The end of the Pesach holiday meant the return to school.  But just like Pandemic Pesach was so very different than all other Pesachs, so too is Pandemic School. Children, parents, and teachers are well aware of the “successes” and…

Rabbi Marc D. Angel the founder of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals offers a mini theological “pep-talk” for maintaining our emotional and all other personal stabilities through these very difficult Covid days. As his basis for discussion, he…

Pesach 2020 is here. Who would have thought that the annual liturgical reference to plagues would be ever more than a compelling reference point in the Haggadah? We have been enjoined by God to be a holy people. “Holy” is…

Overcoming the viral pandemic surpasses all other causes in urgency and immediate priority. All other causes, values, purposes and moral principles flow into this one worldwide obligation: “defeat” the virus, treat the sick, save lives. Those of us not “in…

Last week when the full threatening force of the Covid-19 pandemic spawned governments around the world to invoke preventative medico-legal measures, the President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin sent a video message specifically directed at the Jewish communities…

The first week of school-at-home did not go without glitches. Indeed the Internet was a busy thoroughfare trafficking funny, sanity-saving, but all too-true memes of parental frustration with and adjustment to the complications of forced home schooling. But that it…

The swiftly imposed series of emergency responses to the COVID-19 crisis has contributed to the wildfire spread, in some quarters, of anxiety and dread. In these circumstances, a GAJE update regarding educational affordability might appear to be more vanity than…

A remarkable demonstration of individual and communal generosity took place this week in the GTA. Parents, grandparents, family, friends and others interested in ensuring a thriving perpetuity for Jewish education donated $6,598,043, from 5,874 gifts over a 24-hour period in…

Prof. Paul Socken, distinguished professor emeritus and founder of the Jewish studies program at the University of Waterloo, published an important commentary in The CJN last week (Feb. 20, 2020). Entitled “The poor had to sacrifice everything for education”, Socken…

The ongoing labour dispute within Ontario’s public education sector gives one pause. It also gives one an opportunity to reflect, again, on whether the current educational funding system is the one that serves all Ontarians best. Indeed, does it even…