The Toronto Heschel School draws deeply on the well of inspiration offered by our namesake, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel z”l (1907 – 1972). Rabbi Heschel descended from two illustrious Chassidic families and was a respected scholar, eloquent speaker and prolific writer. He made a unique contribution to Jewish thought by emphasizing Judaism as a unifying force among Jews and the personal relationship between people and God. Rabbi Heschel believed in applying Jewish ethical values to every aspect of life. He believed that in order to be a good Jew, one must first be a good human being, concerned with justice. In this spirit, students at The Toronto Heschel School learn to apply the teachings of the Torah into their daily life both in the school community and within the community at large. Following the teachings of Rabbi Heschel, students learn to find spirituality in the natural world that surrounds them, to worship God by respecting and caring for each other, and to pray in a manner that expresses their thanksgiving and their trust in God. They also learn to view the world around them with awe and a sense of wonder.