Insights

Joining under the banner of “Uniting the World to Tackle Climate Change”, delegates have been meeting in Glasgow over the last fortnight at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26). COP 26 is billed on its website as “an event many believe to be the world’s best last chance to get […]

We are now half way through the end-of-year VCE examination period. In the lead up to the exam period I wrote to our Year 12s. Here is an extract: I want to let you all know that we are just so immensely proud of you. Year 12 is meant to be a high stakes and

“Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth.” This quote by renowned author and physician, Dr Helen Caldicott, expresses the incomparable esteem in which our educators should be held. Similarly, playwright George Bernard Shaw stated that “[t]o me the sole hope

“There are always miracles in the world, even when all seems hopeless. And when there are no miracles, you can make them happen. With a simple act of kindness, you can save another person from despair, and that might just save their life. And this is the greatest miracle of all.” These inspirational words come

Recently, Melbourne surpassed the unwanted world record for cumulative days in lockdown. This unfortunate milestone has been somewhat lightened by the first steps towards returning our students to their classrooms. This week we were thrilled to welcome our final year VCE students back for their classes and we eagerly anticipate the return of further year

We are well within the Days of Awe between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, where our tradition teaches that it is time to acknowledge past wrongdoings and look forwards with commitment to striving to be our best selves in the year ahead.  We all appreciate what a difficult year this has been. We have all

A phenomenon of living in the Diaspora is the dualism involved in simultaneously keeping in mind our secular and Jewish life experiences. This can affect us at many levels but one pragmatic one is holding two conflicting calendars in consideration. There are times when this can prove challenging, for instance the dreaded Yom Kippur –

At the start of this year I addressed our Year 12s with a great sense of optimism about what lay ahead of them. At that stage, we had been largely free of restrictions since November, except for a brief reduction in gathering numbers and a mask mandate on New Years Eve. Things were certainly looking

I’m not going to lie – this has been a tough week.  Melbourne comedian, Titus O’Reilly, aptly summed it up on Twitter earlier this week by stating, “I give today zero stars!”  We have all been upset by the news of the violations of COVID-safe protocols from within the community and the extension and tightening

One day, Honi was walking along the way and he saw a man who was going to plant a carob tree. Honi said to him: how many years until it will bear fruit? The man answered: 70 years. Honi asked: is it clear that you will be alive in 70 years? The man answered: I