Winnipeg – Israeli author, poet, and Holocaust survivor Yehudah Amichai once wrote, “You don’t know me and I don’t know you, but we are the Jewish people.”

Four Winnipeg educators, when they joined a 14-person delegation from across Canada for the first teacher conference in Israel in 12 years, gained a whole new perspective on Amichai’s concept of a global Jewish community.

The Israel meetings were part of the ongoing Partnership 2000 (P2K) program that built a connection between schools across Canada, twinning them with Israeli communities.  

Five educators from Vancouver, five from Ottawa and four from Winnipeg attended the conference.

During the first few days, the Canadian educators were together for professional development, speakers and discussion. After that, Israeli educators spent time with educators from their Canadian partner schools.

Two of the Winnipeg educators in attendance were Gray Academy of Jewish Education’s principal Rory Paul and vice-principal Lori Binder.

P2K started in 1997 and is sponsored by the Jewish Federation’s UIA. Binder has been involved since its inception and Paul since 2003.

“The purpose of the conference is for UIA staff to bring Canadian and Israeli educators together to review program goals, planning and programming,” said Binder.

Gray Academy works with Danciger High School in Kiryat Shmona and Nachshonei Hachula Elementary School in Yesod Hamala, Chula Valley.

For Binder, the trip was an opportunity for her “to work with my Canadian colleagues in Vancouver and Ottawa, form new relationships and reaffirm my dedication to the P2K program (which is achieving many things for youth in both Canada and Israel).”

Paul said, “This program Lori helped build since 1997 has been highly successful and other schools in Canada are looking to us to achieve the same kind of success.

“Until now, we’ve all been operating as lone entities. Now, after the conference, we’re planning on regularly communicating and growing together.”

In Winnipeg, Gray Academy and Brock Corydon schools plan on working together more collaboratively.

“We also plan on strengthening our connections to the participating Vancouver schools, like King David High School, and Israel’s Danciger school (particularly in curricular areas), as well as with our elementary school partner in Israel (focusing on language),” said Paul.

Brock Corydon’s principal Ira Udow and educator Paula MacPherson also attended the conference. Their school has been involved in the program for about 10 years, partnering with Israel’s Tel Chai and Ramat Korazim schools.

“This program gives me the ability to stay current with educators in Israel by regularly exchanging ideas and material,” said MacPherson. “It benefits both the Canadian and the Israeli educators. The Israelis realize they’re part of a bigger Jewish population around the world and we see we’re part of a bigger Jewish picture. We bring Israel’s incredible strength and enthusiasm back to our kids in Winnipeg.

“This conference was all about making connections and building relationships. We want to focus on elevating our Israel-Canada connection to a higher, deeper level, so we have a more emotional level of understanding of our shared values (one that will sustain itself over the years).”

Brock Corydon has a Hebrew immersion program with a strong Hebrew culture.
“These trips help us bring Hebrew to our students in a more solid way,” said Udow. “It helps us foster a sense of Jewish identity and belonging. Some of our students go to Israel and visit our sister schools. It’s a human connection that can last a lifetime.”

Also on their Israel trip Brock Corydon educators met with Tal Am Heritage Language representatives (a program used by the Winnipeg school) about ways to meet Brock Corydon’s particular needs. As a UNESCO school, the educators also met with the Israeli UNESCO coordinator.  

“There are 15 UNESCO schools in Israel and they have relationships with Arab-Israeli schools,” said Udow. “While we were there, we made a new connection with an Arab-Israeli school.

“All of us in this program come from different backgrounds. There are orthodox, public, and mixed schools, but regardless, we’re all similar.  We’re part of a much larger puzzle, a bigger, Diaspora picture.”