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Jewish Education Center's 27th Annual Celebration

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welcome to the 27th annual celebration and annual meeting of a Jewish Education Center Cleveland we are so happy to welcome large group of Educators Community leaders colleagues and friends we wish we could be together in person but we are excited to join with you tonight for actually this is truly a community event this evening is a celebration of the diversity of our community tonight Gators and volunteer leaders gathered together to celebrate Jewish Education and Cleveland and especially to recognize our teachers this is how the Jewish Education Center lives its mission to Foster and strengthen lifelong Jewish learning across the birth settings I want to again with a few thank you for the continued and very generous support and partnership with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland federation's commitments Jewish Education is the model for the rest of the country thank you David Heller are for Loria and the Federation play International Leadership are Partners in the field rabbis heads of school education director's teachers family Educators youth professionals and volunteer leaders we do value the work you do and are grateful for your wisdom commitment and partnership special Mazel Tov goes to tonight's Award winners we are so proud of you and every single educator in our community working so hard to ensure and enhance our strong educational Community the outstanding Education Center volunteer leadership you are committed and knowledgeable discussing and debating the latest research forward-thinking carefully stewarding Community dollars and guiding the JC and its operations in efforts to support a vibrant Jewish future the strong professional leadership and staff of the Jewish so Avery and foxley led by dr. Seymour kopelowitz and Marlon Jaffe you'll be hearing more about Seymour later in the program one of the most impressive things about the jec professional staff is that they engender a very special balance of local National prominence there is no one who embodies this characteristic more than the, scolding Moskowitz the Jewish Education Center senior director you better call the we pay tribute to Muhammad at our last annual meeting that she was planning to retire summer however she graciously offered to stay on for this year to help the community Through the pandemic and in this extra year she didn't just help us Bridge the difficult circumstances we've all had to endure to create a new curriculum called Lava Butte Houston 200 congregations nationally including most of our local partners and is now reaching 10,000 students and as spectacular as that is she has been deeply engaged in the past several months helping to develop a framework for part-time educate and for next year and Beyond, is truly the Educators educator in her more than 25 years with a jec she has worked tirelessly to enhance the effectiveness of Cleveland's educational institutions working primarily to Deep dive into Beyond her working individual institutions she has coached and Men of directors and teachers cultivated networks are professionals and innovators even revolutionary approaches to Jewish Education now, is respected and admired a cross the country but we are so fortunate that our primary focus is always been here in Cleveland I did not want to let tonight pass without expressing our public appreciation as she truly plans to retire this summer on behalf of a very grateful community a heartfelt thank you thank you thank you and Hannah now to begin our program this evening I am happy to introduce Harley gross who will give the dvar-torah followed by David Haller bringing greetings from the Jewish Federation of Cleveland Harley and David Borchers of the jec and the Federation and we are so fortunate to have their leadership in our community dear friend I'm delighted to have this opportunity to say a few words and trivia do my friends see more kopelowitz and to give tonight dvar-torah last Shabbat we read Bar Harbor kubotai I'd like to share some thoughts tonight the tire shop begins with the following admonition let me sort I teach Maru bebecita more time but not naughty nice Ransom be time nah you live at H Casa Del Rio if you walk in my statute and keep my Commandments and do that then I will give you rain in their season and the land shall yield her produce and the Trees of the field shall yield their fruit the admonition continues with the foul gotay the Mizzou the email at least part I giggle. Shazam La Habra Sam at 4 ET I need a sad Zoe Flocka album but he's kind of shy at laugh out loud and I Home Depot. Fresh freak or a face app if you shall reject my statutes and if you're solo por my ordinances so that you will not do all my command once but break my Covenant I will also do this to you I will anoint Terror over you even consumption fever and that she'll make the eyes to fail and The Salted language and you shall sow your seed in vain for your enemies shall eat it certainly a very harsh and clear admonition to our people later in the PowerShot Hashem offers his people a path to Redemption even after going astray by following his Beats vault and state he remembers his Covenant with Jacob Isaac and Abraham it concludes with rules and levels of giving to the temple in other words further actions of serve do I show him to bring his people closer to him while even the most ethical and faithful of us do not believe in a plain or simple interpretation of Baku kothai those of us who strive to do good in this world believe that in some way has sham rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked and while we often do not understand the mechanism we believe in the principal Seymour is a righteous kind and ethical leader who does do good he comes from the world of Jewish Education serve the Jewish community of South Africa is the top profession all of their equivalent organization to our Federation he alternately let our jecc for over 21 years with a gift renovation and great distinction is influence extended Way Beyond Cleveland when it was clear to him and his wife Gail that there was truly no future for their children in South Africa for the sake of his family and with great personal cell girl fight they moved here I recall with great satisfaction that I encouraged him along with others to move to Cleveland in order to lead the jccc further I was pretty Serbia's first board chair and to make him feel welcome dear Seymour service to the Jewish people to the goal of Jewish continuity and to his family reflects his Daily Commitment dodgems Covenant with the Jewish people we are indebted to you see more for having chosen Cleveland may you continue to receive our Schamus blessing as a Casa Verde casa it is my pleasure to bring greetings on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and its Board of Trustees year after year we gather together to recognize the great work of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland do they play in upholding excellence in Jewish Education both locally and Beyond tonight is about celebrating the jec and their incredible accomplishments from this past year and there are many supporting roles in early childhood centers as they navigated the pandemic closure remote learning and say free openings launching and impactful curriculum laboratory in supplemental schools which not only Jewish values of physical emotional and spiritual Wellness but it also was ready for use in a virtual setting when synagogues had to make the difficult decision about in-person learning staff transition strategic chefs and more Federation is as proud as ever to be in a community partnership with you and tonight we are also celebrating the achievements of Seymour capella bad as he retires after 20 years leading the organization in their critical work and on a personal note it was a pleasure to serve as the jec board chair for several years and then go on to chair the nominating committee and continue to work Seymour in the adult education subcommittee which is Seymour now this has been very near and dear to my heart it's been a pleasure to work with you and I hope we have the opportunity to work together for many years to come we are all immensely fall for your wisdom strategic leadership and dedication to fostering and strengthening lifelong on Jewish Education the jec takes its role seriously and continues to demonstrate his commitment educational Excellence quality programming at our Jewish Day schools in synagogue building capacity through professional development and rigorous evaluation and leading our community Through The Evolution a Jewish identity and engagement these are just a few of the reasons we turned to the jec with deep trust to implement Key Programs that promote the enduring value of Jewish life in meaningful an accessible way the Columbus partnership between the Jewish Federation and the jec is essential to our vibrant Jewish community and the ability to broaden and deepen participation in Jewish life Federation proud to support the jec through the annual campaign for Jewish need for the 2020-2021 campaign the je Steve's allocation was 1235000 $252 the jec also oversees significant resources from the federation's fun for the Jewish future and endowment fund much of which were awarded to directly support Jewish Education at our local synagogues in school we are grateful for your stewardship of these funds on behalf of our community I want to wish all of the award winners tonight and the honorees a hearty Mazel Tov on their achievements recipients of the Ratner Goldberg Israel Fellowship award recipients of the Snyder family educational grant the recipients of the doctor lift the schachter early childhood education Awards and the recipient of the Libya Braverman award as well as the inaugural award the s-league Gorman award in Jewish experience and she'll education the recipients of tonight's Awards represent a small sample of The Talented educator supported by the Je congratulations and thank you to the jec board chair Kevin Margolis for his outstanding leadership I'm proud to recognize and congratulate if the remarkable professional staff at the jdc we already know you're going from strength to strength as we welcome Marlon Jaffe into guiding the next chapter of the jec call and thank you for all your dedication innovation in Vision in helping us to ensure a strong and healthy Jewish future on to the business portion of our meeting I am happy to deliver the brief treasurer's report on behalf of Mark malamud granddaughter but video went very well the agency ended up the year with an operating surplus of $377,671 in net assets of approximately 70% of the Surplus is due to the receipt of Grants restricted for the following fiscal year the agency's operating budget for the past fiscal year was approximately 8.4 million dollars and the actual expenses for the operating your came in under budget by about 20% this underspend reflects how the pandemic affected our educational community I want to extend a personal thank-you Treasurer Mark malamud and also to see if I Lori Hardesty and her physical team for their outstanding work shepherding the finances of our complex agency the high level of community confidence in the jec is largely because your efforts we turn now to a vote on two proposed amendments to the jec amended and restated code of regulations these Amendments have already been approved by our Board of Trustees due to the impact of covid-19 on the community this annual meeting was postponed by supper in order to afford newly-elected JC trustees and officers a term of office sufficient for each of them to meaningfully participate in JC business including working with new leadership one-time amendments to the C code of regulations are required extending their terms in office until the 2023 annual meeting the Amendments must be approved by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present tonight the proposed amendments to the JC amended and restated code of regulations first to extend the term Rusty's the amendment reads notwithstanding the provisions of article V of the amended and restated code of regulations trustees nominated and elected at the May 11th 2021 annual meeting Shall Serve a term in office but your last for approximately one and a half years until the 8th meeting held in 2023 for our voting this first amendment we will unmute you all in favor please say I are you opposed thank you second to extend the term of officers the amendment reads notwithstanding the provisions of article 6 of the amended and restated code of regulations officers nominated and reported by nominating committee at the May 11th 2021 annual meeting and then elected by a majority of the trustees at the board meeting following the annual meeting Shall Serve a term in such office that she last for approximately one and a half years until the annual meeting held in 2023 where are vote on the Second Amendment we will again on you you all in favor please say I any opposed thank you it is my pleasure to introduce Beth Rosenberg nominating committee chair to give the nominating committee report I have great pleasure in presenting the report of the Jewish Education Center's nominating committee the committee was constituted treated by the following members death Rosenberg Ted Einhorn SRI Goldman Bruce Goodman Gary gross Jay David Heller Sue Krantz Kevin Margolis Susie maisel Mark malamud and Idol the Jewish Education Center Board of Trustees is comprised of 36 at-large trustees as well as honorary trustees the full list of the nominated at-large trustees is on your screen I especially want to hide the new at-large trustees Rabbi Jonathan Cohen Lynn Cohen Erica Lazaro mariely Luongo and David Maus Smacker please join me in congratulating them as no additional names have been Thief by petition I call for a vote to approve you will now be unmuted everyone in favor please votes I any opposed thank you the Jewish Education Center extends its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the following trustees who service concludes with this annual meeting Ted Einhorn find Farkas David fleshler Susie maisel judge Dan Polster Elio Chevy and Brian Stein the following is a slate of officers nominated for election at the next meeting of the Board of Trustees Kevin Margolis president Jared Miller vice president Neil Waxman vice president Gary Weiss vice president Mark melani Treasurer and Sharon Rosenbaum secretary any eligible person may be nominated for a particular office if such person delivers a petition signed by at least 10 trustees no later than May 18th 2021 to the Jewish Education Center office that concludes my works thank you thank you Beth and Mazel Tov to our new JC board members we turn now to a tribute to dr. Seymour kopelowitz JC's executive director will be retiring at the end of June after nearly 22 years leading this agency we see more arrived in Cleveland fresh off the plane from South Africa he brought with him a wealth of experience at the day school teacher Day School principal and head of a South African Board of deputies the national umbrella organ South African shoes he had a degree in teaching and MBA and deep knowledge and experience in education organizational leadership management and Finance in Cleveland he had it further Prudential including Ohio Department of Education licenses as a teacher principal and superintendent and completed his PhD at Kent State in educational leadership Seymour exemplifies lifelong learning the environment he left in South Africa was dramatically different from the one you found himself in here in Cleveland new culture in the broad context of American Jewelry despite the culture shock it is all the more impressive how he swiftly galvanized this community advocating for the crucial importance of Jewish Education and meeting Innovations across diverse settings by way of context the JC was created in 1993 as the central planning and Service Agency for Jewish Education growing out of a merger of the community's commission on Jewish continuity and Bureau Jewish Education just six years later he took it upon himself to understand that Jay-Z's history and to learn from his predecessors while evaluating the landscape with fresh eyes since that time there have been dramatic shift in the Jewish world but it is indeed inspiring nice that this community's deep commitment to Jewish Education has remained steadfast even as Seymour has developed new approaches to Jewish Education we in Cleveland have learned from work man doll a blessed memory it's all about who who you hire and how delete Seymour is without a doubt one of the A+ players who's taking Jewish Education in Cleveland to new heights no one would doubt they straight talk has helped us find solutions to problems that have Arisen through the years he is a vision driven with exceptional intellect and emotional intelligence don't see morski accomplishments include within the agency itself overhauling the board governance system and tracking top balancer leadership to serve on the board many have gone on to senior leadership role locally nationally and internationally attracting and retaining top talent staffing agency including educational professionals and in the finance operations this includes hiring and closely Metairie Marlin Jaffe pool bcmoore successor a robust planning evaluation function within the agency supporting the development of cutting-edge curricula and teacher resource materials to ensure that the agency's work is relevant in the field notably the Jaycees relevance and importance within the community has been actually visible during the pandemic as JC as nimbly adapted to meet the unique needs of this challenging time establishing a state-of-the-art system Wide Technology infrastructure through the shared services organization SSO for technology for teaching and learning bringing out of Cuba into the jec and retooling it to ensuring Christine engagement through a variety of innovative programs under Seymour's leadership the Jaycees Budget Group from under three million dollars per year 2/8 million dollars Seymour's accomplishments in the educational system in Cleveland include building a very broad tent within the Jewish Community one of the values that uniquely to find such a c creating a climate in which professional development is a community norm and petition with ongoing collaborative teacher learning now embedded in many schools culture developing and nurturing professional networks of Educators and different settings and mobilize in collaborative efforts between schools investing in building a capacity of our days congregational programs in early childhood programs experience of Jewish Education into student and family experiences supporting immersive Jewish experiences in camps Israel travel youth groups puppy on the program what truly defines Seymour's leadership are the relationships he builds the professional team mentors the advice he generously offers and the creativity he inspires is amazing to walk into any school at Seymour and see how warmly he is greeted by the students especially makes each one of them feel as I was planning my remarks for this tribute I turned to the JC staff for input about Seymour there's nothing more telling about someone's leadership style and how they are perceived by the people work for them they said he leads from behind along the Staffing professionals across the educational system take ownership that have the opportunity to shine he has very high standards he believes another's abilities listens well help shape idea and Trust in their ability to deliver he easily expresses his gratitude and publicly acknowledges the contributions of others and of course Seymour is very entertaining this is certainly something most of us except that experience and enjoy Seymour's mercurius personality is a key part of what makes Seymour our Seymour one of the program's is Seymour take particular Delight in is the Innovative engineering program between several Israeli gap-year young adults to our community. Gage teens and deep and personal connections to Israel last year during the few hours of shincheonji were let out of quarantine before flying home they had a brief window to run around to say goodbye to people and places in Cleveland their first stop by their request was of course Seymour's home he has been instrumental in the success of this program he personally make sure that the shinshin team are cared for during their time here and they love to be with him through this work thousands of people our community are touched each year Seymour in recognition of the crucial role you have played with this initiative and appreciation of all your work on behalf of the community I am pleased to announce that we are creating the Seymour kopelowitz machine shooting provide ongoing financial support to this program and you are honor leadership expert the late Peter Drucker said leadership is lifting a person's Vision to higher sites the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard the bill her personality Beyond its normal limitations Seymour thank you for exemplifying drucker's leadership principles for being a remarkable leader for the Cleveland Jewish educational system your leadership is certainly raised us all higher hope you all enjoy the special video tribute by colleagues and Friends we'll see more as soon as I find it with so many others in the Jewish Community he always display Jewish heart and his commitment to the Jews so it didn't matter that he was not from this area that he was from South Africa he could have been from anywhere around the world his commitment to the Jews transcends borders when you're the funniest person you like nothing more than to have a aceo that's also really good with numbers and see more obviously knows his finances back and forth and that's what you want you want you want a partner to do that he had the skills that should keishon leadership Community organization understanding that was a pretty good set of chops he was this funny guy from South Africa with an accent but you may move team Park Atwood in 5 minutes you know that you have so much more in common South Africa United States Israel I mean this is the this is a good person a leader and a good you will not understand all the issues I may be under show all the issues coming in and and he's got this wonderful ability to be willing to be educated and he's willing to learn he has a thirst for learning he's really quirky and people are never quite sure what to make I'm at the get to know me a little bit better realize there's amazing Brilliance behind that seems very natural ability to engage anyone something that's been particularly fine is pre-pandemic when I would see see more walking through one of our Jewish Day schools you'd see kids sticking their head out of classrooms but they hide Seymour High Seymour husband Marc and you know him but they do and he salmon he knows them by name and he knows what they care about and what their interests are they feel hurt and they still seen in their interaction with Seymour it's interesting also with his office I call it a closed or open door policy cuz to do his work he needs to have the door closed awesome if you could go knock at any point with anything and he'll stop and he'll have the conversation with you feel really isn't Educators Educators he's constantly teaching there's always an explicit and implicit curriculum where he is trying to raise the bar on our ability as professionals and it's it's as if he has with curriculum in his mind to make sure that people continue to grow constantly the leaders leader he is a good Mentor to people and they're certain Seymour isms that I kind of carry with me one is the knowledge is power another one is in make a decision today that let you make another decision to me Seymour is a pretty good judge of people he has fairly good emotional intelligence in addition to being very smart. He thinks several steps ahead so he generally knows he wants to go and how he's going to get there and he turned out to have a really good ability to be a confidant for school directors among others meaning we were able to give our colleagues in the community someone they could talk and turn to for advice has always had wonderful relationships weather when that was Steve with the apartment now with Erika Rudin luria and he's really changed the way education looks both in the day schools and in the the synagogue in one of the ways he does that is he hires really really smart people bottled out with our community as the one of the strongest in the country because of people like Seymour and and one of the things that that he's done very effectively is surrounded himself with a group of professionals here at the Jewish Edge Vision Center that help move the community along and I think one of his lasting accomplishments are the professionals that he helped train as evidenced by your history professor I'm going to step into his shoes the community didn't feel it necessary to embark on a nationwide search we have the best person right here in the community and it is in no small part today kind of mentorship and Leadership to see more of a show here at the agency as far as what's next for him you know he's got major responsibility still at the Mandel foundation so but the work he does around the Seymour is known as a consummate the Headhunter I mean this guy has the ability to isolate people and their talent and their ability to give to the profession and to give as education leaders around the country and around the world he does that kind of work with consummate skill as he does everything get engages if Joey has a real responsibility there and I'm sure he'll continue to act as an advisor tomorrow and enjoy all of us who've always sought his guidance. if he's not going anywhere real fast at times three jobs at the same time and all of them I think full-time never mind that at one point he was going for his Doctorate why I think he had two other positions he likes to be busy so I don't have hope of saying oh he'll probably go sit on the beach for a. Of time and we won't hear from him he is going to stay involved and busy I think people will I need to reach out to him for the advice and consults and mentoring that he offers so easily and well I hope he enjoys being a grandpa about Saba whatever it is that he calls himself but that he enjoys that part of the the family Seymour is going to continue to be an important part of the Cleveland Jewish Community that's that's never going to change that he's he's an important part of us and Isaac Miss roll we hoped to keep him and other roles occupied in the communities and maybe as a volunteer as a head of a day school South Africa he's worked for the Jews his whole life and in retirement he's going to continue to do great work for the Jews so Seymour enjoy your retirement thanks for all the years of Devotion to Community were very fortunate I mean we're going to miss Seymour but he's done a great job developing people and I'm looking forward to working with Marlon Jaffe in the future good evening Eric told you the messages which preceded this message is from Oxford it about me and all the off comes from the rocks will probably attributed to me some deserve others probably not so deserve and I want to thank you all for not turn to the jec back in 1999 I found a highly complex and sophisticated Professional Organization was a talented stuff Jewish continuity at night on a vision and defined areas of focus Michael what's to keep and continue to win and some failures to I sold my route is the conductor of the soul sister I booked the environment for the team to be creative and to achieve this environment was linked to an appetite to be flexible and open to change we have two JC will always looking forward we didn't go out on the past as we move to head I want you to just that the desire for winning is embedded in the DNA have good leaders they need to excel they need to keep innovating they need to be the best it was something that was embedded in My DNA what I wanted for the JC in every game but neither did we lose everyone the future looks very positive what is getting things done you needed a strategy and Marlin my partner is ready for bed across from the Jewish community in Cleveland then I did help me develop it and we develop the strategy based upon a vision strategy is not a complex thing but it's very hard to do because it forces organizations to make choices between Alternatives you might have 5 options but you can only do one since you constrained by Staffing and a Time by resources and that what makes strategy very difficult to do a good strategies when you do you have between two equally good and attractive options and one man only choose one and then it needs to be done properly don't develop option they just choose one strategy this was not the path the JC took we developed options and by being there driven the data informed our decision-making and this was ready thanks for the encouragement to Sarah Wooten. and I are in the initiatives attorney fees very much like the retail fashion business is that every season we have a new fashion but we have new realities so it's a new business every year during covid-19 Max more apparent as I reflect back of the inventing examples of the word picnic what on the unknown and Tina and Samantha. I'll be at the Breakneck speed the SS are so you'll see a lien shown running analysis the teacher sent to the retreat Institute Judy and Joe. Call it does in the professional development and that's in special education which we've completely redesigned all these departments will always innovating and reimagining and off 2 years of trying we were able to find me a what is the fastest route with jhop Melinda Chase Tammy Daniel and bringing most also ydt is it snowing today in the community but impossible without the JC infrastructure the finance department my partner Lori Hardesty of clothes and crime has her the other day and today I give her and then they have gone to the end to this organization making sure daddy functions effortlessly and then Sam Taylor green is me every morning for nearly twenty years how do you play touch a key role in satisfying for Perfect 10 in room setup and documentation for the and then there were other people who retired early support of the infrastructure I think of Jackie Frost and hit on Wolf who have not retired and then a thank you to all that is if you who recently joined the jec that's Jenny Carla Teresa Emily and my favorite shinshin him or a guide than an adult and then to the volunteer leadership the Chad track Harley Michael Adele Beth David and of course Kevin Kevin has played a crucial role in this transition supported by a treasure and Mark beloved and a thank you to you both we always volunteer leadership and outstanding board from there was this energy that is so essential for nonprofit organization and find me the support from you Stephen. All these years and Erica you've both touched and enriched our community and the jec is just but one example about the who in the Jewish people with Trenton by tragedy go to a particular place in the forest where we let the fire recite the prayer Saginaw gun and asked for Americo many years later when the tragedy was once again on the horizon the Boston Thomas disciples went to the same place in the forest but I did not remember how to light the fire I ever they could still remember the prayer and how many good nature store Apple at another time had to go to the forests to save these people but he did not know how to lock the fire and he could no longer remember the prayer and then he good however he found the place once again the merdeka was accomplished when another tragedy befell the Jewish people I descended to the Baal Shem Tov Stephanie's arm chair holding his Denny's hands and said I'm on my way home to lock the fire I do not know the prayer nor do I know the knee good and I cannot even find the place in the forest all I can do is to tell the story and that must be enough ladies and gentlemen this is precisely what the JC does and will continue to do the jec taxes and enriches our community we remember the word Anthony good and we continue to tell the story with the hope that one day we will find that elusive play for Russell I thank you thank you see more for sharing those meaningful thoughts and for your outstanding leadership to our community I am Danielle wild chair of the Jewish Education Centers Awards committee once again this year the awards committee members saw first-hand remarkable work of the outstanding Educators we have in our community we have the privilege of selecting and honoring seven outstanding teachers in a variety of educational settings thank you to the following committee members who contributed their time and input Alana Hopper scarf Jane lefkoe Kevin Margolis Susie why maisel Jared Miller Beth Rosenberg suicide and Robert Stern and thank you Judy Schiller Awards coordinator of the Jewish Center Awards presented tonight not only honor our Educators but provide them with opportunities for professional growth the Albert B Ratner and Jack and Esther Goldberg is real Fellowship recognizes the dedication and devotion do outstanding teachers in Cleveland Jewish schools one day school teacher and one congregational school teacher the Steiger family education grant recognized as an outstanding Jewish Day School teacher by providing an opportunity for judaic study in a formal setting the doctor lift sesh after Early Childhood educator award recognizes a teacher who possesses a sophisticated understanding of the unique development and educational needs of students within an early childhood setting Bolivia album when a word is a parent nominated award that recognizes a teacher who demonstrates dedication devotion and creativity in Cleveland Jewish schools additionally this year the Jewish Education Center is pleased to present a new award the Ashley Korman award in Jewish experiential education this award honors Lee Korman was president of the board of Jewish Education predecessor agency to the jec from 1972 to 1977 also Emily steered the Meijer foundation and has been a strong Visionary and supporter in our work of building Jewish identity this award recognizes an informal beyond the classroom educator who displays a positive impact as a role model and Devin a defective Jewish experiential learning that impacts the identity and Jewish connections of participants please enjoy this video presentation highlighting our 2020 Award winners following the video we will formally present the awards to these tanning professionals I've been part of a nature in my entire life when I go to teach it's just like the right thing to do when they get it even if it's working with a material or the concept or they really likes understand how to say something correctly and you see it in their face like their eyes light up and you're like I did a good job like you got it that's what I'm I need you to get and it just a really it's silly but it's it makes it all worth it the library curriculum was introduced this year for zooming what's really great about it is that it breaks license down in the unit so far we've done sucat Shalom which is their safe spaces and we just finished up a mess left which is your inner strength and my children in Killer really love the fact that there was a project at the end of the week or like at the end of the lesson and they did the projects and they were so excited to share what they've done brakes it makes them realize that they're what they're experiencing is okay and that everybody is experiencing it and that there's definitely no Judaism behind it a lot of the teachers at the nation were my teachers and so it's like when they're proud of me it's like my family so poodle but I just never I'm like you I come to work I do my thing go home you know I never really thought that anybody was like recognizing my work you work hard and you hope people like it and they all my kids have been in the daycare at mazurowski is so from basically like 5 weeks old you know until you know the rest of the rent so we we start on that few things around here pretty on where at where Fuchs mizrachi family through and through my grandfather who was a rough in the Queen's of of a Big Show and queens for a long time for 6 years or more and his dedication to the people and said Torah learning had a profound influence on me my 11th grade gamarra teacher or they are really would so I'm still very close with to the day we're pretty regularly in touch I Hear You Really Turn Me On to learning in a whale I didn't think that I would be excited by it before 11th grade and afterwards it was a life-changing and I would say you better off there at Camp stone is someone who also I still am in touch with and and change my life both as a as a student as someone who love to learn and and certainly as an educator with passion and inspiration and being part of it since I arrived just the support from the Jay-Z opportunities professional development opportunities that I've taken advantage of a lot I did graduate school at John Carroll I got a lot of support from the jccc throughout that process and many other learning opportunities that we've done at school spearheaded by especially people like rubbing who to channel is who's done so much for me in terms of my professional growth in the last seven years since he's been here to help me just always pushing me to to learn more to try new things and it really demonstration with school in general to push us to never be satisfied to always keep trying to dig deeper help kids learn more meaningfully more deeply and a more thoughtfully it's my purpose in life I mean I can't imagine doing anything else I see the be up connecting Jewish kids to God in the Jewish people through Terra through Jewish history through religious Zionism as one of your for Purity and a lack of cynicism about what we do and about our relationship students I learn with students outside of school all the time actual between moonshine Mara I do the youth mini and a green road every Chaves and just that that relationship is kind of just like 7 days a week but it's just you never gets old it's just something that I never Tire of my relationship with the students and continuing to learn with them opportunities to keep learning with them wearing from them and just the opportunity to hear from them when they say all we learned I learned you know whether it was in school or we learned it at youth Minion or you learned it when we learning in the summer you know when school is over those are just really exciting really meaningful experiences I love teaching 7th grade even though it's a challenging grade but what I love about it is they come into their junior high they come into our building as the junior high end of the high school building I don't teach 8th grade I got them again in 9th grade and I am amazed at the amount of gross I see every year without fail that we work very hard and 7th grade to establish higher-level learning Behavior our responsibilities and when they come to ninth grade it's like it work between those two years of something that's great it really work we see a different child all the time a different young lady I should say I love when they're able to give back to me in writing a that they know the material that they've mastered the material I let I'd like to see that but I also like to see that they're able to apply it to their lives and entered situations that irrelevant to every year is a whole new perspective every year it's a whole new world it's not only history but even more so every year my students bring a whole new school of thoughts of the table every year I get questions that I never got the outside attention to so many years nobody ever asked me that before I love it I love it it's like a whole new Dynamic every year that I teach and that makes it so alive and so vibrant even though I'm teaching don't you get bored teaching the same material every year never does every year it's a whole new group of students with a whole new Dynamic and a whole new perspective I always stay in general I'm so grateful I raise my children and plays on because I feel that we live in a very warm Vibrant Community very supportive in terms of Education opportunities here we have so many great teachers to call to ask to draw from to see examples for a community that works together and Stripes together to do the best for our students in the best for our children and every way possible I'm real tremendously impacted by our principal rabbits and breed and the amount of inspiration she gives over to us and the amount of time she devotes to being such a wonderful principal in our school it's so encouraging to need to know that the jucc you work so hard to sneak out teachers and make them feel special and make them feel appreciated that help them realize that the community appreciates what they're doing and recognizes the Veil of what it is to be educating the Next Generation and bringing them to a point that we can be proud of them and they can be successful adults hopefully in our community but if not in the broader Jewish Community around the world end very heartwarming and very encouraging to know that our our struggles and our toils are appreciated and recognized I wish you could have Ward every teacher because there's so many of them out there who deserve this type of rock Mission it's hard to single out and I feel very humbled that I ended up being chosen because I know there are so many others who are equally deserving thank you for fifteen years I was a stay-home mom before that and I did child care for my home I love the interaction with children they're always so eager to learn they're so loving I just feel fulfilled every day, doing something good for the setting up the foundation for our future it makes me happy that the kids come in every day with their happy to be there I've always believed in like coming to work ready to give you a hundred percent leave your home at home work is work remember that you're there for the children and if you're having a bad moment just take that time to step back and regroup if you have to call someone call someone to come in and help you because you really do need a lot of support at times when you're in a classroom with children and don't be afraid to ask for help because that's what therefore we're there to help each other so I think that would be important cuz I think a lot of teachers we do get overwhelmed with her job and sometimes we feel like we're not doing the best that we can but you reach out to others think so feel better again oh I love my job I don't know what else I would be doing every time I think about if I have to change professions I don't know what I'm going to do I mean this is what I've done this is what I've always wanted to do I'm not going to ever win anything like a rat for anything so for me this was like you nominated me and I was just like overwhelmed it was it really was it is an honor I just feel grateful that I'm able to do it it's just so fulfilling to me and like I said I wouldn't even know what I what else I would be doing I like knowing that I'm setting up a foundation of security and emotional stability for these children so they know how to cope as they move on to higher grades cuz I think that's a very important part for children to start with the emotional development so that's a very important Focus for me teaching on how to work with your feelings how to express how they're feeling what to do with those feelings so I think that also keeps me wanting to work with the younger because I know that I'm influencing how they're going to interact with others in the future how they're going to feel about school when I was 10 years old it was the first time I ever walked into a preschool when I walked in there and I saw the interactions that were going on with the students and the teachers and even the smell of the school I was like I want to do this it just hit me just at that moment like this is what I want to do when I grow up and if it wasn't that I wanted to stay home and raise my own children which I was very fortunate to do but yeah I don't I don't know what it was that moment just kind of hit me and I bottled what I thought doctors in amazing environment the teachers are wonderful I'm so inspired by all of the teachers there I just watch you know what they do and their play some chips with the kids and and everyone is like it's it is like a big family I know that sounds a little cheesy but it but it really is and everybody is there for you when you need them whether professionally or personally I'm every there for you and it's just a very warm welcoming environment and people say that you know it when they come in at or they said that when you walk in the building you can feel it I have in my middle school class some of the kids I had in pre-K so I'm getting to reconnect with them and so that's really cool and that's why I say it really is interesting because in some ways they really are the same personalities same the same kids they're just older and hollering by passionate I love working with children and I love seeing the growth I love seeing the light bulb go off I never questioned why I'm doing it never be even when you have like challenging days or challenging students to me that really replied all night tracks and that's really what I feel you know it's a challenge being a teacher my sort of philosophy but teaching is I treat a child as if they were my own I think that you can't go wrong if you do that because that child is Someone's Child and and I know that if I you know when I see a little boy I think of my son if I see little girl I think of my daughter and I know that I will always do right by them and I will take care of them and and be there for them and if they feel safe and protected and taken care of I think that's a big thing and I want the parents to know that that that's very important to me and that they can feel comfortable when their children are in my care I develop a relationship with each of the kids and and also you know I remember someone saying to me years ago. kids are funny and if you're not laughing everyday it's time to find a new job because children are there funny and every day I'm laughing the JC is a great resource for us satellite Eyes First up the work room teacher Center to come and just supplement with all the different Jewish holidays. They're so helpful they will Rana and there she will if I need something she'll drop it off at the school for me so it's been a great resource and of course Jackie Brooks who is amazing and is been so helpful and just you know what t credentials and making sure that we do what we need to do in keeping up with our I'm continuing education and so the JC is been a great resource Camp was the first place where I felt like I I can actualize my potential it was the first place where I had a job that someone gave me and I gave it everything I had and I was successful and they were result people's lives were changed for the better so you know it sounds simplistic but then when you take a step back and we sort of said there was like wait a second we thought we could do this for a living we can help people do this for the rest of our lives we want it started for me there's a personal element of a mission of bringing the the professional and the content driven Amanda pedagogique elements of the classroom role that I said somebody back into the setting up accounts 60 count as not we ourselves and say we just described what kind of stone is in the word fun didn't come up there having fun but if it's a given right temperature beyond that in front to be able to build worlds and universes of our own that are campers in our staff members populate and then develop and then feel tremendous pride in here I thought we trying to Stone there are no adults running on a Feeling we have adults and very important places directors I suppose if you want to call us at don't you know driver is nurses doctors right but then all the sudden showers come to Camp Stone oh we're going to go have fun for a couple years it so do you want to make a commitment to this place because this place is going to transform your life and worn it carry you through for the entire time you're a camper and then when you're on that that's very powerful it's a very it's a long journey and we get to be a part of that with campers and staff members I love it I love it I can help people achieve their potential and and be a catalyst for their life both in the professional world and of course that you would want Bob has devoted the Federation and the Jewish community at large is to everyone everybody helps everybody else it's it's an incredible thing I travel the country I go all over the country and I visit different cities you're all working at it and so many people are envious of what we have in Cleveland because everyone is pitching in to help the arm, everybody's everyone wants to help out everyone's  it so being a part of that you know and you know in in the in the Jewish Community has been call me and I don't appreciate it as an adult but glad I was able to benefit from for all the years I live in community and investment surely not the Federation but also know very significant members of the community had in the community and it was one of the things that we saw in that brought up there at the time we always repeated angry roast in a guy a relationship right with the three this is where we feel tremendous support and help each other there's no question that for us you know it's in our name but the stone white family has been incredibly supportive and helpful and we cherish the relationship you have with all of them in the support of Maureen Judy continue relationship in men's ring from them and you know it say God we wouldn't be here without Cleveland there's no question of that. the Radnor Goldberg is Ralph Fellowship is this year will be presented to Rebecca Fowler of b'nai jeshurun congregation Rabbi Josh Foster educational director up in Asia and congregation shares the Becky has been with the congregational school soon she was a teenager Becky teaches 2nd grade focusing on Hebrew and Israel study she has also worked as the primary art specialist for Creative projects for students and members of BJC Becky believes that when the children can show what they have not only do they become stronger in their Jewish identity but they also can help others learn and grow Becky has developed a strong rapport with students and is deserving of this award the Ratner Goldberg Israel Fellowship will this year be presented to read by Rick schindelheim a Fuchs mizrachi School a 7th through 12th grade judaic studies teacher has a few School noted that reverick as he is called by his students is one of the most passionate and thoughtful Educators he has had the budget to work with his passion for total Jewish history is Ralph the Jewish people and education are contagious the aspect of teaching that he finds most exciting and meaningful is helping students connect deeply with Jewish tax and the ideas communicated by those texts says that his goal is always to assist students in understanding how the wisdom of the Torah and our tradition is as relevant to their lives today as it has been throughout our people's history when students learn in this manner the education is not only profoundly meaningful but it is highly enjoyable as well the Steiger family education grant will this year be given to Sarah Berger of Yushi Vdara Hotel a seventh through 12th grade history teacher really see if she was there a fight over girls high school history Department cheech's drama and is the 7th grade English and language arts teacher she Endeavors to emphasize the awareness that has sham orchestrate all events and The Eternity of Torah values over the past several years she has let her students to achieve outstanding results on their Ohio State American history and government state exams Shawnee Munch High School principal conveys that Sarah loves her subject matter and is passionate about teaching she is Khan only finding new and innovative ways to present material and is focused on making each student succeed this year the Libby Albrecht an award will be presented to Vicki Teitelbaum pre kindergarten teacher at gross Schechter Day School goodbye parent Courtney Fishman more of Vicki has truly enriched her three children through a myriad of beautiful projects her oldest son Adam enter Vicky's Pre-K classroom as a young and sensitive four-year-old she lovingly guided him to learn and grow included weekly writing journals which he still post office shelves to read and reflect upon Tracey boards from gross Schechter Day School share the Vicky has a knack for cultivating a love for learning that last many years after children have left her class by the time Elgin graduate they are confident kind and enriched as a result of being in her class this year the doctor lift Schechter Early Childhood educator award will be presented to Jacquie Lawson of Jewish Danger mrs. Lawson is a warm caring dedicated teacher who puts her heart into everything she does for her children she takes care to make each child feel important and special Susana pallets director of jdn that she encourages Jewish learning and several developmentally appropriate ways and has an innate intuition for delivering the right balance of nurturing and fostering Independence in her children the jec is pleased to present the first Korman toward in Jewish experiential education to SD and Nicole Fleischmann co-directors of campstone experiential education to teach their campers about Jewish history and at the same time they are training the new generation of Jewish leaders they have turned Camp Stone into an incubator for experiential Educators each session of Camp is part of a holistic curriculum which is dedicated to a different era of Jewish history from Biblical times to modern-day Israel from the opening talk Nate or schedule to the Daily pool outdoor activities the focus is on incorporating Jewish history into the day to include skits arts and crafts Woodworking and glass blowing everything I campstone revolves around teaching campers and at the same time and powering the staff we congratulate all the 2020 award recipients their success is an outgrowth of their professionalism and dedication to their school's students and Jewish Education as a whole mazel tov they would not be the Educators they are today without the support they have received over the years to their families colleagues and School administration thank you thank you for supporting these Award winners before we conclude this evenings event we want to express the Deep gratitude to all of the fine Jewish Educators throughout our communities many diverse educational settings for their extraordinary efforts as they navigated the unique and complex challenges of this pandemic cure you are truly are heroes and role model you are each making an important impact on the lives of Cleveland Jewish children families and the future of Judaism we look forward to celebrating with you all again next year at the Jewish Education Center's 28th Annual celebration hopefully back in purse I want to thank a Lisa Levine for all her incredible efforts putting this together thank you all for joining us have a good evening

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