British-born, Toronto-based Paul Shaviv was been awarded the Max Fisher Prize for Education in the Diaspora.
Mr Shaviv, 60, received the accolade, which recognises educators who have made an outstanding impact on Jewish education in their communities, for his contribution to TanenbaumCHAT (the Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto) — north America’s largest cross-communal high school. Previously, he was founding director of Jewish Studies at Immanuel College, London and director of Jewish Studies at Carmel College.

Mr Shaviv became headmaster of TanenbaumCHAT in 1998. Under his authority, it has grown from 750 to 1,500 students. He tells People: “We succeeded in making attendance at Jewish High School not only acceptable, but fashionable.

“The school is morphing into a fascinating educational-pastoral-community institution. Education is its core, but the other elements are there.” It was the first time the award has been given to Canada. “It recognises the ability to transform an institution, even in a major community,” he adds.