York U. Announces Chair In Jewish Teacher Education To Meet Growing Demand For Jewish Religious Instruction
Koschitzky Family Gift Funds North-American First At A Publicly funded University

TORONTO, December 15, 1998 -- With an estimated 25,000 students enrolled in Jewish Day Schools across Canada -- including more than 10,000 students in Toronto -- York University is pleased to announce a Chair in Jewish Teacher Education to help meet the growing demand for teachers of Hebrew and Jewish Studies.

The first of its kind at a publicly funded University in North America, the Chair in Jewish Teacher Education was made possible through the generous financial support of the Israel Koschitzky Family Charitable Foundation. The holder of the Chair is yet to be announced.

"We want to give our most sincere appreciation to the Koschitzky family for this marvellous gift," said York University President Dr. Lorna Marsden. "York University has become a pioneering force in Jewish teacher education across North America and worldwide."

Golda, Henry and Saul Koschitzky and their families recently presented a cheque for $600,000 at a signing of a formal agreement between the Foundation and York University. The donation is the family's second gift to Jewish teacher education at York University. The first -- given in June, 1996, also for $600,000 -- established a Professorship in Jewish Teacher Education, held by York University Faculty of Education Professor Alex Pomson.

"Education plays an important role in the Jewish tradition," said Associate Vice-President (Strategic Academic Initiatives) and Provost Stan Shapson. "Our unique program enables teachers to gain a background in Jewish languages 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, we can prepare teachers for Jewish schools who have all these qualities, and this endowment allows us to do this for many years to come," he said.

Said the Director of York University's Centre for Jewish Studies Michael Brown: "York is committed to serving the diverse needs of the community. The Program in Jewish Teacher Education, designed to serve the needs of Toronto's unique Jewish education system, as well as other communities across the country and in the U.S. and Israel, has emerged from that commitment to community service. 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."

York University, founded in 1959, is Canada's third largest university. It is nationally and internationally respected for its innovative research and award-winning teaching. With its combination of dedicated and talented faculty, opportunities for bright and ambitious students, dynamic curriculum and modern campuses in 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, please contact:

Professor Michael Brown
Director, Centre for Jewish Studies
York University
(416) 736-5823

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor for Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087

Ken Turriff
Media Relations Officer
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
YU/094/98