Speech delivered on 10 March 2026, at the Great Synagogue, in Sydney.

I acknowledge the Gadigal as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet this evening, and I pay my respects to Elders past and present. I also acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people joining us here tonight.

Simeon and I are very proud to gather with you at the Great Synagogue—this place of faith, history, heritage and peace—as we come together in this sanctuary, the heart of this building, which has been so beautifully restored to fulfil the intentions of the original architect and to meet the needs of your community now and well into the future.

I warmly congratulate all involved in realising this magnificent vision to ensure that the Great Synagogue will endure—in spirit and purpose—at the heart of Australian Judaism.

The President has comprehensively acknowledged the many distinguished guests this evening, but I will mention a few. 

• The Right Honourable Clover Moore AO, Lord Mayor of Sydney
• The Honourable Andrew Bell AC, Chief Justice of New South Wales
• Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth—Rabbi, I am honoured to welcome your return to Australia after your visit of compassion and encouragement following the unspeakable antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December. Then, as now, your presence is a symbol of solidarity. Describing the extraordinary resilience of the community in Sydney and across Australia, you said you encountered “no bitterness, no enmity, no calls for revenge—quite the contrary: calls for peace, for strengthening social cohesion, and for protecting all communities.”
• Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton, Chief Minister, The Great Synagogue
• Max Freedman, President, The Great Synagogue
• Lauren Ryder, Vice President, The Great Synagogue
• David Ossip, President, New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies
• Ministers and Members of Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, Mayors and Councillors, Judges and members of the legal profession—including my husband, Simeon Beckett SC—rabbis and faith leaders, distinguished guests and many friends.

Chief Justice Bell, as is customary for the opening of the Law Term, this year you have attended religious services across Sydney to acknowledge the extraordinary diversity of cultures, histories and faiths represented in the legal profession. Your presence at these services is a mark of respect to your colleagues and to all Australians, and you celebrate the insight and understanding that comes from being present in these places of worship.

In the days and weeks following Bondi, Simeon and I were welcomed into homes, synagogues and community events. We mourned with the families of the victims, visited the injured in hospital, and stood in solidarity with Australians at Bondi and beyond. And—as we do tonight—we joined in the rituals and traditions of Judaism, which have been shared so generously by the Jewish community here in Sydney.

Like you, Chief Justice, Simeon and I have cherished this time of insight and understanding—of learning about mitzvah: simple acts of care and kindness that accumulate as a social good and become a powerful movement for unity. And of the power of a unity that doesn’t demand uniformity, but celebrates difference, rejoices in diversity, and strives to achieve connection and community.

As you all know, His Majesty King Charles III has a great interest in Australia and the lives of all Australians. I was honoured to share his words of consolation following the attack at Bondi and, yesterday in Canberra, I was pleased to share his words of celebration at a multifaith ceremony marking Commonwealth Day. The King described the Commonwealth as embracing an extraordinary diversity of culture, language and faith—something that resonates deeply here in Australia, where we celebrate our diversity as a founding pillar of our strength, success and modernity.

Once again, I am so pleased to be here for this special recognition of the opening of the 2026 NSW Law Term. In this time of global challenges and rapid change, the place of law—justly argued and applied—remains central to the good administration and wellbeing of our society.

Chief Justice, you have reminded us that to progress social cohesion requires meaningful human interaction—not retreating into the cocoons we all experience online. You have also highlighted the practical and complex impact of artificial intelligence across the law and legal practice—modernity meeting the law in ways that require careful judgement and enduring values.

To everyone in the profession this evening: take pride in a vocation grounded in rights, ethics and values. And to those in senior ranks, may I echo the Chief Justice’s call to actively mentor younger members of the profession—to instil strong professional and ethical standards, and to encourage them to assume leadership roles in their communities, even beyond the law.

As we celebrate the rededication of this sanctuary, I thank the Jewish community across Sydney, and throughout Australia, for all that you have given to our country and to all Australians—as we strive to fulfil a national project of community, without insisting on uniformity, and characterised by care, kindness, respect and love.