A Final Year-End Message from Dr. Jonathan Levy, Head of School

June 24, 2026
Tammuz 9, 5786

Dear TanenbaumCHAT Community,

As we reach the end of the 2025/2026 school year, I find myself reflecting not only on the accomplishments of the past ten months, but on the extraordinary journey we have shared throughout my years at TanenbaumCHAT. This year has been marked by the qualities that define our school and make it such a remarkable place to learn and grow: academic excellence, superb extracurricular opportunities, meaningful Jewish experiences, and a deep sense of community.

It is impossible to reflect on this year without acknowledging the ongoing challenges facing the Jewish world. With continued threats to Israel’s safety and security, and rising antisemitism around the globe, supporting our students remained one of our highest priorities. As our Grade 12 students prepare to enter colleges and universities, we have worked intentionally to equip them with the knowledge, confidence, and resilience they will need. Throughout the year, all students heard from a wide range of Israeli voices and participated in programs that deepened their understanding of Israel’s history, culture, and challenges. Our goal is for every student to be proud and knowledgeable about their Judaism and be prepared to respond with confidence and resilience when confronted with falsehoods about Israel and the Jewish people.

At the same time, this year saw an expansion of the vibrant programming that defines TanenbaumCHAT. In addition to our beloved performances, plays, concerts, and assemblies, our athletics program continued to thrive, with more than 30 sports teams competing across multiple leagues. Students led over 100 clubs and committees, participated in Shabbatons and experiential learning opportunities, and strengthened connections through community service partnerships across the GTA. Our Israel Becker Basketball Tournament once again brought incredible energy to the school, and our students contributed more than 25,000 hours of volunteer service.

Just days ago, we proudly celebrated the graduation of an exceptional cohort of students. With this year’s ceremony, we surpassed a major milestone: TanenbaumCHAT is now home to more than 10,000 alumni. These graduates join a global network of Jewish leaders, thinkers, professionals, and community builders who carry the values of our school into the world and strengthen Jewish life wherever they go. At the ceremony, we were also thrilled to announce the Honey and Barry Sherman Education Fund, a transformative $25 million gift that will strengthen tuition accessibility and help ensure that a TanenbaumCHAT education remains within reach for generations to come.

None of these accomplishments would be possible without our extraordinary faculty and staff. I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of them. Their commitment to academic excellence is matched only by their unwavering dedication to the wellbeing of our students. With compassion, strength, and professionalism, they guide, support, and inspire our students every day, helping to shape and secure a strong and vibrant Jewish future.

This message carries special meaning for me as the 2025/2026 school year marks my final year as Head of School at TanenbaumCHAT. As I prepare to conclude my tenure after 17 years, I am filled with gratitude for the privilege of serving this extraordinary community, for the trust you have placed in me, and for the countless moments of joy, pride, and purpose we have shared together.

TanenbaumCHAT is a place of heart, resilience, and vision. It has been an honour to witness the growth of our students, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the unwavering support of our families and alumni.

While I look forward to the next chapter of my journey, a part of me will always remain here, in the hallways, classrooms, relationships, and community that have shaped me as much as I hope I have contributed to shaping them. I leave with confidence in the strength of this school and in the bright future that lies ahead.

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l, whose wisdom has accompanied so many of my messages over the years, taught that true immortality is achieved not by building monuments, but by engraving our values on the hearts of our children, who in turn pass them on to the next generation, creating an unbroken chain that endures through time. That vision lies at the very heart of Jewish education and at the heart of TanenbaumCHAT. Our graduates carry the values, traditions and sense of responsibility nurtured within these walls. They become the links in the chain that stretches from generation to generation and through them, and through the generations that will follow, this remarkable school will continue to shape Jewish life and ensure a vibrant future for our people.

Thank you for the privilege of allowing me to lead this extraordinary community. It has been one of the greatest honours of my life. Wishing you all a restful and joyful summer.

With deep appreciation,

Dr. Jonathan Levy
Head of School