As I write, we have just concluded the festival of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The time in Shule (synagogue) was wonderful, uplifting, joyous and reflective.

As I pondered the year that was and thought ahead to the year that will be, I also took stock of all that I am grateful for.

When I think of the one thing that has had the greatest, most positive impact on my life, I think of my parents’ conscious decision to gift me and my siblings a Jewish Education.

Neither of my parents received a Jewish education.

My mother, who converted to Judaism, was educated at a posh girls’ school where she was part of the choir, led the debating team and even started an acting club which she unfortunately named ‘GAS’ (Girls Acting Society’). She met my father, the son of Jewish Polish immigrants, at a party and was immediately smitten by the fact that he was a cellist in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (seriously???). My father too had not had a Jewish education as his parents were Bundists, subscribing only to Jewish culture of Yiddish plays and poetry, and sent my father and uncle to Scotch College, Melbourne.

So, when my mother urged my father to start keeping Shabbat (and give up his career) and to become observant, this was truly out of the comfort zone of both sets of in laws.

Being cultured, educated and well-read, my parents were confident that they could educate their children in all matters of General Education. But they knew that they did not have the knowledge to educate us with a thorough knowledge of Judaism and so they decided to send us to one of the local Jewish Schools in Melbourne.

This decision was the making of us. And the making of our family.

Both sets of grandparents, Jewish and non-Jewish, loved hearing about what we had learnt and had such joy in seeing us participate in, and often lead, the customs and rituals at all the Chaggim (festivals).

The decision to afford us a Jewish education, instead of the sending us to the type of schools they attended, did not limit our success. My siblings and I achieved at university and in our careers. We have been educated musically (thanks Dad!) and my lack of sporting prowess has nothing to do with the school I went to.Ìý

Not only has it not hampered us, going to a Jewish School was the best gift our parents could have ever given us.

The benefits of going to a Jewish School are numerous, but I want to speak about just two.

Firstly, attending a Jewish School, rather than just learning about Judaism after school hours, means that one’s youth is built around Jewish life. The rhythm of the Jewish Calendar sets the pace and tone of family, school and community life. We danced from Chag to Chag, (festival to festival) eagerly anticipating upcoming holidays and reflecting on Chaggim with classmates. We didn’t need to squeeze Judaism into our lives as that was done for us. Judaism was our life, and we loved every minute of it.

Secondly, being part of a Jewish School is the surest way to be embedded into a community. Our friends, shule and youth movements were intertwined. We were brought up by the village of the Jewish School that included everyone’s parents, grandparents, uncles and aunties. A quarter of a century later, we are all still close with our classmates and each one of us is active in our Jewish communities.

Recently, I had an exit interview with one of our Year 12 students who is both talented in and passionate about sport. I asked them, if they had their time again, would they come to ¹ú±êÂ鶹ÊÓƵAPP. The answer was an emphatic ‘Yes!’. They were able to satiate their sporting desires both in an out of school, but what they received from Carmel in the way of Jewish Education and Jewish community was not available anywhere else and was invaluable.

As I sat in Shule, able to read Hebrew, participate in the service and find meaning in the ritual, I thought to thank my parents for the Jewish Education they gifted me; something that I appreciate so much more as an adult.

So, on behalf of all the children of ¹ú±êÂ鶹ÊÓƵAPP, I thank their parents who too made the conscious decision to gift their children a Jewish Education. Our Carmel students are probably too young to appreciate the investment their parents have made, but I am sure that in years to come, when they too are sitting in Shule on Rosh Hashanah, they will think as I do and thank you for sending them to ¹ú±êÂ鶹ÊÓƵAPP.

And while we are thanking people, at this time of year it is apt that we thank not just the parents who send their children to Carmel school, but the parents of ¹ú±êÂ鶹ÊÓƵAPP itself, our Founders. We thank those brave, visionary families who in 1959 actioned their dream and made ¹ú±êÂ鶹ÊÓƵAPP into a thriving reality. Without our Founders we would not be able to gift our children the experience of Carmel.

With much gratitude I wish you all a Shabbat shalom and an easy fast,

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Shula

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