Bialik Students Share Powerful Perspectives at Mikolot: Voices of the Future

Three Bialik College students proudly represented the College at the semi-finals of the Mikolot: Voices of the Future Public Speaking Competition, demonstrating not only outstanding public speaking skills but also a thoughtful understanding of Jewish identity, values and responsibility.

Year 12 student Samuel and Year 10 students Emmi and Samuel earned their place in the competition after progressing through an internal Bialik qualifying round. Open to Senior School students, the internal competition challenged participants to prepare and deliver a speech before responding to an impromptu topic. Samuel, Emmi and Samuel were selected as the College's top three speakers to advance to the inter-Jewish day school semi-finals.

Parents and staff attended the event to support the students as they took on two demanding speaking challenges. Their prepared speeches explored the Jewish principle of Dan l'kaf zechut (judging others favourably), responding to the question:

"Judge every person favourably." In an era dominated by social media and instant public opinion, is the Jewish principle of Dan l'kaf zechut an outdated ideal, or a radical act of responsibility?

Following their prepared speeches, students were given an unseen prompt, "I am Jewish because..." With only five minutes to prepare and no access to technology, they each delivered a two-minute impromptu speech that reflected their own experiences, beliefs and identity.

The challenge required confidence, composure and the ability to think critically under pressure. More importantly, it invited students to articulate not only what they believe, but why they believe it, an approach that reflects Bialik's Culture of Thinking and encourages students to communicate their ideas with clarity and purpose.

Samuel reflected on the importance of choosing empathy in a fast-moving world, sharing:
"In a world that judges in seconds, choosing to judge favourably may be the most revolutionary choice we ever make."

Emmi challenged the audience to think about the impact of judgement on identity, asking:
"What kind of world are we creating when people are more afraid of being judged than excited to discover their own identity?"

Their speeches demonstrated a deep understanding of Jewish values and highlighted how Jewish learning continues to shape the way Bialik students engage with the world around them. Through thoughtful dialogue, personal reflection and authentic storytelling, each student communicated perspectives that were insightful, courageous and deeply grounded in their education.

Beyond developing public speaking, the competition strengthened leadership, resilience and the ability to express complex ideas with confidence. It also reinforced the importance of using Jewish values as a lens for understanding contemporary issues and communicating with respect and responsibility.

Congratulations to Samuel, Emmi and Samuel on representing Bialik College with such distinction. Thank you to Karen, Bryan and Amanda, who organised the program and supported the students throughout every stage of the competition.