Dear BJE Community,
BJE is strongly committed to delivering quality educational experiences through the Jewish Journey and furthering the number of Jewish teens involved in Jewish life and communal participation. We can only bring this to life through the generous support and encouragement of JCA and their many donors, supporters, and staff who help us connect and engage with Jewish children across NSW. We sincerely thank Y2i, Education Heritage Foundation, Millie Phillips Education Fund and B’nai Brith, who provide funds to support more equitable access to our programs for families. BJE is also incredibly grateful to the many individual and private donors who support our students through the KNA Appeal and, more recently, JCA Matched Giving Day.
BJE does not exist without the support of our parents, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to you for your ongoing support and trust in our Jewish Journey. We are committed to strengthening our partnership with you in 2025 and delivering quality programs that respond to the needs of and engage Jewish children and teens in non-Jewish day schools. In 2025, BJE will focus on finding meaningful and concrete ways to engage more with our families, young people and alumni, growing our after-school BJE HUBS and supporting Jewish families and their children in regional and rural NSW. In 2024, we were excited to expand our programs into three schools in Northern NSW. As always, we remain committed to providing an Israel program if circumstances permit next year.
Next year, BJE is proud to partner with Halloran Morrisey Group in undertaking a safeguarding review to ensure we deliver best practice in meeting the Child Safe Standards established by The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. These Standards provide tangible guidance for organisations to create cultures, adopt strategies and act to put the interests of children first and keep them safe from harm.
With sincere thanks to my fellow board members who have given many hours to support BJE’s work, John and his leadership team, and the teachers, staff, and volunteers who make it all happen. We appreciate their dedication and passion for Jewish learning and living and the support they provide the young people in our community during such challenging times.
We pray for lasting peace in Israel and the safe return of all hostages with the hope that our young people may experience the vibrancy and dynamism of Israel and its people in 2025.
Dr Tahlia Gordon
