adraba

09/10/2026

Just as the Jewish calendar resets with the promise of a sweet New Year, a brand-new chapter is beginning right here at Adraba!

We're excited to welcome students and families for a new year of Adraba courses. This year, we are diving into deep discussions and building a vibrant community of curious minds. Whether you are returning to our familiar virtual classroom or joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to learn, grow, and question alongside you.

May this year bring health, happiness, and deep meaningful connections. Let’s make this a year of sweet discoveries and shared learning!

Shana Tova! 🍏✨

09/07/2026

09/06/2026

Did you know that Sammy Luftspring was a Jewish Canadian boxing legend who fought back against hate?

Think boxing is just about what happens inside the ring? For Sammy Luftspring, his biggest fight took place on the world stage. Born and raised in Toronto’s vibrant Jewish community in 1916, Sammy grew up during a tough era of rising antisemitism. He found his strength in the ring, quickly rising through the ranks to become the Canadian Lightweight Champion.

By 1936, Sammy was at the absolute top of his game and was selected to represent Canada at the Berlin Olympics. But he courageously refused to go. In a powerful act of protest against Hitler’s N**i regime and its horrific treatment of Jewish people, Sammy chose to boycott the Games, stating he could not compete in a nation that persecuted his people. Instead, he went to Barcelona to compete in the People’s Olympiad, an alternative games organized in protest of Berlin.

His incredible accomplishments didn't stop there. In 1938, he won the Canadian Welterweight Championship title in an unforgettable, gruelling 15-round battle, climbing his way to a top-10 world ranking. After a career-ending eye injury, he stayed a major figure in sports as a highly respected referee, ultimately earning an induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.

Sammy Luftspring wasn't just a champion with his gloves on. He was a hero who stood up for his community, his values, and human rights when the world was watching.

You can learn more about Sammy and other amazing Canadian Trailblazers in our Canadian History Since World War 1 course that starts online on October 5! Visit us at www.adraba.ca

08/31/2026

Did you know that the landmark book that forced Canada to confront its wartime antisemitism was written by a historian who grew up in the heart of Toronto?

Long before he was an acclaimed professor, Harold "Hesh" Troper was born in 1942 into a working-class, Yiddish-infused pocket of downtown Toronto. Growing up surrounded by the resilience and stories of European immigrants, Hesh absorbed a deep, firsthand understanding of community identity and the immigrant struggle. Despite his deep cultural upbringing, Hesh later recalled that as a young man with a PhD in history, it had never occurred to him to question Canada’s role during the N**i era. That changed in 1982 when he and co-author Irving Abella published None Is Too Many: Canada and the Jews of Europe 1933–1948. Grounded in the historical empathy he developed during his youth, the book shattered national myths by exposing the Canadian government’s restrictive and antisemitic immigration policies during the Holocaust. The revelation shocked the public and directly prompted the government to adopt much more open refugee policies. His meticulous research reminds us that history is always a mirror for our choices today.

Ontario students in Grades 8-10 can learn more about Hesh Troper and other amazing Jewish Canadians by enrolling in Adraba's Canadian History Since WWI online course (in English or French) ... all while earning a high school credit!

Classes begin October 5th, so enroll today!
www.adraba.ca

08/30/2026

Did you know that one of Canada’s most legendary philanthropic dynasties was once caught in the middle of an international antiquities scandal?

The Tanenbaum family built a massive steel and real estate empire in Toronto after arriving from Poland as penniless Jewish immigrants, eventually using their wealth to support Jewish life and heritage. Over the decades, they've poured millions into preserving Jewish history, funding world-class Jewish institutions and single-handedly saving Toronto's oldest continuously operating synagogue.

Yet, alongside their celebration of history, a passion for collecting led to a dramatic twist in the early 2000s when a controversy erupted over a staggering $100-million collection of ancient Chinese tomb artefacts they tried to donate to
only to learn they had been smuggled out of Asia.

While the museum had to reject parts of the collection, the family's legacy remains securely tied to the preservation of rare, beautiful Jewish ritual items and the flourishing of Canadian Jewish education.

Ontario students in Grades 8-10 can learn more about the Tanenbaums and other amazing Jewish Canadians by enrolling in Adraba's Canadian History Since WWI online course (in English or French) ... all while earning a high school credit!
Classes begin October 5th, so enroll today! www.adraba.ca

08/28/2026

Did you know that Nathan Phillips, the man whose name graces Toronto’s most famous city square, shattered a 120-year political barrier to reshape the spirit of Canada's largest city?

Born in 1892 into a pioneer Canadian Jewish family in Brockville, Ontario, Phillips became a successful lawyer before entering municipal politics. When he was elected as the 53rd mayor of Toronto in 1955, he broke a century-long string of Protestant mayors. Winning the election was an extraordinary feat, as he rose to power during an era when anti-Semitic signs excluding Jewish residents were still unfortunately common across the city.

Upon taking office, Phillips famously pledged to represent people of all backgrounds fairly and without discrimination, proudly earning the title of "The Mayor of All the People."

Beyond his cultural impact, Phillips spearheaded massive public works, including the construction of the Bloor-Danforth subway line and the development of Toronto’s iconic New City Hall. He passed away in 1976, but his legacy of inclusivity lives on at , the permanent gathering place he championed to ensure every citizen would always feel at home.

Ontario students in Grades 8-10 can learn more about Phillips and other amazing Jewish Canadians by enrolling in Adraba's Canadian History Since WWI online course (in English or French) ... all while earning a high school credit!

Classes begin October 5th, so enroll today! www.adraba.ca

08/27/2026

Did you know that F***y "Bobbie" Rosenfeld, once named Canada’s Female Athlete of the Half-Century, began her life as a refugee fleeing anti-Semitic violence?

Born into a Jewish family in 1904 in present-day Ukraine, her family escaped the brutal pogroms when she was just an infant to build a safer life in Ontario. As she grew into a sports phenom in Toronto, mainstream athletic clubs often barred Jewish athletes, so Bobbie found her sanctuary at the Young Women’s Hebrew Association (now the ). The YWHA launched her career, and she led their basketball and hockey teams to provincial championships. She shattered barriers at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, where women could compete in track and field for the first time. She became the first Jewish woman to win an Olympic track-and-field gold medal, anchoring the relay team to victory in a world-record time, and earning an individual silver in the 100-metre sprint.

Even after severe arthritis cut her athletic career short, she spent decades as a trailblazing journalist fighting for gender equality in sports until her passing in 1969.

Ontario students in Grades 8-10 can learn more about Bobbie and other amazing Jewish Canadians by enrolling in Adraba's Canadian History Since WWI online course (in English or French) ... all while earning a high school credit!

Classes begin October 5th, so run fast like Bobbie and enroll today!
www.adraba.ca

08/20/2026

What is a Reach-Ahead credit, and why should Grade 8 students take one?

Authorized by the Ontario Ministry of Education, the Reach Ahead program allows Grade 8 students to take our ONLINE Grade 10 Canadian History course (English or French) and log it toward their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) before high school officially begins!

The Reach Ahead Program is a fabulous opportunity for Grade 8 students to:
☑ Reduce the academic demand in their first year of high school by already having completed a mandatory course;
☑ Ease the transition from elementary to secondary schooling;
☑ Complete a compulsory course prior to the start of high school, allowing greater choice of elective courses to enrich their learning experience.

Learn more at the link in our bio or by visiting https://mailchi.mp/adraba/reachahead-18256233?e=9cad3ca8a5

08/13/2026

Save Big with Our Multi-Student Discounts

Adraba features a specialized multi-student group discount designed to make education accessible. When you team up with friends or community members to enroll, the standard course fee drops significantly:

👉Pair Sign-Up: Register with a friend, and the price drops to $720
👉3 or More: The cost drops to just $613 per student

Bonus Perk: Every family receives a $180 charitable tax receipt

Spaces in our Canadian History cohort are extremely limited and filling up fast as the new school year approaches. Don't wait until the class is completely closed! Grab a friend, secure your group rate, and register today by visiting www.adraba.ca or emailing Dr. Dan directly at [email protected].

08/06/2026

For many of us, the post-B’mitzvah years present a familiar challenge: how do we keep our teenagers engaged with Judaism when high school workloads, sports, and social lives take over?

Traditional supplementary programs don’t always fit into a packed family schedule.

Adraba, Ontario’s only Ministry-accredited online Jewish high school, offers a seamless solution by bringing identity-centred learning straight to your teen's laptop. By removing the physical barriers to education, Adraba helps your teenager explore and maintain their Jewish identity entirely from home.

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/identityfromhome