Massada College, Adelaide

For the Sydney Jewish Day School, see Masada College

Massada College was an independent Modern Orthodox Jewish co-educational early learning and primary day school, located in Glenside in Adelaide, South Australia. It shared a suburban campus with Adelaide Hebrew Congregation. The school served students from Orthodox and Progressive Jewish backgrounds, as well as non-Jewish students. The school opened in 1976 and closed in 2011. It was the only Jewish school in South Australia.South Australia’s only Jewish school to close The Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 4 July 2011

History Victor Ades Memorial Kindergarten, a Jewish kindergarten, was founded in 1972 and later co-existed with Massada on the same campus.Jewish in South Australia SA History Hub. Retrieved on 16 December 2024 Massada was founded in 1976, when Adelaide's Jewish population was around 2, 000. The school began with an enrollment of 3 students and by 1982 had 56 students and 25 in Victor Ades.More students at Adelaide Massada The Australian Jewish News. 8 July 1982 The school and kindergarten were based located in Walkerville, before relocating to a purpose-built campus with Adelaide Hebrew Congregation in Glenside in 1990.Adelaide Shule to relocate The Australian Jewish News. 3 June 1988 The school had hoped to expand with a high school within three years of their move to Glenside.Adelaide's $3.2m synagogue relocation plan The Australian Jewish Times. 20 May 1988

The school received financial support from a number of benefactors over the years, such as Rabbi Joseph Gutnick. In 1994, the school launched a campaign to raise $1 million and overcome its bank debt.Adelaide's Massada College aims to raise $1 million The Australian Jewish News. 25 February 1994 Yehuda Avner, Israeli ambassador to Australia, delivered the keynote address for the school's 18th anniversary, held at the Hilton Hotel in Adelaide.Avner at Massada dinner The Australian Jewish News. 19 August 1994 At this time, a third of students came from the former Soviet Union.Why Massada matters The Australian Jewish News. 2 September 1994

In 1996, the school expanded by opening a second stream of classes. At the time, the school was becoming increasingly popular with non-Jewish students, who accounted for 30% of all enrollments.Massada expands The Australian Jewish News. 21 June 1996 In the same year, South Australia's governor, Roma Mitchell and Shmuel Moyal, Israel's ambassador to Australia, attended the launch of the school's fundraising appeal.Massada Appeal The Australian Jewish News. 31 May 1996 In 1996, Massada also became the first Jewish school in the world to begin offering the International Baccalaureate, by offering the IB Middle Years Programme.Massada leads the way in joining IB program The Australian Jewish News. 11 October 1996

In 1998, the Australian Jewish pianist David Helfgott visited the school and performed. Helfgott was the subject of the 1996 film Shine, in which several Massada College students appeared as extras. The school's principal, Ronnie Figdor, has also served as advisor on the film for its Jewish content.Helfgott at Massada The Australian Jewish News. 3 April 1998

The school reached a point of financial crisis in 1998, but received support from the National Bank of Australia.Adelaide's Massada College puts its problems behind it The Australian Jewish News. 24 April 1998 By the time of the school's closure in 2011, Adelaide's Jewish population had halved in size since the school was founded. The school went into voluntary administration.

Residential redevelopment has been proposed for the school site and former synagogue.Flemington Street Code Amendment Burnside Gov. 27 October 2021Synagogue returning to CBD The Australian Jewish News. 19 July 2023

Massada College, Adelaide

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