Head of School's Message
Welcome to The Leo Baeck Day School! I am proud and honoured to be the Head of School of this wonderfully enriching, warm and engaging educational and spiritual community.
The Leo Baeck Day School is the only Reform Jewish day school in Canada and the largest in North America. This past February we were authorised as the only Jewish school in North America designated as an International Baccalaureate (“IB”) World School. Our membership in the IBO confirms our place among the world’s most highly regarded educational institutions; an achievement of which we are extremely proud.
This year - 5772 - is one of remarkable renewal for our school. This summer our North Campus underwent significant transformation resulting in a beautiful new playground, brand new gym floor and renovated worship space to enrich our spiritual experience. We are also busily preparing for the opening of The New Leo Baeck South Campus, an exceptional, state-of-the-art campus designed for excellence in academics, athletics and the arts, and which will set a new benchmark for Jewish education. Together, our North and South Campuses provide to Toronto’s Jewish community programmatic and facilities excellence of the highest order throughout the Jewish educational world. But don’t take our word for it. Our graduates consistently excel at the high schools and universities of their choice, and routinely report back how well prepared they were for a variety of post secondary experiences. We are also proud that for the past several years our school has boasted the highest percentage (more than 70%) of graduates who have chosen to continue their formal Jewish education by enrolling in our Community Jewish high school.
Thank you for visiting our website. We hope you are inspired by what you have learned and will continue to learn about our school. If you would like to contact me directly please do; I am always available and look forward to hearing from you.
Click here to read a message from the North Campus principal.
Click here to read a message from the South Campus principal.
Eric's Biography
Eric joined Leo Baeck in the role of Vice Principal of Hebrew and Judaic Studies in 2001 and in 2002 he was appointed South Campus principal, a position he held for seven years until he assumed his role as Head of School in the summer of 2009.
A Toronto native, Eric earned his Joint Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree from McGill University (Jewish Studies and Philosophy). He earned his Bachelor of Education (History and English) and Masters Degree (Biblical Hebrew Language and Literature) from the University of Toronto. Eric also holds the title Reform Jewish Educator (R.J.E.)
Eric began his teaching career at Holy Blossom's Religious School. From 1994-2000 he served as the Director of Education at Shaarei Beth El Congregation in Oakville. At the same time, Eric began to volunteer his time as a member of faculty at Camp George and took on several leadership responsibilities for the Reform Educators' Council of Toronto.
Eric and his wife Tami Moscoe have a daughter, Lilah and a son Micah. They are members of the Holy Blossom Temple.
Contact Eric Petersiel, RJE
epetersiel@leobaeck.ca