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At The Toronto Heschel School, we aspire to create a positive and safe school climate for all students, staff, parents/guardians and community members. We strive to balance the best interests of the individual with those of the class and school as a whole. Students, teachers, parents, and community members are expected to perform mitzvot, to respect themselves and each other. We are guided by Hillel’s simple admonition: Do not treat others in a way you would not want to be treated. There is no message more clearly received than the one we send through our daily conduct.
The practice of Derekh Eretz, which means “The Conduct of the Land,” guides our expectations and practices for how students, staff, parents/guardians and community members treat one another. As members of The Toronto Heschel School community, we hold ourselves to the standards of Derekh Eretz when we are in school, off school property, on-line, during and out of school hours. Together, we foster a safe, nurturing and inclusive community.
דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ קָדְמָה לַתּוֹרָה “Derekh Eretz is a prerequisite for learning” |
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At Heschel we each commit to… |
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You shall carefully protect your life Devarim 4:15 |
Care for each other’s physical, emotional safety and well-being | ונִשְׁמַרְתֶּם מְאֹד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם דברים ד:טו |
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Each person is created in the Divine Image, yet each of us is unique Talmud, Sanhedrin 38a |
Respect each other’s dignity, individuality, and identity | כָּל אָדָם בְּחוֹתָמוֹ וְאֵין אֶחָד מָהֵן דּוֹמֶה לְחַבֵירו סנהדרין לח.א |
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Gatherings for the sake of a good purpose will succeed Pirkei Avot 4:11 |
Work cooperatively with others to learn and play | כָּל כְּנֵסִיָּה שֶׁהִיא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, סוֹפָהּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם פרקי אבות ד:יא |
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Take care with your words Pirkei Avot 1:9 |
Use words carefully and thoughtfully; avoid lashon hara | וֶהֱוֵי זָהִיר בִּדְבָרֶיךָ פרקי אבות א:ט |
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If I am not responsible for myself who will be; If I am only for myself what am I? If not now, when ? Pirkei Avot 1:14 |
Take responsibility for ourselves, our community, the environment and for tikkun olam | הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, אִם אֵין אֲנִי לִי, מִי לִי. וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי לְעַצְמִי, מָה אֲנִי. וְאִם לֹא עַכְשָׁיו, אֵימָתָי פרקי אבות א:יד |
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May the doors of your house be open wide Pirkei Avot 1:5 |
Be inclusive in our work, play, and celebration | ייְהִי בֵיתְךָ פָתוּחַ לִרְוָחָה פרקי אבות א:ה |
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Don’t separate yourself from the community Pirkei Avot 2:4 |
Participate respectfully in the Jewish practices of our school | אַל תִּפְרֹשׁ מִן הַצִּבּוּר פרקי אבות ב:ד |
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The heavens belong to God, but the earth is our responsibility Pslams 115:16 |
Care for our school and for each others’ belongings | הַשָּׁמַיִם שָׁמַיִם, לַיהוָה וְהָאָרֶץ, נָתַן לִבְנֵי-אָדָם תהילים קטו:טז |
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May there be peace and tranquility in our gates and in our hearts Tamud, Sanhedrin 38a |
Help create calm, mindful learning spaces | ִיהִי שָׁלוֹם בִּשְׁעָרֶיהָ וְשַׁלְוָה בְּלֵב יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ שמונה עשרה |
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Build your life as if it were a work of art — A.J. Heschel |
Acknowledge that we make mistakes and grow and learn from them | לֹא עָלֶיךָ הַמְּלָאכָה לִגְמוֹר, וְלֹא אַתָּה בֶן חוֹרִין לִבָּטֵל מִמֶּנָּה פרקי אבות ב:טז |