Vancouver Talmud Torah
Vancouver Talmud Torah | |
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Address | |
998 26th Avenue West Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 2G1 Canada | |
Information | |
School type | Independent |
Founded | 1934 |
Principal | Cathy Lowenstein |
Grades | preschool to Grade 7 |
Enrollment | 500+ |
Language | English, Hebrew |
Website |
www |
Vancouver Talmud Torah is a Jewish community day school located in Vancouver, Canada serving students from preschool to Grade 7.
The oldest and largest Jewish Day School west of Ontario, Vancouver Talmud Torah (VTT) traces its roots to 1913, when the first afternoon/evening classes were held on Heatley Street, in what is now the Strathcona neighbourhood. By 1918 the school had a name, The Vancouver Hebrew School (the first president being Max Grossman), and by 1921 was the official afternoon school of the Schara Tzedeck (synagogue). In 1934 VTT became an independent school, and in 1943 the school became a full day school and moved to an 11-room house on West 14th Avenue.
In 1948, under the leadership of Pops Waterman, Dr. Moses Steinberg, Abe and Sam Rothstein, Irving Lipsky, Jack Aceman, Saul Shaffer, Hy Altman and many others, VTT built the original wing of its present location on Oak Street. At that time, the founders created bylaws such that VTT would serve as a community school, and would accept all students regardless of their ability to pay tuition. VTT has stayed true to that ideal, and has expanded to a school of 500+ students from a wide diversity of backgrounds. A dual curriculum school that delivers Judaic and general studies, all students are taught the traditional Jewish values of Derech Eretz (care and respect), Tikkun Olam (world repair through good deeds), and Ahavat Yisrael (love of Israel).
Since 1948, VTT has graduated more than 2000 students, supported by a community that has spent many hours volunteering, and contributed to the various fundraisers and campaigns that have built the successive wings of the school. Today VTT is supported by tuition, the VTT Foundation, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, and a large group of generous donors and alumni.
Notable alumni
- Seth Rogen, comedian