TORONTO, June 5, 1996: York University has appointed the first professor of Jewish education at a Canadian university.

As of July 1, professor Alex Pomson will spearhead York's Jewish Teacher Education Program, a joint Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education program housed in the Faculties of Arts and Education.

Pomson comes to York from London, England, where he served as director of Jewish Studies at the King Solomon High School, a new school for the largest Jewish community in Europe. He also taught at the University of London. Pomson received his B.A. in history from Cambridge University and his PhD in religious education from the University of London. His doctoral dissertation explored the impact of the study of Jewish history on the knowledge and identity of young Jewish people. Pomson has also done advanced studies at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shvut, Israel, and has participated in the Jerusalem Fellows Program for educators in schools outside of Israel.

Pomson has served as a tutor and lecturer at the Institute of Education, University of London. There he was instrumental in developing in-service and postgraduate courses for professionals working at different levels of formal education. He has taught religious educators from the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Christian communities. His most recent research involves the influence of formal Jewish schooling on students from diverse Jewish backgrounds.

"Compared to Europe, the Toronto Jewish education system appears very impressive," Pomson says. "And people here have been very warm and very welcoming to me." Pomson says he would like to think about the possibility of a graduate program in Jewish education at York. He will arrive in Toronto with his family during the summer.

"I'm delighted with Pomson's appointment" says Michael Brown, director of York's Centre for Jewish Studies. "It means that York will become a centre of research in Jewish education. And we can expect that students' classroom experience will be greatly enriched by the added research dimension."

This appointment has been made possible by the Israel Koschitzky Family Foundation, which has established an endowment of $600,000 at York in Jewish education. The Koschitzky family have been generous and farsighted supporters of Jewish educational institutions at all levels in Toronto and in Israel for many years. The gift to York, which was made at an official ceremony hosted by York president Susan Mann, is a natural extension of their long-standing interests.

"We hope this program will continue to create quality teachers of the Jewish heritage and the Hebrew language," says Saul Koschitzky.

"This is an excellent example of university-community cooperation," says University Professor (history and humanities) Sydney Eisen. Eisen conducted the discussions with Henry Koschitzky that led to the grant. "York has built a unique Program in Jewish Teacher Education. The Koschitzky family has added the cornerstone by endowing a full-time position in the field. It is an honour to receive a gift from a family that has done so much in our community to strengthen Jewish learning."

York University, the third largest in Canada, is nationally and internationally respected for its innovative research and teaching. With its combination of dedicated and talented faculty, bright and ambitious students, dynamic curriculum and modern campus in the heart of one of North America's most influential urban centres, York University is setting the modern standard in academic excellence.

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For more information, contact:

Michael Brown
Centre for Jewish Studies
(416) 736-5823

or

Cindy Kleiman
Department of Communications
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
YU/031/96