Over Shavuot, I had the opportunity to visit my family in Melbourne. As always, there was much talk about schools; which Jewish school was doing best at what, which Jewish school was best aligned to individual needs and religious outlook. It’s a conversation I grew up with but not being in Melbourne for an extended period meant I heard it with fresh ears.  

To some in Perth, this ‘luxury’ of school choice seems like a dream. But after almost six years at Carmel, I feel, in fact I know, that having all Jewish students in one school is a blessing. 

When I interview exiting Year 12 students each year, a common theme is how grateful they are to have attended a school with religious diversity. They appreciate not growing up in a religious echo chamber and, aside from minor skirmishes, our students feel deep respect for the different religious outlooks inherent in each cohort. They understand that, despite our differences, we are all ultimately a team and we share more commonalities than differences. 

At times, our parents feel distressed regarding the perceived heterogeneous nature of our Carmel community and feel that they are making significant sacrifices to make Carmel work. And they are. Those who are traditional make sacrifices of convenience, time and money to accommodate children who will only eat strictly kosher. Bar/Bat Mitzvah caterers and venues are chosen to ensure that all can participate in the celebration. Perhaps the ‘hashkafa’ of the School does not fully reflect their relationship with Judaism, but they accept that Carmel adheres to its Orthodox constitution. At the same time, children who come from more orthodox families accept that there are aspects of the School that their children will never participate in. Our mixed swimming carnival is but one example of where some children cannot participate. Regardless of how good a swimmer they are, they will never have a chance at winning ‘Champion Boy/Girl’ at a Carmel swimming meet. To engage in more hours of Jewish studies, children have to be at school very early in the morning, making the school day challengingly long. 

In this small community, where to thrive our personal contributions and concessions must be high, sometimes we forget that we are all in this together; that I have a reality, as does my neighbour. And while these realities may seem at odds with each other, they are both the truth, they are both right. We are neighbours for a reason and that reason is a connection to community and a set of values that define us and shape our decisions. 

It seems that when things are difficult, both sides of the neighbourly fence feel aggrieved by the sacrifices made to keep our school unified. 

But there’s the rub. 

There are no sides. There is no ‘you and me’. Especially among the students. There is only the ‘us’ of our Carmel community. 

Kids understand much more than we give them credit for. Kids are more accepting of difference, especially when adults model this acceptance. I acknowledge and thank our students for their wisdom in this regard and I encourage us to take notice. There are no sides, there is only team Carmel. And each and every student, each and every family, plays their part to contribute to this diverse religious landscape; a landscape that is, and will always be, one of our greatest strengths.