Yeshiva College Bondi

In February 2007, Yeshiva College Bondi began operations as a registered primary school for boys and girls. Its innovative program meets the State's rigorous educational standards by means of a rich Jewish Studies, Chassidus and General Studies syllabus. The school now comprises more than 50 students. A number of additional students who are registered for home schooling or distance education attend a Jewish studies "Cheder" program, which will eventually become a registered secondary school.

Only last year, College Principal Rebbetzin Pnina Feldman submitted to the NSW Board of studies a proposal for a religious school. "The Board's inspectors were very enthusiastic and helped us bring the project to fruition," said the rebbetzin. "They emphasised that education today is not about rigidly adhering to narrow syllabus requirements but rather about achieving outcomes."

The school operates over an extended day to provide students with hours similar to those of other registered schools on the Board of Studies' curriculum. Yeshiva College Bondi has been able to provide facilities and personnel to teach the Jewish studies component at the standard required by fervently orthodox families, as well as providing secular studies to a standard acceptable to the state education authorities.

Parents of College students report that their children have benefited from the strong emphasis on Jewish learning. Most of the parent body consists of rabbis and rebbetzins. The majority of students live in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, though some come to school from the North Shore and Western Suburbs. Several of our children have even been sent by their parents from interstate to take advantage of the College's ground-breaking education program.

Yeshiva's model is expected to form a basis for similar initiatives around the Jewish world, as orthodox parents seek a very high standard of Jewish learning, while not neglecting their children's secular studies.

"The Yeshiva model will be suitable for other schools, as well as for high schools and tertiary colleges," said Rebbitzen Feldman. "In fact we have had discussions with institutions interstate and overseas about sharing our research and experience. This, of course, we will be delighted to do."

In a speech delivered at the Yeshiva Centre on 2 May 2008, the Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Kevin Rudd, paid tribute to "the new innovative school, Yeshiva College Bondi".

"Future leaders and Rabbis of the Australian Jewish community will be a result of this wonderful environment of Torah and Yiddishkeit. The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yonah Metzger, officially opened the new school last year."