Our History

The first organized Jewish Education program on record in Winnipeg is established by the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue.

The first formal Jewish studies program (Talmud Torah) is established at King Edward School on Selkirk Avenue. The school offers a curriculum of Hebrew language, Talmud, Jewish literature and history for children of Jewish immigrants.

Rabbi Israel Kahanovitch, z'l, (1872-1945), chief rabbi of Winnipeg, establishes the Winnipeg Hebrew Free School–Talmud Torah in its own building at the corner of Dufferin and Aikins in the city’s North End, where the majority of the Jewish community resides.

Rabbi Kahanovitch, now chief rabbi of Western Canada, works with local architect Max Blankstein to create a new building at the corner Charles Street and Flora Avenue to accommodate the growing Hebrew Free School-Talmud Torah. It includes classrooms, meeting rooms and a library, along with a large auditorium for services, lectures, weddings, conferences and concerts. With classes on weekday afternoons and Sunday mornings, it was considered one of the top three Talmud Torah schools in North America.

Secular Yiddish language education begins in two rented classrooms at Aberdeen School, under the banner of the Jewish Radical School. In 1915, the school is renamed I. L. Peretz School, honouring the famed Yiddish writer. Within the year, 92 students are enrolled, and the school relocates to a building on McKenzie Street. As enrollment continues to rise, the school moves to Burrows Avenue in 1917, then to Aberdeen Avenue in 1922. The latter is expanded in the 1930s, becoming the largest K to 12 Jewish day school in North America. In 1927, Zionists seeking more emphasis on Zionism and Hebrew instruction split off to form the Jewish Folk School on St Johns Avenue.

Architect Max Blankstein is enlisted once again to design a satellite facility of the main Hebrew Free School on Charles Street. Constructed at the corner of Andrews Street and Magnus Avenue in the North End, the one-storey brick building contains five classrooms, two playrooms, and an assembly hall.

The Jewish Folk School re-joins with I. L. Peretz School to become the I. L. Peretz Folk School, located on Aberdeen Avenue. The school expands to include satellite campuses on Aikins Street (1950) and Jefferson Avenue (1956).

Talmud Torah grows following WW II, when Rabbi Avraham Kravetz, z'l, (1914-1962) becomes the new principal. Under his leadership, the school moves to Matheson Avenue, accommodating Kindergarten to Grade 6.

Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate opens, offering full-day classes that include general and Judaic studies for Grades 7 through 11.

Ramah Hebrew School, a Grade 1 to 6 Jewish day school founded by Congregation Shaarey Zedek, opens at Lanark and Grant in River Heights, offering Hebrew language, Talmud and general studies to the growing Jewish population in Winnipeg's South End.

I. L. Peretz Folk School locations on Aberdeen Avenue and Aikins Street are consolidated at the Jefferson Avenue location.

The Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education (WBJE) combines I. L. Peretz Folk School and the Talmud Torah (Winnipeg Hebrew School) to form Talmud Torah-I. L. Peretz Folk School at the Matheson Avenue location.

Winnipeg's Jewish community breaks ground on a new community campus on Doncaster street, which will include offices, a Jewish community centre, a theatre and a single Jewish day school to accommodate students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12.

The WBJE amalgamates Talmud Torah-I.L. Peretz Folk School, Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate and Ramah Hebrew School and opens Gray Academy of Jewish Education at the new Asper Jewish Community Campus in the South End of Winnipeg. Gray Academy is comprised of three schools - Shore Early Years, Simkin Middle School, and Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate.

Shore Early Years, Simkin Middle School and Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate amalgamate to become a single school - Gray Academy of Jewish Education.

Students, current and former staff, current and past WBJE presidents, community leaders and many special guests gather at the Asper Jewish Community Campus for a joyful celebration of Gray Academy's 25th anniversary.

Today, Gray Academy is Western Canada's only JK-Grade 12 Jewish day school. Building on a long legacy of academic excellence framed by Jewish values, Gray Academy provides a warm, welcoming school environment where all children are cared for academically, socially, emotionally and Jewishly.