This update is dedicated to the memory of Mira Koschitzky.
Mira devoted so many of her prodigious abilities and talents to enhancing the possibility of Jewish education for children near and far. Her passing last week has diminished our world. But recalling her life – her goodness, her values, her example and her unshakable belief in the importance of offering assistance where needed and of getting things done –strengthens us. Her memory will always be for blessing.
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It will be two months on Tuesday (June 20) since GAJE appeared in court to defend a motion by the governments of Ontario and Canada that sought to dismiss our lawsuit because, as they alleged, it discloses no cause of action. The governments preferred to try to pre-empt the courts from deliberating upon the issues we and the Ontario Federation of Independent Schools, who have received permission to join our application, maintain raise important legal and societal questions of fairness and justice in the year 2023. We, of course, plead with the courts to fully engage with the constitutional issues that comprise the core of our application for the sake of finding the best solution for the people of Ontario.
We are still waiting for the judge to render her ruling on the governments’ motion.
Waiting, however, can be somewhat disheartening. Doubt finds a way of intruding through the tiny portals of extended time. How will the judge decide? The question nags at us with each passing day. But since we cannot know the answer to this question, we cannot allow such doubt-in-small-nagging-doses to overturn our belief in the importance of GAJE’s cause or in the correctness of GAJE’s decision to resort to the courts to seek fairness and justice.
Fortuitously, this week’s Torah portion (Shelach Lecha) arrives at this juncture of awaiting the judge’s decision. It helps to abate the doubt.
Moses sends twelve scouts to reconnoitre the Promised Land. Ten of the twelve scouts provide a negative report of what they saw. They were overwhelmed by a lack of confidence and even by fear. Faced with what they considered to be a daunting, impossible task, the ten returning scouts cringed. In sad, pathetic, self-deprecating language they explain to Moses that the inhabitants of the land saw them (the scouts) as “grasshoppers”, i.e., small inconsequential individuals.
But far worse, the ten scouts saw themselves as grasshoppers. “We were as grasshoppers in our own eyes.” (Numbers 13:33)
One need not be a psychologist to understand the defeat that will inexorably result from such low self-esteem. If we see ourselves as tiny, incapable, weak, flimsy and frail, others will too.
Trying to help ensure the affordability of Jewish education is a daunting task. Indeed, GAJE was formed more than 8 years ago for this single purpose. We hope that we are closer to our objective. But we cannot yet say that we are close. Nevertheless, we emphatically do not see ourselves as grasshoppers in this cause. Nor will we allow others to see us grasshoppers.
Despite the enormity of the task ahead of us, we are up to it. We will not back away. We acknowledge the difficulties ahead. They may even be giant difficulties. But we will go forward until there is no longer any path forward. This statement is not only descriptive of how GAJE sees itself in this struggle for fairness and justice. It is also prescriptive – a promise: We will not give up or give in. We do not see ourselves as grasshoppers.
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If you wish to contribute to GAJE’s lawsuit for fairness in educational funding, please click here.
For further information, please contact Israel Mida at: imida1818@gmail.com
Charitable receipts for donations for income tax purposes will be issued by Mizrachi Canada. Your donations will be used for the sole purpose of underwriting the costs of the lawsuit.
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Shabbat shalom
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education (GAJE)
June 16, 2023
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 