A Rosh Hashanah Message from Dr. Jonathan Levy, Head of School

Dear TanenbaumCHAT Community,

On multiple occasions during the Rosh Hashanah prayer service, we declare Hayom Harat Olam—“Today is the birth of the world.” It’s a striking phrase, evoking the grandeur of creation and the mystery of beginnings. One might expect, then, that the Torah reading for this day would be the opening chapters of Genesis, describing how God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh.

But instead, we read something else entirely.

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, we read about the miraculous birth of Isaac—a child born to Sarah, a woman long thought to be barren. On the second day, we read the Akeidah, the binding of Isaac, where Abraham is asked to sacrifice his son and is stopped at the last moment. These are not stories of cosmic creation. They are stories of human vulnerability, of faith, of sacrifice—and most of all, of children.

Why these readings?

Because Judaism does not simply commemorate the birth of the world—it celebrates the birth of possibility. It lives not in the past, but in the future. As Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l wrote, “Judaism is a supreme example of a culture that, while celebrating the present and honouring the past, lives for the future—for its children.”

For thousands of years, the Jewish people have placed education at the centre of communal life, ensuring that each generation learns not only knowledge but also values, stories, and character. This legacy lives on at TanenbaumCHAT, where for more than 60 years thousands of students have received both a robust general studies education and a deep understanding of Jewish history, texts, language, and identity. Just as importantly, they leave with a sense of pride in who they are, a love for the State of Israel, and a commitment to improving the world around them. TanenbaumCHAT is not just where students learn—it's where they grow into themselves. Here Jewish identity is not inherited passively but actively explored, questioned, and embraced.

This is where Hayom Harat Olam comes alive—not as a distant echo of creation, but as a daily act of renewal. Every student who walks through our doors is a new beginning, a living testament to the Jewish future.

Wishing you and your family a Shana Tova Umetukah—a year of health, happiness, and peace. May we hold in our hearts the hostages and their families, and may we pray for peace in Israel.

Dr. Jonathan Levy, Head of School