Broadening our Students’ Connections with the Jewish Community Worldwide

Last summer when Becky Silberman, Upper School Athletic Director, asked if I would support the varsity teams’ participation in an international basketball tournament in Toronto, Ontario in January 2023, my answer was a resounding yes! Students experience enormous growth from such opportunities. I gave my full-fledged support for CESJDS’ participation in the Israel Becker TanenbaumCHAT Invitational Tournament.
 
As a school leader, one must weigh the costs and benefits of such an endeavor. The costs: missing several days of classroom instruction, the enormous logistical lift of supporting such a large group, the financial cost, safety and security concerns, and the potential for winter snow storms which can disrupt travel. The benefits: intercultural connection with other Jewish youth, increased pride in the school, team bonding, increased awareness of our Canadian neighbor to the north, and the promotion of physical activity which enhances mental health in the middle of winter. 

I was fortunate to accompany the group for three of the days and to watch our students in action. One hundred and fifty students from six schools participated (2 Canadian, 2 American, 2 Israeli) in the tournament. Over the course of four days, our students played in 13 games (boys team – 7; girls team – 6) including the championship games on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 as both CESJDS teams made it to the final round of play! 
 
During his opening remarks, CHAT’s Head of School, Jonathan Levy, shared the goals of the 30-year old tournament: to broaden connections with the Jewish community worldwide and to foster connections to the people of Israel. The tournament took place in two venues in Toronto: The Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (CHAT) where more than 1300 high school students attend and the Prosserman Jewish Community Centre, a state of the art facility where Toronto’s Jewish community gathers.  
 
CESJDS students adapted well to their new environment. They learned to play under new rules on the court with players and officials who had a different set of norms and expectations. CHAT was in session during three days of the tournament which allowed CESJDS students to interact with Jewish teens beyond the basketball team. Our students stayed with host families who went above and beyond to make our players feel welcome, especially as their stay was extended by an additional day due to a snow storm.  
 
While we did not win the tournament (Canada’s CHAT girls; Israel’s Leo Baeck Academy boys), our students played admirably and shared experiences with other Jewish youth which will stay with them for years to come. We all felt our shared Jewish values were on full display: K’hillah (community), Ahavat Yisra-el (love of Israel) and Pluralism.  
 
Like last year’s Spanish language and culture trip to Argentina, this international trip to Canada allowed for CESJDS students to visit a school and engage with their Jewish peers. We look forward to adding a third student exchange opportunity in June when Arabic language students visit Morocco!