Technion Australia ignites innovation

Technion Australia brought creativity and cutting-edge technology together as 30 year 10 students at Moriah College took part in a two-day hackathon exploring Jewish identity in the digital age.

Partnering with the Sydney Jewish Museum, Tzofim, Wix.com and Base44, the program challenged students to blend critical thinking with Jewish values as they tackled some of the most urgent issues facing young Jews today.

Over the course of the hackathon, presenters set three real-world challenges: supporting youth in responding to antisemitism online, identifying and preventing deepfake manipulation of Holocaust survivor testimonies, and helping youth movements grow and engage the next generation. Students worked intensively in teams, guided by workshops and one-on-one mentoring.

Shimrit Nothman delivered a session on writing effective prompts and using AI safely, equipping students with essential tools as they built their prototypes.

Wix.com and Base44 supplied development credits and expert technical support.

The hackathon culminated in a pitch session judged by Jewish House CEO Rabbi Mendel Kastel, head of Moriah College high school Ryan Gill, Itai Shai from Base44 and Technion Australia CEO Yoash Dvir.

The winning team impressed judges with a thoughtful and practical concept: an online safe space where young people who experience antisemitism can share their stories, access support and find reliable resources. Their solution stood out for its potential to make a real impact on the wellbeing of Jewish youth.

“This hackathon was a remarkable blend of innovation, identity and student leadership,” said Dvir.

“Watching young people confront difficult questions with such creativity and moral clarity gives me tremendous hope. They weren’t just solving problems – they were shaping the future of our community.”

Gill said Moriah College students “rose to the occasion with insight, teamwork and genuine curiosity”.

“The partnership with Technion Australia and our guest organisations created an environment where deep learning met real-world purpose,” he said.

“The standard of thinking was exceptional.”