Tazria-M’tzora 

Candle-lighting 5.33pm

Havdalah 6.29pm

by Abby Sar-Shalom  (Year 12)

This week’s parasha is a double one: Tazria-M’tzora. The portion contains descriptions of: the rituals of purification for women after childbirth; methods for diagnosing and treating a variety of skin diseases, including priestly rituals to cure tzara’at (a leprous affection) from both people and dwelling places; male “impurities” related to bodily emissions; and accounts of female “impurities” caused by a discharge of blood. With all of these ideas in mind, it’s fair to say that Tazria-M’tzora confronts us with topics that can feel a bit uncomfortable, and even outright taboo.

In Biblical times, these types of experiences often resulted in separation. A person deemed “impure” was sent outside the camp, physically and socially distanced from others. At first glance, this might seem harsh and feel alien to us – today, we aim to value inclusion, community, and dignity for all people. So, how might we be able to relate to these ancient laws? 

One way of doing this is to first understand the fear that shaped them. In a time before modern medicine, visible illness or bodily difference could signal danger. Separation was not solely about punishment, but protection. Further, the role of the kohen (Jewish priest) was not only to send people away, but also to guide them back when they were ready. Even in exclusion, there was always a path to return.

Dear Community,

On Tuesday, we commemorated Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Memorial Day. The Magid Campus came together for a somber, moving and ultimately uplifting student run Tekes (ceremony) which honoured those who were lost and provided a valuable opportunity to hear testimony from a Holocaust Survivor.

The Tekes provided opportunities for our students to engage with Yiddish songs and poetry and concluded with rousing renditions of the Partisan song - Zog Nit Keynmol (Never Say).

Six students lit candles in honour of the six million Jewish victims and read dedications about their family members who perished at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators. 

It was such a privilege that we were able to hear from Joe Swarcberg, a 95 year old who told his miraculous story of survival. 

Joe was born in 1930 in Kozienice, Poland. He spoke of an idyllic childhood that was brutally interrupted by the invasion of the Nazis who converted the town into a ghetto. There was no access to food and so Joe was required to risk his life on sorties to acquire food outside of the ghetto. He did so in the knowledge that he would be “shot on the spot” if caught.

When Kozienice was liquidated, Joe was able to avoid deportation to certain death at Treblinka. Instead he was transferred to Skarzysko, where he endured forced labour and became accustomed to his fellow inmates dying from starvation and freezing. He was then transported to Buchenwald where he remained until liberation.

The energy was electric at yesterday’s Years 6-12 Inter-House Athletics Carnival! From start to finish, the atmosphere was a perfect blend of high-octane competition and school spirit.

Our athletes took to the track and field with grit and talent, showing off their skills across a massive range of disciplines including individual sprint events, relays, high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put and discus.

The action didn't stop at the finish line. At lunchtime, the House Ruach reached a fever pitch, as students cheered, sang and danced together.

The Staff vs. Students race was both thrilling and entertaining!

Final Results

It was a competitive day for all four Houses, with Galil ultimately taking the top spot on the podium

4th Negev -  2314

3rd Arava -  2552

2nd Kinneret - 2921

1st Galil  - 3029

A huge shout-out to the the KDSPA Volunteers for keeping everyone fueled with a nourishing (and much-appreciated) sausage sizzle.

To KDS Staff for the seamless organization and tireless marshalling throughout the day.

And finally to the students for bringing talent, heart and hustle!

For a collection of photos from the event, please click here The full gallery of photos can be found on myKDS.

 

In the lead-up to Yom HaAtzmaut, ELC children have been learning that Israel is celebrating its 78th year of independence. Through this, key symbols have been introduced, including the Israeli flag and a Magen David. The children have engaged in hands on experiences to deepen their understanding, like, drawing and painting the Israeli flag and constructing a Magen David using icy pole sticks.

Building on this interest, children in Gan Rimon extended their learning to explore a variety of flags from around the world. This included a focus on the Australian flag and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands flags, providing opportunities to begin discussions around identity, belonging, and cultural representation. The children are very excited about the Yom HaAtzmaut celebrations on Wednesday next week.

Chag Sameach!

On Tuesday, the Magid Campus commemorated Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laG'vurah (Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day) with a moving tekes (ceremony). 

We were very fortunate to have survivor Joe Szwarcberg share his miraculous and harrowing testimony with us. 

In honour of the assembly’s theme of Names, five students (alongside survivor Joe Szwarcberg) lit candles in memory of family members who perished in the Shoah, sharing their names, experiences, and legacy with us. Jesse Z (Yr 9) read an excerpt in the original Yiddish from Aaron Zeitlin’s 1946 poem A Kholem fun nokh Maydanek (A dream after Majdanek), in which he recited the names of Jewish children, mourning their destruction.

Layla O (Yr 8) and Emma K-L (Yr 12) sang Isaiah Shpigl’s Makh Tsu Di Eygelekh (Close your little eyes), a beautiful Yiddish song written in the Lodz Ghetto which narrates a parent guiding their child through their terrifying circumstances. The two also led the School in a rousing rendition of the Partizaner Hymn (Partisan Song).

We also heard Geoff Garber recite El Male Rachamim and Gemma H (Yr 10) and Lev C-W (Yr 12) recite Elie Wiesel’s Kaddish L’Yom HaShoah (Mourner’s Kaddish for the Holocaust).

Thank you to Joe for sharing his remarkable experience with us, and to the committee of dedicated students who wrote, organised, and performed the assembly.

Over the past few weeks, students in Years 9 & 10 Hebrew classes embarked on a fascinating journey into a world we all visit every night, yet few truly understand: the world of sleep and dreams. We learned that sleep is not just rest. It is essential fuel for both the body and the brain. While many of us tend to think of sleep as "wasted time" our classroom learning revealed a completely different picture. We discovered that while we sleep, our bodies are hard at work repairing tissues, strengthening the immune system, and releasing growth hormones. A process that is especially vital for us as teenagers.

Sleep acts as a "cleaner" for the brain; it helps us process emotions, reduce stress levels, and maintain mental balance. Research shows that it is during sleep that the brain organizes the information we learned throughout the day, transferring it into our long-term memory.

One of the most captivating topics we explored was the role of dreams. We found that dreaming is a broad cultural phenomenon. In Jewish Tradition and Kabbalah we learned that dreams are seen as having deep significance. Kabbalah teaches that if you have a bad dream, it is best to share it with others to "transform" the luck and change its interpretation for the better. In Native American Cultures the use of a "Dreamcatcher" is intended to filter out bad dreams and allow only the good ones to pass through. Inspired by this tradition, we hand-crafted our own dreamcatchers to "trap" nightmares in the web, letting only positive dreams flow through the centre.

Mazal Tov to Milo Friedman (Class of 2025) who was selected for the prestigious Top Arts 2026 exhibition at the NGV! Out of a vast pool of talented VCE Art Making and Exhibiting students, Milo’s work was recognized for its exceptional creativity and skill.

Milo is photographed with his work Obduktion, 2025 in Top Arts 2026 on display from 13 March – 19 July 2026 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne. Photo: Eugene Hylan

At the end of last term, Year 4 students embarked on the first of several sessions this year in the Sailing the Four Cs program — an engaging initiative designed to foster curiosity while developing the essential 21st-century skills of Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Character.

This interdisciplinary approach connects learning across science, technology, geography, history, and the arts, making learning both meaningful and memorable.

Students participated in a hands-on introduction to the intricate world of sailing and  explored the various parts of the boat, understanding their functions and importance.

Teamwork was a key component of the day and the experience fostered a sense of unity and resilience among the students.

Join us for a discussion inspired by the book "Ruptured", a powerful collection of essays from thirty-six women, revealing how their lives in Australia were irrevocably changed by the events of October 7
Date: Thursday 30 April
Featuring: Noè Harsel - writer, podcaster and arts leader, Galit Klas - Melbourne playwright and performer, Melinda Jones - pioneering legal scholar and author, Elise Esther Hearst - TBI member, writer and performer, Moderator - Lee Kofman - author, editor & co-editor of Ruptured

The next session of Storytime with Savta will take place on Sunday, 26 April at 10.30am in the Junior School library (373 Dandenong Road). Please register here.
Children aged 3-5 years old and their families are welcome to join us where stories are read b'Ivrit (in Hebrew). 
When: Sunday 26 April, 10.30am
Where: Library at our Dandenong Rd Campus, 373 Dandenong Road, Armadale

We invite families to join us for Charlie and the Screen-free Factory as award-winning comedian and host of The Weekly, Charlie Pickering chats with King David students about the government’s social media ban, social media use, screen addiction and more. Gain insight into the social media lives of our children and get helpful hints about managing the complex challenges of social media.
This event is part of our innovative Ctrl Alt Del initiative, aimed at helping families reduce children's screen time and smartphone dependence (using a strength-in-numbers approach).
DATE: Wednesday 29 April
TIME: 7.30 pm
VENUE: Caulfield Park Pavilion
It will be a highly engaging evening, and there will also be an opportunity to have a drink, something to eat and socialise with other parents.
This is a free event but you need to register your attendance here