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Why I’m Sticking with World ORT
I 

have been privileged to be involved in 
Jewish communal life since the early 
1960s. I am also fortunate to have lots of 
choices in life. I could, for example, spend 
a lot more time reading my volume on 
Churchill rather than thinking 
about what is on the agenda 
for our next Board of Trustees 
meeting.
So why am I signing up 
for a second four-year term 
as president of World ORT, 
the global education network 
driven by Jewish values? 
Partly because this has been a remarkable 
period in the history of our organization — 
due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And also 
because as I reflect on the challenges of my 
first term and acknowledge that there have 
been many, I see that we have met them. We 
will continue to meet them, even though the 
future has a rather fuzzy look to it right now.
ORT reaches more than 300,000 benefi-
ciaries in over 30 countries every year. Our 
teachers are leading classes every day for stu-
dents in countries as diverse as Mexico and 
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia and South Africa. 
For 140 years since its foundation in St. 
Petersburg, Russia, in 1880, ORT has trans-
formed lives through training and educa-
tion. While we once focused on teaching 
19th-century Russian Jews essential trades 
like tailoring or ironmongery, we have 
evolved to provide 21st century skills in 
STEM subjects and innovative fields such as 

robotics and artificial intelligence. 
Using ground-breaking technology is sec-
ond nature to us. This pandemic’
s demand 
that learning take place off-site gave ORT 
schools a headstart in March. Our teachers 
and principals were able to quickly adapt 
their curriculum to ensure every student 
could continue their education from home 
as soon as possible when lockdowns were 
enforced.
In the future, we will be able to expand 
this level of expertise, but as great a chal-
lenge as any over the next four years will 
be our ability to grow our resources to sup-
port our activities globally. ORT’
s funding 
comes in large part from individuals living 
in the United States, Canada, the UK and 
Switzerland. Quite simply, despite the public 
support currently available, we would not be 
able to function without these supporters.
The education provided by ORT schools 
is exceptional. It changes lives. On a trip to 
one of our high schools in Kiev, Ukraine, 
I met a 17-year-old girl. I always ask our 
students, “What are you going to do in life?” 
This girl knew she was going to get a law 
degree from Colombia University. Neither 
of her parents had gone to school, but she 
was already talking about her future. All 
of us have dreams; seldom are all those 
dreams achieved. But ORT gives young-
sters an opportunity to dream — and hopes 
that could never have existed in their lives 
because of when and where they were born. 
I was always taught the importance of 
lifelong study. In giving back, I want to help 

others have the chance to achieve the kind of 
educational success that World ORT and its 
affiliates such as ORT America provide. 
Why am I still doing this? Because the 
great joy of leading ORT is the opportunity 
to observe youngsters around the world in 
their learning environment, to see their test 
results which reflect outstanding profession-
al support, and to interact with the many 
dedicated professionals and teachers who fill 
the educational environments where these 
youngsters are learning. 

Dr. Conrad Giles is the president of World ORT. He 
was re-elected to a second term at the organization’
s 
General Assembly on May 24. A leading pediatric oph-
thalmologist, he is chief emeritus of ophthalmology at 
Children’
s Hospital of Michigan.

Dr. Conrad 
Giles

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8 | MAY 28 • 2020 

1942 - 2020

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF WORLD ORT 

TOP: ORT students in Kiev learn with LEGOs. BOTTOM: 
A mock Sabbath dinner for ORT children in Kiev.

