Israel Every Day
Fostering strong ties to our Jewish homeland is a key commitment of our school each and every day. Outside our building, the Israeli flag flies proudly beside the Canadian maple leaf. In our classrooms, we begin every morning with both O Canada and Hatikva, followed by prayers for Medinat Yisrael. Our walls are alive with Israeli artwork. When we celebrate, Israeli music fills the air.
Hebrew is spoken and studied daily in every grade, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. As students advance in their studies, they learn more about the richness of Israel’s people, culture, geography, history and – in more senior grades – about the political and social complexities of Jewish statehood.
Israel When We Celebrate
Israel is an important presence in our holiday and milestone celebrations, especially Tu B’Shvat, Yom Yerushalayim and Yom Ha’atzmaut. We celebrate Israel’s birthday with music, fun and special foods, along with our annual Yom Ha’atzmaut Song Festival. Israel is remembered with somber appreciation on Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaShoah. In Grade 3, learning comes to life in the spring with an elaborate, full-day Virtual Voyage to Israel.
Israel Since October 7
On October 7, 2023, we witnessed the most devastating loss of Jewish civilian lives in Israel’s history. In the difficult days since we have continued to pray daily for peace and for the safety and well-being of all the people of Israel, especially members of the Israel Defense Forces. Each year, we commemorate this solemn day with prayers, songs and messages of resilience with a school-wide Havdallah for Hope.
Connecting to Israel through P2G
Since 1997, our P2G (Partnership 2 Gether) program has brought Gray Academy students together with students from Dancinger High School in Kiryat Shmona, Israel. The program supports an invaluable exchange between countries and discussions related to life in Israel, as well as Jewish life in the diaspora.
Through this program, we have welcomed Israeli teens and teachers to Gray Academy to connect with our faculty and students of all ages. Conversely, we have sent more than 100 Gray Academy High School students to visit and learn in Israel for 10 days, as the second half of the exchange.
Through two-and-a-half decades, this program has created authentic and lasting relationships between students in the two countries.
P2G 2023
On Friday, October 6, Gray Academy celebrated Simchat with visiting students and faculty from Danciger High School. Less than 24 hours later, our joy turned to horror, as tragedy unfolded in Israel. With no flights available, our P2G guests stayed with us far longer than planned. We were incredibly grateful to our P2G host families and the entire Winnipeg Jewish community for helping us support our visitors during their extended stay. We look forward to resuming this important program that has brought so much to our school and our community.
See highlights from our unforgettable 2023 P2G visit:
