Toronto, Canada – Two Jewish Schools Owe $1 Million in Back Rent

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    Toronto, Canada – Two Orthodox Jewish schools that rent Toronto school board property owe back rent of nearly $1 million between them.

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    John Campbell, chair of the Toronto District School Board, said they reached a deal about 10 years ago under which the two groups would pay off the backlog when they bought the buildings.

    But twice, he said, the groups have had “cash flow problems” and were unable to complete the purchase.

    During that time, Sheila Cary-Meagher, school trustee for Beaches-East York, watched the figures rise. She said “private little schools” tend to be unreliable tenants.
    “Three-quarters of a million bucks in back rent. How crazy is that?” she asked.

    The unpaid rent highlights the awkward situation faced by the Toronto board, which seeks to gain profit from its properties without evicting private organizations serving those communities.
    Both organizations are Orthodox Jewish day schools for boys.

    Yeshiva Yesodei Hatorah, which rents out Glen Rush Public School near Bathurst St. and Lawrence Ave. W., owes $701,700 in back rent to the board. Yeshiva Bnei Tzion of Bobov owes $251,190 on Champlain Public School, near Bathurst and Wilson Ave.

    Campbell said the board prefers not to evict tenants when they are providing a service to a community, but did not rule out evicting non-paying organizations.

    “Although we’re prepared to be compassionate and fair with our tenants, that does not mean they should feel they are in a position to take advantage of us.”

    A man at Yeshiva Bnei Tzion, who refused to give his name but identified himself as the director, said the organization has always had trouble making rent. Donors are hesitant to cover operating expenses because they see them as unglamorous, he said. Donors, he added, like plaques.

    When asked how an organization that cannot pay its own rent can afford to buy the building that houses it as well as cover more than $250,000 in back rent, he replied: “It’s hard to meet the rent but it’s not hard to buy a building. … All donors love giving money to bricks and mortar.”

    Rabbi Asher Bornstein at Yeshiva Yesodei Hatorah was hesitant to speak in detail about the deal. “There has been a lot of negotiations going on for years … it’s almost over,” he said.

    Campbell conceded these two properties are failing to make money when they should, and that property values have decreased almost 15 percent since the original deal. He said interest lost on the payments is inconsequential.

    Under the agreement, the two tenants’ rent arrears would be added to the actual cost of the buildings in the eventual sale. Campbell, said the schools have given assurances they would be able to fundraise to purchase the buildings outright in the future.

    The schools would have to raise money to cover rent they were unable to afford previously and to pay for the buildings’ actual costs, which the board would not release, in the middle of an international financial crisis and recession.


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    16 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Bobov in toronto has been plagued with money tzaros for many years. They do amazing work, though!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    When yiddeshe organizations stiff the taxpayers for money they are obligated to pay, it only reinforces the negative stereotypes that already exist. They should rasise the tuition or impose a special one time charge on the parents to pay off their debt to the school district. It would be better for these students to enroll in other schools and consolidate the facilities. The same problem here in the U.S. Every rebbe and group of parents wants to be rosh yeshiva or some group of parents have a broigas with other parents and start their own school. We cannot afford this any more, whether it be Toronto, Brooklyn or Lakewood. There should be mandatory consolidation coordinated by the yiddeshe community councils or vaad harrabonim. Those who don’t agree, should be cut off from further funding from the community and left to sink or swim on their own. Enough money wasted on beauacracy. Even the Catholic Church is closing down about 20 percent of its parochial schools.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    have grandchildren there it is a great place to be affiliated with. yom tov in bobov in toronto is just tam gan eiden

    Toronto Alumni
    Toronto Alumni
    15 years ago

    A little on the educational system in Canada… They fund public AND CATHOLIC schools, but not any other religious schools… not textbooks, not food, not buses.. For years I took TTC bus to and from school with my siblings… my parents paying the fares for years with no government reimbursement. They receive NO funding so thats where the argument starts… that is definitely not separation of church and state.. if they are funding catholic schools…the yeshivos are trying to use their debt as an arbitrayal tool.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The Toronto/Gaza Star. Makes the NY Times look like a Radical Right Wing newspaper.

    Shikker
    Shikker
    15 years ago

    Whenever a Rebbe comes to Toronto, every one has gelt to shell out. Millions upon millions of dollars leave the city every year and the schools don’t have 2 cents to rub together. “DAAS TORAH” says to keep the money in town, but people only listen to “DAAS TORAH” when it makes a big tumult like the concert.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    reply to 15 all he saying they are nice and ehliche people so they deserve a little bit benifit of doubt and not always believe the media. they have poor track record reporting facts