Jewish education is not easily available – if at all – for the children of families who do not reside in larger cities. This is in addition, of course, to the children of families who do reside in larger cities but for whom tuition is simply out of reach, despite the many interventions and efforts by schools and community philanthropists aimed indeed at helping families enroll their children in Jewish schools.
It was this situation that gave rise, six years ago, to the founding of ADRABA, an Ontario Ministry of Education-accredited, online Jewish High School. (adraba.ca) ADRABA is an independent, inclusive, pluralistic, academic institution that, today, has students in Ottawa, Thunder Bay, London, Hamilton, Sudbury and the GTA.
ADRABA offers the following secondary school courses, online and in real-time, enhanced with Jewish content: Canadian Jewish History, World Religions and Belief Traditions, Chosen Food, Media and the Middle East, and Jewish Philosophy
GAJE has written about ADRABA each year since its inception. We do so again this year because Jewish education for our children is paramount, not only during these difficult times, but always. And what better time is there than the very beginning of the school year to inform readers of new developments this fall at ADRABA?
According to Sholom Eisenstat, co-founder of ADRABA:
- Temple Israel, in Ottawa, is launching weekly ADRABA classes for post-confirmation teens — the first time ADRABA has been promoted to an entire congregation.
- Bnei Akiva Schools will make ADRABA courses available to their students.
- Our new RootOne partnership gives ADRABA teens access to $3,000 US scholarships toward Israel trips. (See RootOne.org)
- Students from Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School are enrolling in ADRABA’s Grade 9 Canadian History course.
Eisenstat pointedly reminds us that all Jewish teens today face misinformation, antisemitism, and disconnection.
For those teens who, for whatever reason, have little or no access to Jewish learning, ADRABA is an important learning option. It offers in Eisenstat’s words, “learning that challenges our young teens’ minds, strengthens their identity, and builds community connection.”
There is no worthier goal for our children from wherever they receive their Jewish education.
•••
GAJE’s legal team will appear before the Court of Appeal at 10:00 on November 21, 2025 to argue that the Divisional Court was wrong in September 2024, to reverse Judge Papageorgiou’s decision August 2023, that had allowed our case to proceed.
If you wish to contribute to GAJE’s lawsuit, please click here. Charitable receipts for donations for income tax purposes will be issued by Mizrachi Canada. Your donations will be used for the sole purpose of helping to underwrite the costs of the lawsuit. For further information, please contact Israel Mida at: imida1818@gmail.com
•••
We hope all children enjoyed a very good beginning to school this week.
Shabbat shalom. Am Yisrael Chai
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education (GAJE)
September 5, 2025
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 