This week, the entrance to the Senior School was transformed into a Tel Aviv nightclub, a Mediterranean beach setting and a downtown Israeli shuk. Meanwhile, the Junior School explored meaningful Israeli inventions and unique icons, was buoyed with communal singing and the incredible Year 4 Israeli flag parade – not once, but twice – as has become the Year 4’s birthright.

Following our sombre and heartfelt commemoration of Yom HaZikaron earlier in the week, the School transitioned to celebration as we marked Israel’s 74th birthday with an epic Yom HaAtzmaut. Yom HaAtzmaut is a peak, memorable day for our students and is expressive of the deep and abiding connection with Israel that is inherent in a King David education. Our School’s connection to Israel reflects its central position in Jewish identity.

On Yom HaAtzmaut, and throughout their Israel education, our students do not just indulge in the kef (fun), we also expose students in an age and stage appropriate manner to the complexities inherent in Israeli society.

The pinnacle of our Israel education is our Yesh trip to Israel that typically takes place at the end of Year 10. This year, we will be sending both Year 10 and Year 11 to Israel as we were unable to send a group last year due to the pandemic.

As students mature through their schooling we aim to develop their understanding of Israel’s history, culture, tradition, social issues and politics. This involves developing an appreciation of Hebrew language, Israeli music, film, art and cuisine. It also involves an honest reflection on the schisms that exist in Israeli society and a critical analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Indeed this “hugging and wrestling” approach which fosters a deep sense of connectedness to Israel while also acknowledging its challenges, reflects the sophistication and nuance of a meaningful Israel education.

In the lead up to Yom HaAtzmaut, a resolution was passed by the University of Melbourne Student Union which was vehemently critical of Israel, denigrated Zionism and called for an academic boycott of Israelis. This has led to an outcry of disappointment and outrage from across the Jewish community.

The resolution was abhorrent for many reasons. What was perhaps most galling was the way that it sought to instruct our community on how we should understand our identity. This was put well in the statement from the Australian Zionist Youth Council which stated that in the resolution “UMSU has erased any recognition of the Jewish people as a nation and ethnicity with an inalienable connection to the land of Israel. Their attempt to define Judaism without consulting any Jews is simply outrageous.”

Embedded within our school’s vision is the desire to create for our students “a close and meaningful relationship with the land and State of Israel.” We recognise that for many of our families, their Jewish identity is inextricably linked with their relationship to Israel.

We believe that through our sophisticated and open approach to teaching about Israel, we empower our students to find a connection that aligns with their values and enables them to deeply engage with and care about Israel while also gaining a true appreciation of the need to strive for peace and justice in line with the founding vision of the modern state.

Shabbat Shalom,

Marc