First Place in Course
Three Jewish students have been named in the 2016 NSW Higher School Certificate HSC First Place in Course results.
Nachman Kastel takes the biscuit
Sam Cass attended Sydney Grammar School and took the top prize for French Extension.
Sam is the grandson of community stalwart Bettina Cass said: “We are all delighted.”
Sam told J-Wire: “I thought the call from the BOSTES was a prank call at first. French has been my favourite subject and the languages department at Sydney Grammar School is outstanding. I’m so lucky to have been able to go there. I hope to study Arts/Law next year at ANU, and I will definitely keep up my French. Good luck to all the 2017 HSC students. It will be over before you know it!”
Sam Cass [centre front] with five other Sydney Grammar students who topped their subjects
Yotam Manor
Masada College student Yotam Manor took the honours for Modern Hebrew Continuer.
Nachman Kastel told J-Wire: “I have to give thanks largely to my school, Kesser Torah College. While they are very serious about HSC, and dedicated to receiving the best marks possible (my principal told us he expected everyone to get 99.95, or at least the best they possibly can), the school motto, translated roughly from Hebrew, says it all- “For this (Judaism) is our life.
This atmosphere was made possible by the teachers, who really “lived it.” Rabbi Chaiton, the head of Jewish studies, firmly believes in the absolute value of Judaism and everything it has to contribute to the world. Rabbi Lobel, who gave the Talmud class (and also lectures in Sydney University) is also a firmly religious man, who invites questions and discussion on a variety of topics in Judaism, and addresses them with passion and excitement. Even in the HSC itself, my Classical Hebrew teachers, Rabbi “Benjy” Simons, and Mr Benstock, are both Jews who live their religion, and are genuinely interested and excited to discover new nuances and details. In general, all the teachers, across all subjects, were genuinely devoted to and believed in what they were saying, and I believe that made a massive difference.”
