INSIDE ULPANAT OROT 2019-2020 · 5780 President MISSION STATEMENT Aaron Ames Chair Ashira Gobrin The mission of Ulpanat Orot is to inculcate within our students an appreciation for and a commitment to Torah observance and values. Ulpanat Orot, founded in 1975, was Vice President established in Toronto with several specific goals in mind: Mordechai Katzman (’92) Treasurer • To create an environment where religiously committed girls will be able to grow Ezra Lauterpacht intellectually, socially, emotionally, and religiously in a vibrant Jewish setting. Secretary • To offer a dual curriculum of Judaic and General Studies that will arm our students with Jonathan Straus the methodological tools needed to become self-reliant in classical Jewish texts and give Executive Officer them a broad-based secular grounding in the classical world disciplines. Hadassa Pertman (’04) Board of Directors • To deepen and strengthen the centrality of Eretz Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael as a Moishe Kesten fundamental element of our Torah beliefs and, to this end, to stress the importance of Daniella Kuhl lashon hakodesh as a manner of achieving these goals. Alon Kronenberg Ruthie Mammon • To encourage and fervently support the notion of our students continuing their Judaic Joel Muscat studies at seminaries in Eretz Yisrael and in other institutions of higher Jewish learning. Devora Paskowitz Dan Rabinovitch Aryeh Samuel (’08) Talia Samson (’96) Sendy Shorser (’05) Jeremy Silver (’05) Shana Strauss (’91) Life Members ז“ל Aron Frankel Henry Koschitzky Saul Koschitzky Michael Lax ז“ל Bessie Orfus Kurt Rothschild Phil Schwartz ז“ל Jack Weinbaum Past Presidents ז“ל Nachman Sokol Saul Koschitzky Eli Rubinstein I. Berl Nadler Naftali Winter Jeff Shumacher (’76) Steve Mayer Howard Wasserman INSIDE ULPANAT OROT 2 2019-2020 SCHOOL HISTORY For over four decades, Bnei Akiva Schools has been established itself as a vital institution within the community, developing outstanding Bnei and Bnot Torah who important funding came from UJA. Ahavat Yisrael Derech Eretz are immersed in , , and Yeshivat Or Chaim officially opened in September 1973 social responsibility towards the Jewish and secular with 29 students in Grades 10, 11 and 12. Two years later, communities in Canada and around the world. the boys and their teachers headed north to the school’s Whether attending Yeshivat Or Chaim or Ulpanat Orot, current location on Almore Avenue. In 1993, the community the schools are places where boys and girls can grow celebrated the addition of a new Beit Midrash with a intellectually, emotionally and religiously in a vibrant Jewish Hachnasat Sefer Torah and the building was renamed the setting. In keeping with the maxim of the worldwide Bnei Israel and Golda Koschitzky Torah Centre to honour Saul and Akiva organization, Am Yisrael b’Eretz Yisrael al pi Torat Yisrael Henry’s parents. Recent additions include a state-of-the-art (the Nation of Israel living in the Land of Israel according to gym built in 2006 featuring a regulation-sized basketball the Torah of Israel), Zionism is an integral part of the school’s court, a new multi-purpose room and a re-modeled 21st philosophy and is deeply rooted in the curriculum. century science lab. In 2017, a new Sephardi Beit Midrash was dedicated. Back in the early 1970s, all this was just a dream. At the time, parents in Toronto’s Modern Orthodox community But what about the girls? Shortly after Yeshivat Or Chaim had just two options for their children entering high school: opened its doors, Phil Schwartz began yearning for a similar a co-ed Jewish high school comprised of students from version to accommodate his eldest daughter, Adrienne. So varying backgrounds and levels of religious observance, or did Aron Frankel, whose daughter Esty was also about to a traditional dormitory-style yeshiva for boys with Judaic enter high school. studies taught in English. “I couldn’t envision my sons getting a Religious Zionist Among those parents were Saul and Mira Koschitzky. With education while my daughters would have to go to a Saul’s eldest son about to graduate elementary school, he charedi-type high school where secular studies were an discussed the idea of starting a high school based on Bnei afterthought,” says Phil. “That’s why Aron and I began Akiva principles with his neighbour Phil Schwartz, Nachman pushing for a girls’ school similar to Or Chaim’s model.” Ulpanat Orot opened its doors in September 1974 in a house .ז"ל and Aron Frankel ז"ל Mr. Mizrachi” Sokol“ in Thornhill with 23 girls enrolled in grades 10 and 11. The The old Torah Va’Avodah building on Vaughan Road became girls – many of them now parents and grandparents – still the first home for the school. The founders hired Rabbi laugh about davening in the living room and attending Yehuda Felix as Rosh Yeshiva and Dr. Sol Burak as Principal classes in the master bedroom with its sunken bathtub. Two of General Studies. years later, the girls moved to the school’s current location “Our goal was not to create rabbis, but baalei batim who go on Canyon Avenue. In 1980, a new wing was built, featuring to university, who stand on their own feet, and who have additional classrooms and a gym. Recently, the science lab responsibility for Klal Yisrael,” recalls Saul. “We wanted them has been re-modeled, as has the Beit Midrash. to connect to Israel.” As word spread of Toronto’s new Modern Orthodox high The next important step was fundraising. The Orfus family school, parents and students from across Canada and the donated $100,000 in memory of their patriarch Chaim United States started to take notice of the schools’ important Orfus – hence the name, Or Chaim – and the other founding role beyond the Toronto community. Bnei Akiva Schools is a members jointly matched the donation. Once the school private school, inspected by the Ontario Ministry of INSIDE ULPANAT OROT 2019-2020 3 Education, and affiliated with UJA Federation's Centre for says Rabbi Grauer. “The buildings are filled with excellent, Jewish Education. Combined enrollment currently stands hard-working educators who use their unique talents and at over 265 students, including children of early graduating strengths to excite and enrich their students daily. The classes. rabbanim and Judaic Studies faculty strive to find new ways After graduating Bnei Akiva Schools, our over 1600 graduates to encourage positive religious growth towards living lives have continued to thrive. Almost all graduates choose to of learning Torah and observance of mitzvot, with a strong spend a year or more studying in Israel after high school, emphasis and unwavering commitment to our founding with most attending yeshiva or seminary to solidify the principles of instilling within our students a love for Religious Jewish education they received in Toronto. Some of these Zionism.” students enlist in the Israel Defense Forces or volunteer for Rabbi Grauer works with his team of administrators and Sherut Leumi where they devote a year or more of service to teachers with a keen focus on professionalism, current Am Yisrael b’Eretz Yisrael. educational practices and academic excellence, while All of our graduates apply to university or college and simultaneously ensuring that the Bnei Akiva Schools are accepted into one of their top choices. Graduates are maintains its warm and welcoming environment. successfully employed as rabbis, teachers, accountants, Though the founders originally thought small, they are architects, doctors, entrepreneurs, fitness trainers, extremely proud of how far the school has come and are journalists, lawyers, nurses, paramedics, real estate agents, delighted that the next generation of parents and students social workers, and a host of other professions. One-in-four are committed to taking Bnei Akiva Schools from strength to graduates – about 400 students – have made Aliyah. strength. Rabbi Dr. Seth Grauer holds the role of Rosh Yeshiva and “The school has achieved everything we dreamed about.” Head of School. Rabbi Grauer joined our schools after says Saul. “Our graduates have remained dati, excelled at over a decade as a distinguished educator in New York. He university, succeeded in their professions, and many have previously served as teacher and Rav at Ramaz Upper School, made Aliyah. Bnei Akiva Schools has strengthened Modern Assistant Principal at Yeshiva University High School for Orthodoxy in Toronto. Though it wasn’t easy getting a new Girls and Associate Rabbi at the prestigious Fifth Avenue school off the ground 40 years ago, one look at our graduates Synagogue. and there is no doubt that we made the right decision. Henry, ז"ל Bnei Akiva Schools has a rich tradition of Roshei Yeshivot Phil and I are so very proud of them, and I know that Aron“ ”.would feel the same ז"ל in whose footsteps I now have the honour of following,” and Nachman INSIDE ULPANAT OROT 4 2019-2020 ADMINISTRATION RABBI DR. SETH N. GRAUER Rosh Yeshiva and Head of School Rabbi Seth Grauer has been the Rosh Yeshiva and Head of School since 2013. Since joining Bnei Akiva Schools, Rabbi Grauer has overseen increased enrollment, significant building improvements, the creation of a mega endowment, and the growth of our educational offerings and religious programming. He also serves as the Honorary President of Mizrachi Canada. Rabbi Grauer previously served as the Assistant Principal at Yeshiva University High School for Girls (“Central”) in New York and was a leading educator for nine years at Ramaz Upper School in Manhattan. Rabbi Grauer worked with teenagers at various summer camps for eight years, and served for five years as the Associate Rabbi at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan. Rabbi Grauer studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel for two years, served as their Director of Alumni Affairs for nearly five years, is a member of their Board of Directors and is the current Chair of their Rabbinic Committee.