and I felt proud to be there as a member of B’nai B’rith. Mazeltov to the awardees, but also to the people who nominated them, along with the BBVic office staff and Menorah Committee who organised the event!
We were happy to attend and watch our friends Fairlie and Evelyn receive their well deserved Menorah awards as well as those for Dassi, Nicole and Elli.
We have been to many B’nai B’rith ceremonies before and in recent years in our memory these have always begun with a ‘Welcome to Country’.
It would have been a nice gesture to have included this on Sunday night.
Sincerely
Jock Orkin and Monica Petterson
The Function was inspiring to hear how remarkable that people have contributed in their own way to make it a better World.