World Jewish Congress President, Ronald Lauder, this week offered a two-pronged approach to standing up to and responding to the rising tide of antisemitism. He told some 250 attendees of the World Jewish Congress’ annual gala dinner in New York that the “only” way to respond to antisemitism is by “creating more Jewish schools” and by “taking the high ground in public relations.”
The veteran philanthropist and champion for the Jewish people – wherever we reside – is well-experienced and well-qualified to offer this prescription. For most of his adult life, Lauder has traveled the world to ensure Jews experience the uniquely sustaining sense of connectedness that comes with being part of the ancient-modern Jewish people.
Thus, when Lauder says, with crystal clear clarity, that reinvesting in Jewish Education and making it widely accessible to Jewish families is the only answer to fighting antisemitism, we ought to listen to him. And we do.
(Lauder also coupled strengthening Jewish education with revamping and rethinking public relations on behalf of Israel’s cause as the second prong of battle against antisemitism. GAJE offers no comment on Lauder’s statement concerning improved public relations.)
But we do, emphatically, agree with Lauder when he identifies Jewish education as a critically vital, foundational component to confronting antisemitism. Jewish education is the existential ethereal bridge for our young people to walk, over the course of their formative years, to help them become knowledgeable, confident, assertive Jews. Helping as many families as possible to step onto that bridge, and to find their steps with love and pride, is and has been GAJE’s mission since our inaugural year in 2015.
In furtherance of our mission…. GAJE’s legal team will appear before the Court of Appeal next week, November 21, 2025 at 10:00, to argue that the Divisional Court was wrong, in September 2024, to reverse Judge Papageorgiou’s decision of 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 Thank you, in advance, for doing so.
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Shabbat shalom
Am Yisrael Chai
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education (GAJE)
November 14, 2025
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 