A MissionDriven Mensch

Values are vital when choosing your school

When Bryan Keshen’77 graduated from Bialik, it was one of the last years the school included Grade 9. He recalls that time as “the early days of the school. I remember some of the teachers had just come to Toronto from Israel and my parents invited them to Seder or other dinners.” Bialik was intimate and everyone knew each other.

Reflecting back on that time, Bryan believes the Bialik value system was very strong, instilling a respect amongst the students and families. He remains friends with people from his years there and knows that “if I bump into people from school today, I can rely on those from Bialik.”

Helping to develop those relationships was Bryan’s participation in youth movements that he was introduced to at Bialik.

“In the Bialik context, I loved being an activist and was involved in Student Council as Co-President in my graduating year,” says Bryan. “I remember fundraising and selling dried fruits and health foods because we had a teacher who wouldn’t let us sell sweet stuff or junk.” Bryan learned his activism not only at school but also at home. His mother Sandy was a voice for inclusion and advocated for children with learning disabilities, often bringing Bryan along to knock on doors or accompany her to City Hall.

After completing high school at TanenbaumCHAT, interspersed with a year off to attend a leadership development program in Israel, Bryan attended York University. He earned concurrent degrees — a B.A. in Judaic Studies and a B.Ed., which brought him back to Bialik.

“I had a teaching placement for four months and it was a lot of fun,” he says. “But I’m an informal educator, preferring social programming to following a curriculum. I enjoyed allowing kids to explore.”

So Bryan pursued a master’s degree in social work, after which he continued advocacy in a number of roles in the Jewish community. This included his work with the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, and work advising on strategies for schools to expand and develop on the Lebovic Campus in Vaughan, of which Bialik was one.

“To see how Bialik has evolved today, and what they’ve done with the Himel Branch makes me very proud,” he says.

“It was the only school that seemed likely to succeed at developing a new branch in the newly established community.”

Now, Bryan is the second generation CEO of Reena, a nonprofit that celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Reena provides services to more than 1,000 individuals with developmental disabilities in 36 locations throughout the Greater Toronto Area. One of those locations is on the same campus as the Himel Branch.

“Some of the people who live in our building get to meet the kids during various activities, such as reading buddies, delivering Shabbat challahs or in the garden,” says Bryan. “Students learn to be sensitive to all abilities and accept them.”

Although he’s not teaching at the front of the classroom, Bryan’s work at Reena means he’s shaping what students are learning about the broader community. It’s a mission that is driven by his values and aligns with his Bialik roots.

“You can choose a school based on geography or friendships, but I think if you want a lifelong impact you’ve got to choose based on values,” he says. “Values such as believing in the potential of each child and promoting Jewish peoplehood are important. Bialik is a great place to build Mensches out of people.”