As we celebrate Chanukah, our hearts are heavy following the devastating antisemitic terrorist attack in Sydney, where Jewish lives were brutally taken and many others were gravely wounded simply for being Jews. We mourn deeply, stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, and hold the victims and their families in our prayers. At moments like these, when hatred seeks to intimidate and extinguish light, we are reminded why Jewish pride, Jewish education and Jewish community are not optional. They are essential.
It is against this backdrop that the message of Chanukah speaks with particular urgency.
Over the past few weeks, you have likely been hearing the sounds and rhythms of Jewish life spilling out of our Bialik classrooms and into your homes in the most beautiful ways. Siblings teaching each other a new Hebrew song, or your little one practising the blessings for the Chanukah candles, as I have just witnessed at my family’s kitchen table. I found myself watching my JK daughter the way many of you watch your own children, with a mixture of pride, wonder and gratitude. Moments like these remind us that Judaism is preserved not only through grand narratives of history, but also through the small, everyday sparks of learning that our children bring home.
Chanukah is a story built on those sparks. The Maccabees began as a small band of people who refused to allow their Jewish identity to be dimmed. They faced a mighty empire, a force that seemed immovable and overwhelming, yet they prevailed. Their strength did not come from numbers or power. It came from conviction, from a refusal to forget who they were, and an unbreakable belief in the light they were protecting.
This story still resonates for us. Israel stands strong today, demonstrating extraordinary resilience and courage in the face of challenges from forces far larger and more threatening than itself. Our connection to Israel is deeply personal. Across the globe, Jews stand together as we defend our people and support our homeland. For us, Israel is the centre of our collective identity and our responsibility.
Recalling the words of former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, we are not Jews with trembling knees. We are a people with strong voices, a long memory, and a steadfast commitment to our homeland. We come from generations who chose courage over comfort, purpose over fear, and light over darkness. It is that spirit, this enduring pride in Israel and the Jewish people, that we are passing on to our next generation. Each day, as we educate our 1,625 Bialik students about the history, challenges and triumphs of the State of Israel, we are cultivating what I call “Durable Zionism”.
Durable Zionism is not reactive pride, nor is it temporary or situational. It is steady, enduring, and rooted in knowledge, identity and belonging. It is about raising children with an unwavering commitment to the State of Israel, coupled with a factual and realistic understanding of its history and the complex realities it faces today. It equips our students to engage with Israel and the world with clarity, courage and conviction. Durable Zionism teaches that our children come from a story worth telling, a people worth defending, and a homeland worth cherishing. It ensures that their Jewish identity is anchored not only in tradition, but in a living, personal connection to Israel, a connection they will carry proudly throughout their lives.
I see this connection in small but powerful ways every day. In classrooms, students discuss current events in Israel with thoughtful questions. In music and art lessons, they express admiration for Israel’s spirit and resilience. In the Senior Division, they learn to stand up for Israel, discuss its history honestly, and celebrate its achievements. These moments are the sparks of Durable Zionism taking root in young hearts and the reason why a Jewish education is so critical.
The case for Jewish education has never been stronger. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks captured this truth powerfully when he wrote, “To defend a country, you need an army. But to sustain a civilization, you need schools. You need education as the conversation between the generations.” That is exactly what is happening at Bialik each day. Our school is not only a place of learning. It is the beating heart of our community’s future.
And like the Maccabees, we may be small compared to the world around us. But we are mighty. Our strength comes from shared purpose, from our collective commitment to Jewish life, and from the light we continue to kindle together. When our children sing Maoz Tzur or gather around the Chanukiah in their classrooms, they are living the very chain of Jewish courage and continuity that has carried our people through generations, from the Maccabees to Israel, from our schools to our homes.
Chanukah teaches us that light does not wait for perfect circumstances. It shines even in the smallest of vessels, growing each night. It reminds us that hope expands when we nurture it, that community strengthens when we gather, and that identity deepens when we teach it to our children. Durable Zionism, like the lights of the Chanukiah, grows stronger with each generation.
From my family to yours, may this Festival of Lights bring you pride and faith in our shared future. May the candles light your homes and hearts, and may we continue to build and protect the light of our people together, one enduring flame at a time.
Chag Chanukah Sameach.
Jake Gallinger
Head of School