Candle lighting 7.58pm | Havdalah 9.02pm

This week’s parasha tells of Yitzchak (Isaac), the son of Avraham (Abraham), facing conflicts with his neighbours over wells in the Negev desert. In the Bible, wells often serve as ‘town centres’ – places where people meet, conflicts arise, and encounters with God take place.

In Vayera (which we read two weeks ago) and Toldot (which we read this week), we are presented with two different models of how we might grapple with conflict over land and natural resources. Avimelech’s servants claim one of the wells that Avraham has dug. In response, Avraham does not yield; he asserts his rights to the fruits of his labour, and demands what rightfully belongs to him – without compromise. On the other hand, Yitzchak shies away from confrontation, simply avoiding conflict when Philistines block up the wells he dug. Rather than escalate, he simply digs new wells. He quietly perseveres, until he manages to secure his hold on newly dug wells, without confrontation, in a way that fosters coexistence. In doing so, he not only secures water but also demonstrates faith that God’s blessing will support his efforts.

Yesterday, students and staff celebrated the festival of Sigd (from the word 'prostration'), traditionally marked by Beita Yisrael (Ethiopian Jews) and, since 2008, an Israeli national holiday. Sigd is held 50 days after Yom Kippur, to reaffirm the commitment of Beita Yisrael to Judaism, God and the Torah, and to the dream of returning to Jerusalem. 

At lunchtime, students and staff came together to eat vegan (except for honey) Ethiopian food, including injera bread with stews, and himbasha bread with Gumuz honey, along with thyme-infused Ethiopian tea. People learned more about the festival and listened to Ethiopian Jewish music. (You can also see photos from yesterday's central Sigd celebration, held in Jerusalem, here.) 

Celebrating Sigd allowed our students to experience Jewish life and living through a different lens and to bond with our siblings from Beita Yisrael and the rest of Israel. 

Dear Community,

This week, our VCE Unit 3 & 4 students completed their final examination of 2025. Immediately afterwards, our Years 10 and 11 students entered their exam period and they will be followed by our Year 9s in early December.

Written exams have long been a feature of our matriculation system. There is continued debate over whether this is the most effective way to assess student skills and knowledge and to allow for teachers and students to address any areas that require further development.

In my view, the end-of-semester exam serves value in allowing for peak points of consolidation of knowledge and for bringing accountability to students in ways that can enhance their learning. It is with both gratitude and some consternation that I note the semesterly change of gears, as students become more serious about their diligence and effort. While I am pleased to see them applying themselves effectively, I have concerns that it takes the high-stakes examination to drive their motivation. 

I do worry that the cultural reception of exams feeds a misconception of student assessment which aligns grades with status or value. This is not the purpose of assessment. Rather, we adopt a range of assessment techniques in order to identify any gaps in a student’s learning so that these can be addressed and also to identify core strengths so that these can be consolidated.

Arguably, it would be more beneficial to see exam results as akin to the results of a blood test. Rather than feeling elated or humiliated by an outcome, we see this as a vital screening opportunity to obtain a clearer picture of health and wellbeing and, most importantly, as an opportunity to rectify any concerns through lifestyle changes or other interventions.

The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) honoured outstanding community leaders at its 87th Annual General Meeting this week. 

Among the recipients was Sidra Moshinsky, who received the General Sir John Monash Award for her decades of service across multiple organisations including The King David School, Bialik College, Stand Up, JCCV and the Jewish Museum of Australia. Sidra served as Director of Jewish Life and Learning at KDS until the end of 2023.

On receiving the award, Sidra said her "involvement to date has never felt like service, in the sense of doing something selflessly for others, because it’s who I am, and I’ve been so enriched every step of the way.”

A worthy recipient.  Mazal Tov Sidra!

What a magical way to celebrate a year of learning, adventure and growth in Senior Kinder! Children and their families gathered yesterday in their much-loved Bush Kinder setting, filling the space with song, laughter and plenty of joyful play.

A highlight was the treasure hunt, which had families exploring the bush to uncover hidden surprises together. To see a selection of photos, please click here

Thank you to our exceptional educators for their inspiring mentorship throughout the year.

This past year, the Junior School has been filled with excitement and enthusiasm as students immersed themselves in learning Hebrew. In the final term, students from Prep to Year 2 worked collaboratively to prepare for a special performance showcased during our Monday t’filah.

The Prep students impressed us with their morning song and demonstrated their knowledge of the letters of the Alef-Bet. Year 1 students highlighted their growing proficiency in reading Hebrew vowels and serenaded us with a delightful song about family. Year 2 brought energy and joy to the stage with their lively birthday songs, perfectly matching the semester’s ‘Birthday’ theme.

As we head towards the end of the school year, the entire Hebrew team wishes everyone a restful and enjoyable holiday. We look forward to welcoming all the students back next year for another wonderful year of learning together.

Tuesday night’s Senior Music Soirée was a remarkable showcase of the extraordinary skill and dedication of our emerging young performers. Seven students (Zach Banner, Sophia Barolsky, Asher Bloch, Reuben Goldfarb, Toby Hauser, Ebony Lewis and Emily Umansky) presented a diverse program that highlighted their talent, commitment and craft on their instrument. Audience members were treated to an engaging repertoire that spanned contemporary pieces, classical works, and modern arrangements inspired by songs from yesteryear. Six of the students were also performing as part of their VCE Music Unit 2 performance assessment - our largest cohort in some years! Whether performing solo or in small ensembles, the students presented performances of a consistently high standard, creating an evening that was both polished and enjoyable.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our dedicated music staff, whose guidance and encouragement continue to inspire our students to strive for excellence. We also thank families and friends for supporting our performers and celebrating their achievements. Congratulations to all seven musicians for presenting such an exceptional evening of music. We look forward to seeing their continued growth and success.

This term, Year 9 Jewish Studies has been focused on ethical dilemmas. Along with learning about Machloket l’Shem Shamayim (arguments for the sake of heaven) or how to have respectful disagreements, they have been focusing on many understandings within the Jewish world on topics related to Sanctity of Life. As part of this unit, they focused on several ethical dilemmas, including VAD (Voluntary Assisted Dying). Marc Light came to speak to the cohort about his mother, Helen Light's decision to access VAD in 2022. Marc spoke about the struggle he faced, as her son, with this decision, as well as discussing the legal restrictions and processes the family faced and navigated together.  

We really appreciate Marc's willingness to share his mother's memory with the students and help put a human and communal face on this challenging ethical dilemma. 

In what was the last time a Maccabi Championship was played at Cranbourne Golf Club after almost 73 years, Benjamin Lewis, Year 6 KDS student had a brilliant win!  In the Finals of the Maccabi Singles Matchplay Championship, with a sudden death playoff hole by hole, Benjamin was crowned the champion! 

Reflections from Benjamin: 

From my perspective, the 2025 Maccabi Matchplay Finals were an unforgettable experience. Standing on the first tee, I felt the weight of the occasion but also the thrill of competing at such a high level. Every shot demanded focus, and I knew that one lapse could swing the momentum. As the match unfolded, I managed to stay composed, especially on the greens, where my putting wasn't great under pressure. Winning the title was a proud moment, but it was the journey through each hole that made it truly special. 

Facing Phil Serry in the final was both a challenge and an honour. He pushed me to raise my game, and his creativity with shot making kept me on edge throughout. There were moments when I thought the match might slip away, but his relentless drive reminded me that I had to stay sharp. Phil’s resilience and sportsmanship made the contest feel less like a battle and more like a shared performance, where both of us showcased what we love about golf.

Victorian Association of Jewish Ex & Servicemen & Women (VAJEX) held a special remembrance Service on Sunday 16 November. 

Ely Green (Year 6) and myself attended the VAJEX Remembrance Service. King David was also represented by Ryder Stabey (Year 8) in his 10th Caulfield Scout Group uniform and alumnus Sam Kagan (Class of 2007), who voluntarily assists in the organisation of the Service. The Service was a moving reminder of the impact of Jewish people who served in the Australian Armed Forces. All who attended reflected on the courage and sacrifices of those mentioned in the speeches and ceremony. Lest We Forget! 

Throughout this semester of Year 7 Humanities, students worked very hard tackling the difficult problem of climate change and how our cities can be designed to sustainably manage the needs of a growing population while reducing our carbon footprint.

In groups, students researched, designed and built models of sustainable cities of the future. Each city had to incorporate zero-emissions solutions across four key sectors: Energy, Transportation, Housing/Infrastructure and Agriculture. At their Exhibition last Friday, the cohort shared their ideas with the school community and their enthusiasm and knowledge was evident to all who were in attendance.  Please see a selection of photos from the Expo here

A big congratulations to the winners of the competition, Forest Canopy, Arbelle Attias-Rabinowitz, Asher Dermer, Carmel Frenkel, Pearl Raphael-Zimmet and Natey Taft and who worked tirelessly throughout the process to develop their vision of a brilliant Future City full of innovative zero-emisisons ideas. 

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Is your child approaching B’nei Mitzvah age? Stand Up is excited to launch our Parent–Child Nature Retreat in Victoria - a two-night immersive experience designed to deepen connection, explore Jewish values, and help mark this milestone with meaning.
Our first retreat will be a Father & Son program for the 2026 Year 6/7 cohort, with additional Parent–Child retreat options to be announced in early 2026. This retreat will be led by two incredible fathers, community leaders, and informal educators: Gabe Freund (Stand Up CEO) and Gary Samowitz (former Stand Up CEO).
Join us for our upcoming online Info Night at 8pm, Wednesday 3 December, to hear about:

Make your own sundae, connect with other families and learn more about our B’nei Mitzvah Program! 
A Progressive Jewish partnership between TBI, Etz Chayim and Kedem - this is the perfect opportunity to see if this B’nei Mitzvah Program can shape your child’s Jewish journey.
Details:
5.30pm-6.30pm
Wednesday 10 December
Registration Essential: https://tbi.shulcloud.com/event/bm-info-25