Family donation funds Jewish Teacher Education

SIGNING AGREEMENT: The establishment of a Chair in Jewish Teacher Education has been funded, thanks to an agreement between the Koschitzky family and York University. Pictured here signing the agreement are Golda Koschitzky and York University President Lorna Marsden.

by Mary Ann Horgan

YORK BELIEVED TO HAVE CANADA'S FIRST CHAIR IN JEWISH TEACHER EDUCATION

Members of the York community gathered recently in the President's Sitting Room to witness the signing of a formal agreement between York University and the Koschitzky family, establishing a Chair in Jewish Teacher Education.

The group celebrated the $600,000 donation, the second gift from the family that has gone towards funding Jewish teacher education at York. The holder of the Chair is yet to be announced. The Israel Koschitzky Family Charitable Foundation made its first donation of $600,000 in June 1996 to fund the establishment of a Professorship in Jewish Teacher Education. The professorship is currently held by Alex Pomson.

A cheque was presented at the Oct. 16 breakfast meeting, which served as the official venue for the signing of a formal agreement between the Koschitzky family and York University. Those in attendance included York University President Lorna Marsden, Vice President (University Advancement) Gary J. Smith, Centre for Jewish Studies (CJS) Director Michael Brown, Dean of Arts George Fallis, Dean of Education Stan Shapson and Assistant Dean Don Dippo, Jewish Studies Professors Sydney Eisen and Martin Lockshin, Gerry Unterman, Executive Director of the Board of Jewish Education and Vice-President of the United Jewish Appeal Federation, and members of the Koschitzky family.

"We want to give our most sincere appreciation for this marvellous gift," said President Marsden. "It really makes a huge difference. We're very happy that so many members of the Koschitzky family have been able to come and be with us today." Marsden signed the agreement on behalf of the university, and Golda Koschitzky and Henry Koschitzky signed on behalf of the family.

CJS Director Michael Brown said "The Koschitzkys are known locally and internationally for their philanthropy and civic-mindedness, but even more for their menschlichkeit, a good Yiddish word with no good translation, but including humanity, consideration for others, and gentlemanliness."

"Not only has the family undertaken to support generously our Jewish teacher education program, but Julie Koschitzky has agreed to join our fundraising team for the Centre to help ensure that the Jewish Studies Program at York will remain the strongest and largest in the country," Brown said. "The association of the Koschitzky name with this new chair will confer upon it recognition and cachet, not only here in Toronto, but internationally."

Brown said that thanks to the Koschitzky family, York has had a professorship in Jewish Teacher Education for three years, and now they have endowed a new Chair. He said York has been in the business of Jewish teacher education for almost two decades, and we can be proud of our significant accomplishments in this field, which he summarized in three main points.

Firstly, he said, "Much more than most universities, York is committed to serving the community, to being socially useful. Its program in Jewish Teacher Education, designed to serve the needs of Toronto's unique Jewish education system, has emerged from that commitment to community service."

"Secondly, Tentanda via -- the way must be tried -- is York's motto. And it has led us to experiment with new pedagogical ventures well in advance of other, better endowed, longer established universities. That we have been pioneers in training teachers for Jewish schools says much about how we understand our mission to forge ahead in new directions that others may view as too risky."

"Finally, York's Jewish Studies programs have placed Jewish Education at the centre of their concerns, and that highlights what is special about our centre. It is a group of world-class scholars and researchers, all of whom are also involved and active members of the community, who believe there is a vital nexus between scholarship and daily life."

Shapson, who has just been appointed to the new position of Associate Vice-President (Strategic Initiatives) and Provost, said "It is amazing to see the dedication of people working in our Jewish Teacher Education Program. The program is labour intensive, and the people in it have played a super role. However, we had a significant need [for a person] and we needed a person with their own expertise in this field, and until your family came along, we had no way of filling that need, but your contribution put us over the top."

"Education plays an important role in the Jewish tradition, and your family shows such dedication to that philosophy," said Shapson. "Our unique program enables teachers to gain the background in Jewish language and traditions, but also allows them to keep up to date on the new and changing Ontario curriculum and gives them the interdisciplinary skills to handle the children they will encounter in the schools."

"By setting up this Chair, you allow us to prepare teachers for Jewish schools who have all these qualities, and your gift allows us to do this for years and years to come, so that is really the most significant part of it all," Shapson said to members of the Koschitzky family. Thank you to your family. You are true educators, which makes our job much easier. I believe this is the first Chair in Jewish teacher education in Canada."

Saul Koschitzky, speaking on behalf of the family, said, "I'd like to thank York University for starting this program, and for getting our family involved in it. Back when I was a student, 421Ž2 years ago, I met Syd Eisen, and he was very interested in Jewish studies and Jewish teacher education, and he got our family very interested in it. We think York is doing a great job, and we hope you can attract quality students to the teacher education program so that the program lives up to all that we hope it can be."

Prof. Syd Eisen, described as the "founding father" of Jewish Studies at York and the founding director of the CJS, noted that this second half of the Koschitzky gift "was not solicited [by the university.] It was offered to us by the Koschitzky family. I was asked one day whether we could use some more money, but of course I said no!" laughed Eisen. "But they just insisted! I want to thank all the members of the Koschitzky family for their thoughtfulness and their involvement in this way with the University and the future of Jewish teacher education."

Those attending a reception in the President's Sitting Room to celebrate a donation from the Koschitzky family are: (left to right, back row) Michael Brown, Gerry Unterman, Stan Shapson, Saul Koschitzky and his wife Mira Koschitzky, Henry Koschitzky and his wife Julie Koschitzky, Syd Eisen, Gary J. Smith, George Fallis, Don Dippo, (front row, seated) Golda Koschitzky and York University President Lorna Marsden.