The Centre for Enhancement of Jewish Education (the Mercaz) is pleased to host a variety of programs for students in Toronto's Jewish schools. Read about the programs listed on the left and view photos.

ZIMRIYA

Zimriya was held on Sunday April 13 at the University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall. There were 13 school choirs singing and celebrating Israel @ 60. Congratulations to all the schools that participated and we look forward to seeing you again next year. View photos.

RIKUDIYA

The 38th Rikudiya took place on Sunday, April 6, 2008 at the Tait McKenzie gym at York University. This event was co-sponsored by the Mercaz and the Koffler Centre of the Arts. There was a festive atmosphere that accompanied this year's theme of Israel @ 60. The room was decorated with balloons and the dancers wore Rikudiya caps. Fourteen schools danced in front of a huge crowd of family and friends. Our relatively new feature - "Dor l'Dor" - dances by grade 2 students and their parents - was, again, a success. The program also included performances by Nirkoda, the Chai dancers and Bialik Hebrew Day School's performing group.

Dor l'Dor dancers

Nirkoda dancers

Bialik performing group

CHESS TOURNAMENT

Sophie Polgar, an International Master, joined sixty students from ten day and supplementary schools at the BJE's first annual chess tournament.

Sophie provides instruction to a participant.

Leo Baeck team placed first in the K-6 division.

TanenbaumCHAT team placed first in the K-12 division

The Paul Penna DJDS team with Sophie and Ted Winnick

BIBLE CONTEST 2008

CONGRATULATIONS to the three Canadians at the International Bible Contest!

Two contests were held in Jerusalem:

- In the Diaspora Contest, one student from each of the top sixteen countries take part. Our representative, Rivka Witty from Ulpanat Orot, placed first!

- In the International Contest, four Israelis and the top twelve students from the Diaspora take part. All three Canadian participants - Rivka Witty, Elisheva Friedman (CHAT) and David Anidjar (Herzliah) - made it to the International Contest. Rivka placed fourth and Elisheva was seventh.

Congratulations, as well, to the participants in the National Bible Contest and their coaches. The contest was held May 11 - 13 in Toronto.

And the winners are:

English Division, Grades 5-6:

Photos from National Bible Contest 2008

Creative Writing Contest

What interesting, entertaining and wide-ranging entries we received! Congratulations to all those who entered the contest. After much deliberation the judges selected these submissions as most outstanding (click on the student's name to read their work):

ENGLISH DIVISION:

GRADE ONE

Ethan Baron                         Associated Hebrew Schools, Kamin

Hadar Elyovich                     Eitz Chaim Schools, Viewmount

GRADE TWO

Yaffa Cohen                        Eitz Chaim Schools, York Hill,

Sami Falkenstein                 Associated Hebrew Schools, Kamin

Cole Kerbel                         Bialik Hebrew Day School

Noah Mondrow                    Associated Hebrew Schools, Kamin                     

Aviel Shiff                           Eitz Chaim Schools, Patricia                                  

Joelle Somogyi                    Netivot HaTorah Day School                                  

GRADE THREE

Lauren Fleshner                   Leo Baeck Day School, Holy Blossom                 

Naomi Silver                        Eitz Chaim Schools, Spring Farm                         

Talia Wolfe                          United Synagogue Day School, Bathurst              

GRADE FOUR

Arieh Goldman                     Eitz Chaim Schools, Patricia                         

Eden Hoffer                         Eitz Chaim Schools, Spring Farm                 

Melanie Tebbi                      Netivot HaTorah Day School                                  

GRADE FIVE

Tamar Lesser                     Netivot HaTorah Day School                        

GRADE SIX

Amanda Freedman             Leo Baeck Day School, Holy Blossom                 

Chaya Malka Gotfryd           Bais Chaya Mushka                                                

Jaimie Shiff                        United Synagogue Day School, Bayview              

Avigail Skosowski               Eitz Chaim Schools, Spring Farm                         

Jennifer Taras                        United Synagogue Day School, Bayview              

Eton Ziner-Cohen               Leo Baeck Day School, Holy Blossom                 

GRADE SEVEN

Mia Kibel                           Bialik Hebrew Day School                                      

Gabriela Morgenshtern       Bialik Hebrew Day School                                      

GRADE EIGHT

Marleigh Dick                    Leo Baeck Day School, Holy Blossom                 

Daniel Gemara                  Eitz Chaim Schools, Patricia                                  

Eitan Markus                     Eitz Chaim Schools, Patricia                                  

Allie Minuk                        United Synagogue Day School, Bayview              

Leora Walfish                    Eitz Chaim Schools, Viewmount                            

HIGH SCHOOL

Becky Friedman                 Tanenbaum CHAT South, Grade 9            

Davida Ander                     Tanenbaum CHAT South, Grade 11                     

HEBREW DIVISION:

GRADE ONE

Dylan Blyuss                      Associated Hebrew School, Kamin  

GRADE TWO

Ciera Hart                         Associated Hebrew School, Kamin  

GRADE THREE

Eden Har Gil                       Associated Hebrew School, Kamin  

Jacob Raubvogel                 USDS, Bayview                           

Itamar Zaltzman                Leo Baeck Day School North          

GRADE FOUR

Michelle Schneeweiss         USDS, Bathurst                          

GRADE FIVE

Zachary Goldkind                USDS, Bayview                           

Adam Neumark                   USDS, Bayview                           

Evgenia Vishnyakova          Ohr Menachem Academy              

GRADE SIX

Emma Corber                      Bialik Hebrew Day School              

GRADE SEVEN

Josh Chorlton                     Bialik Hebrew Day School              

Jacquie Mincer                    Bialik Hebrew Day School              

Joshua Wine                       Bialik Hebrew Day School              

GRADE EIGHT

Talia Macmull                     USDS, Bayview                           

Shane Morganstein             USDS, Bayview                           

Jaclyn Zosky                       USDS, Bayview        

Passover Food Drive
National Council of Jewish Women in conjunction with JF&CS, JIAS, Moess Chittin, Canadian Jewish Congress Ontario Region and the Centre for Enhancement of Jewish Education sponsor the annual Passover Food Drive.

About 40 school groups participated in the recent Food Drive; some by donating foods, others by sorting supplies and packing the boxes that were distributed to individuals and families. Much thanks go to all the volunteers who worked so hard to make this project a success!

Associated Kamin grade five students pack boxes for Passover Food Drive

Virtual Art Show
Downtown Jewish Community School

Temple Emanuel

Students in grades 3 - 6 at Temple Emanuel participated in a course "Nahum, Reuven and Me" in which they interpreted the works of Nahum Guttman and Reuven Rubin.

Tzedakah Box Project

The Board of Jewish Education and the Shiff Charitable Foundation have sponsored a Tzedekah box project.

The following schools participated in this project: Associated Hebrew Schools, Beth Sholom Congregational School, Bialik Hebrew Day School,Downtown Jewish Community School,Leo Baeck Day School, Netivot HaTorah Day School, Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School, Shaar Shalom Religious School, She'arim Hebrew Day School, Temple Sinai Religious School, Tiferes Bais Yaakov, Toronto Heschel School and United Synagogue Day Schools.

Resources are still available for teachers on the website. They include lesson plans, an annotated bibliography of books available at the Pedagogic Library,a listing of current Tzedekah websites as well as a PowerPoint presentation of Tzedekah boxes that were on display at the Koffler Loggia Gallery April 30 - May 5, 2005. Click here to view the resources.

The goal of this citywide initiative was to give our students the opportunity to take part in creating tzedekah boxes with local Jewish artists as well as to draw attention to the mitzvah of Tzedakah. the Mercaz provided assistance with supplies for this project.