The Application

My second year at Toronto French School was a good one. My salary was raised to $17,000 which was now enough to live on seeing that the major expenses of the first year in a new country were past. However, along with this raise, I was expected to stay at school until 7:00 PM two nights a week to be available for students needing extra help in math and physics. I was now also responsible for arranging all of the extra-curricular activities for the students which included: music and dance competitions, chess tournaments, car rallies, and so forth.

As the school year was coming to an end, I started reading the newspapers to see what teaching posts were being advertised in the Canadian public school system. There were two that caught my attention: Upper Canada College and The Toronto Hebrew Academy. Upper Canada College is a historic private school in the centre of Toronto with an excellent record of achievement both academically and athletically; they were looking for a senior physics teacher. The Toronto Hebrew Academy was seeking someone to be Head of the Science Department, though this post required a Type-A specialist certificate.

When one is applying for new positions, it is important to apply for all those advertised. In this way, your name becomes known, and, often the names and qualities of unsuccessful candidates are passed on to other schools.

So, I sent off my application to each school. I was short- listed for the position at Upper Canada College, which pleased me, but I was also invited for an interview at the Hebrew Academy. This surprised me as it was evident from my application that I was not a Jew.

The interview was set to be on a Monday with the school's principal and their senior Rabbi. They questioned me for an hour and then asked if I had any questions. At the time I had none to ask, but did say to them, “You do realize I am not a Jew? In fact, I’m a ‘born-again’ Christian! Of course, I will only teach physics in my lab, but if I am asked by a student my beliefs on particular subjects, I will find it difficult not to answer.”

I thought it would do no harm saying this since I had no hope of getting the post anyway, even though the men had seemed interested in my application! The principal, Gary Diamond, replied, “Yes, we understand. We think it might be good for our students to be challenged by someone of another faith!”

I drove the 20 miles home across the city in a state of wonderment. Was it possible that I should teach at an orthodox Jewish academy? I had always loved Jewish people from the time Anne’s father had introduced me to the “Shepherd of Israel” - a magazine he received regularly from America. I used to say “If I were not Welsh, I would like to have been born a Jew!”

The following Friday at noon, Keith called me into his office to tell me that the Hebrew Academy was very interested in my application and had called to check if my credentials were authentic. I think it’s noteworthy that the only person in Toronto who really knew - especially concerning the last two entries on my curriculum vitae - “President of Staff Association; Member of Board of Governors” - was Keith himself! That evening I received a telephone call. It was from Mr. Diamond inviting me to take the position at The Toronto Hebrew Academy starting in September with a salary of $33,000! I mumbled my acceptance, and after a few minutes of general talk, I immediately called Anne to tell her the news!

We were overwhelmed. As we regained our senses, we began to praise the Lord for His wonderful ways. Was this to be the reason why He had closed the door in Germany so long ago so that He might prove Himself to me in bringing us to Canada? He had provided a Type-A certificate in the unheard- of time of one year, and now, opened a door to His chosen people! What had I done to deserve this besides pray alongside the Brewery Field in Bridgend?

I later discovered that seven others had applied for the same post at The Toronto Hebrew Academy, each of whom had specialist diplomas and were Jewish. Indeed, two of them were already at the school, both with Type-A in two subjects! It is to their credit that both Andy and Marty became good friends with me as I settled into life in a Hebrew community.

There were 50 teachers at the school, only two of us being non-Jews, but they went out of their way to make sure I knew I belonged.