Fostering cross-cultural mutual respect

Students from James Fallon High School, a public school in Albury in regional New South Wales, travelled approximately four hours to visit St Kilda Shule in Melbourne, with most making their first-ever visit to a synagogue.

The group represented the longest journey undertaken by any school group hosted by the shule, which welcomes approximately 500 visits each year from schools, community groups and interfaith organisations.

During the visit, the students explored Jewish history, tradition and contemporary Jewish life. They viewed the Torah scroll, learned about the structure and features of the synagogue, and asked thoughtful questions throughout the session. The visit provided an opportunity to engage directly with Jewish practice and identity in a warm and open environment.

One particularly moving moment involved two Jewish brothers from the school laying tefillin in front of their classmates. For one of the boys, it was his first time putting on tefillin.

“That moment was incredibly special,” said St Kilda Shule Senior Rabbi Yaakov Glasman. “It was educational for the wider group, but it was also deeply personal. Their classmates were able to witness a real expression of Jewish identity, not as something abstract, but as something lived, meaningful and heartfelt.”