Messages

Message from the Head of School

Jonathan Levy, Ph.D.

Some 30 years ago, a young mother escaped Russia and moved to Canada. Not knowing anyone, she approached a Jewish day school administrator looking for a suitable place where her child could be educated. Without any hesitation or thought to language or financial barriers, the principal simply told this woman that her daughter, a Jewish child, needed to go to a Jewish school, and accepted her. I recently heard from the young girl about how the acceptance to that school all those years ago changed the course of her life.

My mother, Cooki Levy z”l, the principal who accepted this young girl, was a legend in the field of Jewish education, first as a teacher, then as a principal, head of school and consultant. Her knowledge, expertise, compassion, leadership and sense of humour were well known. What is less well known is that in 1988, she taught a class of 15-year-old boys, of which I was one. Perhaps it was our first “professional” experience together as my career ultimately arced after hers. We had frequent discussions about Jewish education, values and visions, and even had the opportunity to give presentations together. Her ideals influenced me profoundly: educate the whole child, set a high bar, show compassion, and never underestimate the value your small role in someone’s education can have over the direction of their life.

TanenbaumCHAT shares many of these fundamental values and I suppose that is what drew me to the school 12 years ago. With a robust New Stream program that provides a Jewish education to those who have never attended Jewish school before, extraordinary curricular and extra-curricular options, and a commitment to tuition accessibility, TanenbaumCHAT is strongly positioned to continue to provide an outstanding education to the next generations of Toronto Jews.

My mother would be very proud. ◆

Message from the President, Board of Directors

Howard Simkevitz ’91

It’s hard (for me) to believe that I graduated from this wonderful high school 30 years ago, this spring. It’s not so much the passage of time or the obviousness of change that makes this milestone seem so profound. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It’s hard for me to believe it’s been so long because TanenbaumCHAT is still so much a part of my life. I say this not in jest but after considered introspection. My parents, who understood the value of a Jewish education, encouraged me to attend for Grade 9. I didn’t know many people, my Hebrew skills were less than honed, and the prospect of an eighthour day with 12 classes made the whole enterprise seem rather daunting. I was reluctant at best, and so it was, until the first day of class. Among my closest friends today, are the friends I made at high school. It’s not because they are necessarily like-minded – it’s because they are mentschen, honest people, kind and caring. They are the type of people you need in your life – those who will be as quick to celebrate the good times as they will be to provide support when times are not so good. These friends are still so much a part of my life. As my Hebrew language skills developed, so too did my interest in, and connection with, Judaism and the State of Israel. Make no mistake about it, Hebrew literacy is key to the Jewish experience. Without access to our primary texts, access to Judaism is inhibited. This point has proven true both in terms of my own experience and when I compare my experience to those who did not receive the same fundamental training. Knowing Hebrew has allowed me to ask the right questions, to explore our rich history and, ultimately, to make informed decisions about my religion (not to mention it makes arguing with a cab driver in Tel Aviv much easier). Hebrew is still so much a part of my life. As a student, I worked hard. The demands of the curriculum were such that you really didn’t have much of a choice. However, the intensity of the experience had merit. I was taught how to think critically, manage my time and multi-task. I was taught how to deal with adversity, contend with failure and strive for success. The work ethic I developed as a result is still so much a part of my life. In the face of the passage of time, life experience can be lasting. We cling to the formative. In Pirkei Avot, it is written: the world stands on three things: Torah, work and deeds of kindness. These were the pillars bolstered beneath me through my high school experience, and I recognize now that they’ve withstood the test of time – even some 30 years later. ◆