If you will it, it is no dream.

These were the words of Theodore Herzl, spoken when Israel was just a dream, and an appropriate title for Dr. Suzanne Rutland’s book on Moriah’s history, which also seemed improbable back in 1943.

This year, we celebrate 80 years since our College founders, led by Abraham Rabinovitch, had a vision to sustain Jewish continuity in Sydney, by prioritising Jewish education. While Europe was deep in the horrors of the Holocaust, at the other end of the world, Rabinovitch recruited a German refugee – Rabbi Blumenthal – to run a new Hebrew school in the Eastern Suburbs. In his first address, Rabbi Blumenthal explained that “Jewish learning must rank as the foremost in value when our very national existence is at risk.”  

Based on this vision, the first class of 25 students gathered to learn at what eventually became Moriah College.

But to will something into existence, a vision needs to be backed up by concrete actions.

Herzl didn’t just have a dream; he had clear plans, created a Zionist organisation, recruited support, and engaged in diplomacy.

Likewise, Abraham Rabinovitch didn’t just share a nice idea of a Jewish school in Sydney. He took sustained, incremental action to make the dream a reality. He would go door to door around the streets of Bondi, looking for houses with mezuzot to explain the need for a new school. He found a suitable property and arranged financing to buy the site at 115 Glenayr Avenue Bondi – so that there would be a focal point for students and the community. And he recruited leaders and teachers like Rabbi Blumenthal.

Since then, each generation of our Moriah Family has built upon the shoulders of those who came before us. And each Moriah Board has taken decisions and concrete actions to ‘will the dream into reality.’ It wasn’t always linear progress, but by incrementally advancing the College over time, 80 years later, Moriah College has not only survived but thrived, providing students with an outstanding secular and modern orthodox Jewish education, a strong sense of belonging, and the confidence to go out into the world as well-rounded young adults. The site at 115 Glenayr Avenue is still filled with Jewish children, but since the original class of ~25 students in 1943, there have been more than 7000 graduates of the College who have become the cornerstone of Jewish continuity in Sydney. As I enter my final year as President of the Board, I’d like to reflect on the incremental but important pieces we have put in place over the past few years, particularly the past 12 months.

If I had to summarise what we have willed into reality in recent years, I would say that the core contribution has been to add RIGOUR, where it really counts. By that, I mean we have heightened the professionalism in all activities that underpin the College’s success. We have reinforced our core processes and systems, innovated leading-edge new programs, reinvigorated our culture, and demonstrated remarkable resilience through Covid.

The Board’s focus is always on how we can raise the bar for the College. We have supported Rabbi Smukler in implementing the School Improvement Plan to enhance academic outcomes, teaching quality, and our positive education culture. And a fundamental responsibility of the Board has been to continue the path of strong financial and fiscal management. In the last three years, we have repaid $12m in debt through a combination of financial discipline and support from the Moriah Foundation. We’re in a healthy cash position and have a platform to grow.

While we are not complacent, we are now at the point where the rigour that we have put in place is beginning to pay off.

Our reputation has been strengthened, and enrolments are healthy. We have finished in the top 30 schools in the HSC in back-to-back years while remaining a non-selective school for ALL students. We have emerged from Covid more resilient and valuing our in-person community even more.

I’d like to spell out some of the rigour we have implemented, which is behind this photograph of success and yet is not always seen.

It began with establishing the right leadership. As I look across all levels of the College, we now have a stellar team in place. Under the skilled, tenacious leadership of Rabbi Smukler, and assisted by Vice Principal Roberta Goot OAM, we have created a cohesive team and a thoughtful structure, so educators can focus on teaching our students, and administrators can run the school efficiently.

Starting with our Early Learning Centres, our newly appointed ELC Campus Coordinators, together with Dalia Ottensooser, have done a fantastic job building on the work of Cathy Milwidsky. Lynda Fisher and her Primary School team continue to innovate and set an excellent foundation for students to enter the High School, where Mark Hemphill and Assunta Di Gregorio have elevated the critical building blocks of learning and established a community-minded culture. Meanwhile, Rabbi Gad Krebs and Talya Wiseman have shown that rigour can also be applied to creating a vibrant Jewish spirit and learning curriculum. Thank you to these leaders and the fantastic teams behind them.

As announced last year, Rabbi Smukler made the decision to embark on a two-year process to make Aliyah, accelerating a lifelong ambition for his family to live together in Israel. He graciously provided us with a long runway to prepare for the transition, and will remain as Moriah College Principal until the end of this year with the full support and confidence of the Board of Directors. We are enormously grateful for all that Rabbi Smukler has achieved and look forward to an opportunity to officially acknowledge and thank him, later in the year.

In March this year, I was delighted to announce that we had appointed Mrs. Mira Hasofer to the role of Moriah College Principal, effective from the beginning of the 2024 academic year.

At her core, Mira is a proud Moriah graduate who has embraced the opportunity to lead the College and once again call Moriah ‘home’.  Her historic appointment as both the first graduate and first woman to hold the position of College Principal is an exciting step as we celebrate 80 years of being a cornerstone of Jewish education in Sydney.

Mira deeply values the pillars and ethos upon which Moriah College stands and shares our commitment to academic excellence through exceptional secular and Jewish education, and attracting and retaining the most outstanding educators and support staff. She is passionate about fostering within students a desire to achieve their personal best, a commitment to act with kindness, celebrate learning and take responsibility for shaping a Jewish Sydney future that we can all be proud of. 

Rabbi Smukler and Mira will have the opportunity for an orderly transition over the next six months and I will work hard to ensure continuity in my final year as Board President, which will overlap with the first six months of Mira’s arrival at Moriah.

The transition is made easier by the rigour now embedded in the programs, systems, and innovative initiatives we have incrementally developed.

Let’s take a closer look at these, starting with academic outcomes, where our goal is to inspire, educate and motivate every student to perform at their personal best.

Taking a few concrete examples:

• In Primary School, Lynda and her team have introduced a 30-minute explicit morning routine teaching session for all students, ensuring that core concepts in English, Maths and world knowledge are not only understood but transferred to long-term memory.  
• In High School, student outcomes have been markedly improved by bringing back exam blocks and assessments for Years 7-10 that mirror the HSC experience, along with an ongoing focus on core English skills, study skills, and exam preparation. We’ve also continued to fine-tune our approach – reviewing data on student performance and conducting staff and parent surveys – to help target our teaching approach, guided by our Education Consultative Committee.

This level of rigour has started to pay dividends.

Our Class of 2022 achieved incredible HSC results with 62% of the cohort achieving a place on the 2022 honour roll, eight students on the top all-rounders list, nearly 50% achieving an ATAR over 90 (compared to the state average of just 10%), 24% achieving an ATAR over 95 and 3% achieving an ATAR over 99. One student achieved a perfect ATAR of 99.95, three students topped the state in a subject, and several students achieved a state ranking in their subject. Moriah ranked sixth in the State for English Advanced and Extension, and 15 of our students were nominated for creative arts showcases with one selected to have her Major Work exhibited at ARTEXPRESS.

Early entry to university was awarded to 127 of 156 students in the cohort, with several university scholarships awarded.

The fact that in 2022 we achieved a ranking of 27 out of 850 schools, placing the College as the top non-selective independent co-education school in NSW, while upholding our inclusive and community values is something we should all celebrate. Our long-term goal remains to be consistently ranked in the top 30 of state-wide HSC results. 

I want to make clear that while we rightly celebrate league tables and students who achieve top grades, we reserve the highest accolades for those who reach their particular potential – as students and as well-rounded individuals. That’s why we offer a broad range of learning opportunities.

That brings me to our educators and support staff, who, more than anyone else, turn our holistic educational goals into a reality every day. It’s human nature for us, as parents, to reach out when we’re concerned about an aspect of our child’s education, but I’d like to make a suggestion; reach out to staff or the school when you have a compliment to give as well! Because they do so much for our children each and every day and they deserve to hear it.

As a board, retaining quality teachers and building a supportive environment for educators is paramount and is the second pillar of our School Improvement Plan. Under Rabbi Smukler’s leadership, we have instituted a multi-year professional development plan for educators. For example, we have seen the success of the 24/7 Learning platform. And we have set up a benchmarking process that gives educators clarity on performance and highlights areas where added focus or resources may be required.  We also continue to keep an eye on workforce planning, the succession and talent pipeline, and opening attractive career paths so that we have the most talented people in every role.

The third component of the School Improvement Plan is about creating a positive education culture.  

Of course, we don’t leave the wellbeing of our students to chance and have put rigour behind our strategy called Flourish@Moriah. This is a new initiative and still a work in progress, and is being driven by our expanded Wellbeing Teams from ELC through to Year 12, along with additional psychological and counselling support. The goal is to ensure all students and staff feel a sense of belonging and learn skills that support long-term success and happiness. It translates into practising daily habits of gratitude, empathy, and spiritual intelligence. And opportunities for students to connect to their Jewish identity and their love for the State of Israel and Australia.

As we know, a core goal of our founders was to promote Jewish continuity in Sydney through a Modern Orthodox Zionist school. Abraham Rabinovitch would be moved to see the engaging initiatives and experiences in place to strengthen the College’s Jewish spirit and identity. For example, the new Israel advocacy program, Bitachon, will equip High School students with facts and knowledge about Israel’s history, policy, and current events and the skills to confidently articulate themselves, especially when the audience may not be so friendly.  And with the support of Y2i and The Moriah Foundation, we ensure continuity in our transformative Israel Study Tour – taking two Year groups to Israel in 2022 and another set to go later this year. We’re also enhancing Jewish learning in the classroom, updating our curricula so that they remain highly relevant.

Finally, when it comes to well-rounded students, the co-curricular and extra-curricular programs we offer are key differentiators of the Moriah experience. Our students can discover and nurture their passions from sports and music to public speaking, debating, chess, various inter-school academic and creative competitions, and programs such as Scholars in Entrepreneurship.  

In Sport, Moriah continued its success with championship victories across a diverse range of sports including Basketball, Futsal, Football, Netball, and Rugby. Moriah students were involved in several sports at regional and state representative levels, and in Football, at national level. As part of the Maccabi Australia 2022 delegation, 43 Moriah High School students competed at the 21^st Maccabiah Games in Israel across a variety of sports.

A particularly successful initiative has been our Day 8 Program, which other schools are now using as a benchmark. It sets aside dedicated time for students to participate in various community, leadership, and extension activities while staff members participate in professional development.

These are just some of the results of the rigour we have embedded. It has helped us maintain a high demand for what the College offers and healthy enrolments. Again, we don’t take this for granted and have invested in extensive outreach efforts with our current and prospective families. Led by Lauren Koseff, our Director of Enrolments & Engagement, these have included:

• Student and parent onboarding experiences, Year 6 High School tours for students and parents.
• Increased social connection for parents, such as our Winter Warmer Gathering, where we welcomed all new families onto campus for the first time in person in over two years. 
• Launch of Yad b’Yad, our new play space and ‘hangout’ for parents and grandparents with little ones under two years of age. We welcomed more than 60 families throughout the year, reflecting the generational sense of belonging that Moriah uniquely instils.

The College’s outreach is not just one-way either. Parents, grandparents, and the wider community are an integral part of the Moriah Family, which makes this place so special. So, I invite you to consider how you can individually help paint the picture of a vibrant College in the future by getting involved.

Whilst enrolments are strong, as a Board, we are acutely aware that affordability is a significant issue for Moriah families. Rising interest rates, inflation, and a flat post-Covid economy have increased financial pressures. We have fine-tuned our enrolment forecasting model, which helps inform future decision-making and budget forecasting as the College navigates a plan toward 2032.

With the generous support of The Moriah Foundation and the JCA, we continue to provide total fee assistance of just over $3.5 million annually towards the education of approximately 250 students, which is just over 15% of our student body. This is through a combination of annually assessed financial assistance and longer term bursary support. The Foundation has provided additional support  to expand scholarship programs. For example, we have launched the new All-Round Excellence Scholarship, taking effect for students entering Year 7 and Year 9 in 2024. This is for students who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and achievements in Jewish Life, Community Service, Character, and school-related activities. Likewise, in the past year, The Moriah Academic and Music Scholarship campaigns attracted robust applications.

The impact of the Foundation is significant in the lives of the many families who otherwise could not afford a Moriah education, as well as the entire Moriah Family, which is benefiting from a more sustainable and affordable school.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to The Moriah Foundation, its Director Ryan Kassel and his team, its board of directors, and, in particular, to the Foundation President Judy Lowy for her continued commitment to building Moriah’s Foundation, which has, in the 11 years since its establishment, raised in excess of $30m for the College.

I commend to you the report of The Moriah Foundation.

I would first like to call out our CFO Gavin Sher and his finance team who have worked diligently and prudently to manage the College’s finances. Gavin has worked closely with the Board, restored confidence and rigour in the financial function, and run a very professional operation.

I commend to you the report of our Treasurer, Dani Sher.

I wish to acknowledge the assistance of Deloitte in carrying out their role as auditors. The level of professionalism and vigilance in carrying out this responsibility is noted and greatly appreciated.

I would like to pay tribute to the Moriah Trustees and Life Patrons of the College who have worked with me to further the interests of the College. Life Patrons have been awarded this honour for their signal service to the College over many years. They are not elected biennially by the members in the same way as Directors are, but are there to provide advice, counsel and support when required, and when called upon.

Thank you to the Chairman of Trustees Robert Goot AO SC and his colleagues for their work, their support and their undoubted love for Moriah.

I want to thank Rabbi Smukler, his executive and the entire College staff for their leadership, passion, courage and transparency, and their focus on delivering the best possible outcomes for our students. Shua’s aspirations for excellence and rigour, combined with his strategic vision, are impacting the entire College, and his relentless pursuit of improvement is admirable.

Finally, I’d like to thank this generation of the Board. The rigour that characterises their contribution is a testament to the hours of work and creative energy they have given to the College.

I wish to thank each of my colleagues on the board for their support and enormous effort during the past year. Carrying the responsibility of delivering on the diverse outcomes that our stakeholders expect is a challenge that is met through dedication and commitment, and I truly appreciate and thank all of them.

Board sub-committees and advisory groups offer a unique forum for staff members and lay leaders of the College to come together to address specific aspects of the running of the College. I would like to thank all committee members for their contributions. Chairing a committee, as a number of board members have done, requires a significant amount of additional work. I offer special thanks to all those who have chaired committees this year.

Later this evening, I will speak about Oliver Freedman, who is retiring at this AGM as a Director of Moriah College, in line with our constitutional term limits for Directors. And whilst always sad to see a passionate and committed long standing Board member retire, this is healthy renewal and widely accepted as modern good governance.

I extend a special thanks to Robbie Blau, Deputy President, for his unwavering support, his commitment and friendship.

I acknowledge and thank Daisy Sultana, Executive Officer to the Board, for her assistance and incredible loyalty to Moriah. Daisy’s help and guidance and her commitment and work ethic continue to make my job, and that of the entire Board, much easier. In fact, the success of the Board and the work we do is only made possible by Daisy’s efficiency and dedication to Moriah.

I am forever grateful for the unconditional support of my children Adam and Daniel. They are always understanding of my commitments, and know the importance of Jewish education and the critical role that Moriah plays in my life, and in theirs.

As I look to the future, I am honoured to continue to serve as Moriah College’s President and as I embark on the last 12 months of my tenure, I’m confident that we have the right picture of success in place.

This time next year, I will transition the role of Board President to a new leader. I am committed to ensuring a smooth handover and will work over the next 12 months to uphold the level of rigour and improvement that we have embarked on over the last number of years.

I’ve spoken about the incremental rigour we have added this past year that sits behind this fantastic photograph. But I want to close with the recognition that, as a Board, we have a critical role in looking ahead well into the future.

What will the College photograph look like in 2043 when we celebrate our 100^th year? Just as Abraham Rabinovitch knew that having a physical focal point for learning at 115 Glenayr Avenue was critical, we must execute our school Master Plan for the next decades. Having recently received approval from the JCA, next year, Moriah College will be holding a community Capital Appeal to secure that future, our first capital appeal since 2011. This is not just about buildings; it’s about creating the thriving, modern learning environment we want for our children and future generations. Our students, our families and our staff, and the entire Sydney Jewish community deserves a Moriah that will build on the last 80 years, and to ensure that not only will we continue to survive, but that we will thrive, thereby securing future Jewish continuity in Sydney, by prioritizing Jewish education.

I’m confident that; If we will it – by not only having a vision but by putting the necessary rigor in place to get there – then it will not be a dream.

Thank you

STEPHEN JANKELOWITZ

COLLEGE PRESIDENT

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