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28th Annual Celebration and Educator Award Ceremony (virtual recording)

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all right Walker the 28th Annual celebration of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland we are so happy to see you in this room and I assume a large and wonderful group of Educators Community leaders colleagues and friends we wish we could all be together in person and be expecting me back together soon but we are excited to join with you tonight and Piper crash this is truly community events this evening is a celebration of the diversity of our community tonight Educators and volunteer leaders gathered together to celebrate Jewish Education in Cleveland and especially to recognize our teachers this is how the education center lives its Mission Foster and strengthen lifelong Jewish learning across the Prosthetics want to begin tonight with a few thank you first and most important thank you for the continued and very generous support and partnership the Jewish Federation Cleveland federation's commitment to Jewish Education is the model for the rest of the country thank you David Heller and Erica Rubin Gloria and the Federation play in professional leaders thank you to our partners in the field rabbis heads of school education director's teachers family Educators youth professionals and volunteer leaders we value the work you do and are grateful for your wisdom commitment and partnership special model nights Award winner we are so proud of you and of every single educator in our community working so hard to ensure enhance our strong educational thank you to the outstanding Jewish Education Center volunteer leadership you are committed knowledgeable and for carefully stewarding Community dollars and guiding the JCS effort to support a vibrant Jewish culture thank you for the excellent professional staff for the jec or known nationally and locally for their passion creativity and as review this annual celebration I want to personally thank Elijah for all of her terrific hard work to make this event a success and I also want to take our great second director Marlin Jaffe or her strong leadership of the jec together all of you create the strong fabric of the Jewish education system in our community in the program this evening I am happy to introduce Michael Hyman president yo the Mandel JCC jccc will give it our Torah followed by Neil Waxman Federation by Cher and JC vice-president bringing greetings from the Jewish Federation of Cleveland will pass president of JC will lead us to the business of them the nominating committee report and financial report as Michael prepares to retire from the ACC this year I want to express our appreciation for his outstanding work in the community and as a valued partner of the shapes East thank you Mike thank you good evening it's good to see everyone here at our Mandel JCC first of the week in recent weeks has told us about the construction of the Michigan be the tavern of his that would become the portable house of worship that the Israelites built-in carried with them through the desert making their way to eretz Israel every male 20 years of age and above was required to contribute 1/2 shut down for the construction of the Michigan no more and no less than half shekel regardless of 1 ability to give signifying that the construction of the Michigan was a communal task for all in addition to raising the money needed to build the machine. It was also the way of taking a census form this raises the question why a census through the contribution of a half-shekel it was out of concern that we did not want other nations to know that we were small people Rabbi Jonathan sacks in his book to heal a fractured World shares to important ideas about the constructing the Michigan that connect to leadership the first is that while your number if our people may be small our contributions as a people can be vast in many and Rabbi sacks is thinking as the Jewish people we are leaders in this world who are counted by the contributions Humane Society in addition we must also keep in mind that for us individual that's for us as individuals leadership is about stepping up taking on the challenges that we face as well weather in our family life work or the communities in which we live furthermore each of us must be conscious that we can't complete the task alone we need someone else to make the check out a hole for us together we can change the world but we need Partners to accomplish this with each person's half-shekel eating someone else's half-shekel to be something greater and complete we're all dependent on each other that's what it means to live in and be part of the community and doing our part we expect others to pick up the torch and to complete the other half of the coin these leadership ideas come together in a famous mission in De Pere k o v r a b r phone is quoted as follows low Alyssa, collymore Louis have been Kareem Leiva tell me menu you we are not expected to complete the task but neither are we free to avoid it we are reminded that through our work we all have the responsibility perhaps the obligation to carry through with all of our toys not to put important ones aside we must also be mindful that others will take on what we started and move the Journey of the Jewish people forward together there is a role that each of us plays and responding to the challenge the moment to complete the task we all have a responsibility for leadership in our community and there's such we must find the partners other leaders who will work with us to accomplish are important tasks in the work do weather is teachers in the classroom School administrators or the professional and volunteer leadership of our agencies we all take on that role and carry the mantle of leadership in different ways off and however we may not know the envy boats for used to come is that all this is the challenge of leadership I'd like to share a story that to me points out why we do what we do each and every day as Leaders back in 1980 I moved from New York City to Buffalo to become the director of their JCC's overnight camp Camp Lakeland I see Eric is smiling she was one of our campers during the summer 1882 we had a camper who was about 10 you just was not doing well account he was not making friends was exhibiting difficult behaviors and he was continuously disruptive in his bunk group are Camp leadership and we decided that I would call the mother to tell her that she needed to that her son needed to be sent home from camp it's follow up to earlier conversations with her she gay a long list of reasons why we should give him just one more chance I told her that I would call her back after thinking about it further I discussed the situation with our team and a plan was developed this young camping Camp composting this would not be an easy task I share the plan with his mom telling her that if there were no signs of improvement soon there would be no other choice but our son would need to go home from camp long story short with the sports and coaching we provided him there was a remarkable turnaround and he finished the session at camp this camper came back to Camp through his early teenage years see years later as I was finishing my tenure as the CEO of the jccc in Buffalo is leaving work one day a woman was getting out of her car next to mine she introduced yourself to me and she said you know you your Michael Hyman you may not remember me and then she tells me the story of her son from 20 years before camper who I just told you about she went on to tell me that her son went to medical school is living now doctor married with young children living in the Washington DC area and he's an active member of the Jewish Community remains connected by his friends from Camp Lakeland so you remember he remains connected to his friends from Camp lake and she concluded by saying my taking on the challenge of allowing him to stay in Camp the time and attention that we devoted to him made his summer a successful one and his experience over the summers at Camp changed his life I was surprised beyond belief and gratified to hear this we would have who would have known this would become the outcome of what was a very difficult situation years before and so many times we just do not know what the impact of that maybe today or into the future as leaders in our Jewish Community we are all confronted in different ways with difficult challenges and then situations we do our best to make decisions that will be positive and have a desired outcome for individuals and X-Men he is well and those leaders who seldom know with Clarity what that outcome will be never the less we continue in our roles as we carry this mantle of leadership on our shoulders as you know I will be retiring from my position is the CEO of the Mandel JCC in June completing 46 years in jccc and Jewish communal work while the past 18 years here at the Mandel JCC has had its challenges so also been so much we'll make the other compliments here at the J in partnership with our volunteer and professional leadership as the torch is passed on I am confident that the leadership of the jail back to the future will move the work of our Mandell JCC ahead building on the accomplishments and successes of the leadership of this jccc over the past 75 years good evenings great to see everyone here this evening emulex men in case you forgot Kevin introduced me but it's my pleasure bring greetings on behalf of Jewish Federation of Cleveland and its Board of Trustees Tonight We Gather in person and virtually to honor the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland on its 28th Annual celebration and educator Awards Sarah the work of the jec plays a critical role in upholding excellence in Jewish Education across our community as the educational planning arm of the Federation the jec is a vital partner in bringing Federation would you plan to fruition Casey's mission to ensure Jewish continuity in Cleveland by fostering and strengthening lifelong Jewish learning education in our engagement Israel across diverse settings and forms as a reflect on the past past few years I want Express federation's deep gratitude to everyone teaching working and volunteering and all of these various settings you continue to nurture our communities despite difficult pandemic related challenges we recognized that your rules only grew more important during this time and we thank you for what you've done and what you continue to do for the community year after year the jdc demonstrates its commitment to educational excellence and high-quality programming that are Jewish Day School. in our congregations providing strategic guidance capacity building professional development support and rigorous evaluation whether it's promoting Jewish overnight camp for the Michael and Anita Siegel one happy camper connecting with interface Interfaith couples and families through jhub or are connecting our teams to engage in Israel through I see next jec leads the way with innovation directions from Fort Getty see through our annual campaign for Jewish needs for the 20 21 22 this year the jec received an allocation of 4.8 million dollars thank you for all of those of you who supported the campaign in addition to a campaign allocation to jdc received significant resources from the federation's fund for Jewish future and endowment funds many which passed through the jec synagogues in schools directly we're grateful for the JVC stewardship of these funds I want to wish all the 2021 educator Award winners a hearty Mazel Tov on their achievements Lauren hang Imperial pelmac recipients of the Ratner Goldberg Israel fellowship at recipient of the Steiger family education branch Cassie singer recipient of the doctor Sylvia Fleck Abrams award special education Mercy Harrison recipient of the Libya Braverman award and Yoshi Silverstein recipient of the S Ali Corbin I see you sitting up here award in Jewish experiential experiential education recipients of tonight's award represent a small sample of Italian Talent supported by the jec with pride and dignity and passionate CEC executed Central role in life on Jewish learning Leadership Excellence both lay and professional congratulations and thank you to see board chair Kevin Margolis DC executive director Marlin Jaffe for your outstanding and tireless leadership call hockey board for your dedication Innovation and vision for ensuring Jewish future thank you to all of you for your unwavering commitment to Jewish Education and closing I would be remiss not to mention what's been on top of top of mind for the last eleven days for us rushes in of Ukraine in the people who are suffering as a result as is always the case Federation Marshall a community call to action which Kevin will speak about a little bit later lastly Federation takes great response of I need to continue to support our partners in St Petersburg in Northwest Russia or suffering from the sanctions the world is bringing to bear as a result of Mr Putin's aggressive 3 Soviet eyes in Rio wssr one last thing you can also support Ukraine by going on Airbnb and rent an apartment I've done it maze by the note to get back from the person when you tell them that you're not coming to stay there but they've already assumed but I think about that and then we'll talk about the federation's program and lastly as it said Judaism is God call the responsibility thank you good evening I made elbow and I guess no one will be surprised that I'm giving the business part of the reporter so so it's my pleasure to present the report of the Jewish Education Center's nominating committee on behalf of Beth Rosenberg who chairs the the committee includes the following Ted Einhorn SRI Goldman Bruce Goodman Gary gross David Heller soup crayons Kevin Margolis Susie Mark malamud Board of Trustees is comprised of 36 at large trustees as well as honorary trustees now it says that the it's going to be up there all right it's a I think it's in your home I specially want to highlight the new at-large trustees Lewis Susie maisel Rabbi Shannon and Harvey staff please join me in congratulating them is no additional name have been received by petition I want to call for a vote to approve so I'll goes in favor say aye I made your hands over there the following is the Slate of officers nominated for action at the next meeting of the Board of Trustees Kevin Margolis president Jared Miller Neil Waxman Gary Weiss vice-presidents Mark Muhammad and Sharon Rosenberg Rosenberg 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 March 2022 to the Jewish Education Center office it's my pleasure to also puts in the financial report on behalf of Mark malamud jec treasurer the agency's app wedding budget is approximately 9 million dollars for the year ended June 30th 2021 jec had an operating surplus of 2.7 million dollars for the year approximately 94% of the Surplus is due to positive results in our Investment Portfolio the balance relates to expenses which were about 18% under budget the understand reflects how the pain. affected our educational community j e c t o r and audit with video when especially well and I want to thank Lori Hardesty CFO extraordinaire of jec and her entire physical staff for all their hard work and efforts were very lucky to have them thank you and I'll turn it back Michael Neil idell thank you thank you so much and congratulations to the JC board members I look forward to working with all of you this year before I'm about to my remarks about the JC is no mention I want to take a moment of your time to discuss the situation you like many of you I have family that came to the United States from Ukraine because of anti-Semitism in the early part of the last century many other Jews stayed Ukraine has the fourth largest Jewish population of Europe and Keith is reported to have 110,000 losing population has declared that he started this water ridiculously did not suffice Ukraine this is an upside down and crazy statement being used as a false pretext to destroy our country and its people to protect his regime Ukraine's president Waldameer zelenski's Jewish and the last prime minister Graceman is Jewish much as olinsky's family were killed by the Nazis in the Holocaust we need to help me to help you premiums this is a call to ask you to our community to help you much-needed medical supplies and food all in short supply you can help by going to the federation's homepage page on the web and click on the Ukraine update and there you'll find a link to contribute crane emergency relief fund that's being managed by Federation please thank you now let's move on to the business of the jec I thought about the president's report I was struck by all that has happened over the past two years by the resilience of the jec and can to meet the needs of the Jewish educational community the jec is healthy and the Jewish Education System here is healthy and for that we can all feel proud as a successor to the Cleveland Bureau of Jewish Education that dates back to 1920 for the JC was created in 1993 is our Central planning and Service Agency for Jewish Education since that time there been any dramatic shifts in the world perhaps none more traumatic experience these past two years but it's inspiring to recognize that this community has needs and evolving and changing our approach this year we have focused on working three main pillars Advanced and professional growth standing Jewish experiences and enhancing organizational Effectiveness let me briefly describe our efforts in these three areas JC Advantage professional broke through numerous and very professional development opportunities for educators winter and reach more than 5000 students in our community and heightened areas of focus for professional development deepening Educators under meaning of Jewish values outdoor education within Early Childhood settings creating safe spaces to explore in Israel education Hebrew language education and Innovative approaches for literacy and math education we expand by supporting thousands of individuals and families to participate in programs for treats teen programs and Interfaith program is the pilot 8th grade trip to Israel for a nun these students leave on our trip in 2 weeks in addition next month 8th graders from Mandel JDs and gross doctor will go on their trips and amazing combination of their day school experiences and in June three cohorts of the Isagenix program and travel to Israel together and he waited a long time following several canceled trips due to the pain. We can talk about expanding Jewish experience without mentioning to 6 absolutely amazing as relationship we're spending their post High School Gap year in Cleveland Heights so much energy and connection for hundreds of students there for right appropriate the jec enhancers organizational Effectiveness across the Jewish Education by providing thousands of hours of infield Consulting in our partner institutions your school d.c. staff shares its professional expertise and consults on best practices for teaching and learning curriculum development Hebrew language acquisition valuation experiential education while we're on the topic of experiential education I want to take a moment to pay tribute to Judy Schilling the director of our Retreat Institute and a senior member of the JC staff who plans to retire this summer do you hear some when I saw you walk in in her past 25 years the agency Judaism pack of thousands of students and families in health shift hundreds of me for Retreats and immersive experiences Judaism Mentor thought partner and collaborate across the community as an Engaged lifelong learner herself she models in her own life but she teaches the others will have a chance to celebrate you two closer to retirement but I didn't want to let you know cast without expressing our public appreciation please join me in thanking Judy what kind of challenges I am heartened by so many bright spots in the past year and an overall feeling of optimism and opportunities for Renewal starting to watch the continued growth of our day schools back to in person learning our conversation with education programs and the creativity of our early childhood programs Educators have been on the front lines during the community one of the JC Place lawn signs outside of our Early Child program set Heroes work here you see me about a smooth transition to our longtime senior staff member and new executive director Marlin Jaffe and we have on board except a fantastic see new senior staff for our future we are excited about increasing our working really early childhood education and a Key Biscayne effort and Jacobs programming for preteens in their family are full partner in all of these activities is better Asian I have achieved these accomplishments that Federation strong support we certainly have so much to celebrate how to get warts a video presentation that highlights the Brazilian by birth Partnerships at the jdc following the video Danielle wild our Ward future will be the educator award portion of our evening thank you there are very few communities who have the type of supports that the Jewish Day schools receive here in Cleveland from the Jewish Education Center the commitment to JC has to make sure that there's so many Jewish students as possible in these schools and attending the school is truly inspiring and enables us to do all that we can do you should take a shin sensor and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland's is optionally strong and close and it's intentional we need each other one example of the strong working partnership between the Jewish Education Center and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland was around the covid emerge the funding for the schools for synagogues in their education programs we are parked bird as we always do with the ex in particular areas in the educational area that meant the Jewish Education Center so we work very closely with the JC they came to us they brought our proposals from the different day schools from the middle school and we together crafted plans that we thought would meet the needs through different steps along the way ultimately distributed well in excess of the month and a half dollars today Sports in the beginning it was a couple $2,000 for each day school that gave them packed of equipment that allowed him to hire additional staff they were able to purchase computers because of the the distancing issue we felt that we were we really were doing significant work because there was nothing more important than keeping the schools open keeping the children safe keeping the staff site as I say off in when I come to the school I wear two hats on the board president McCarran and the ability to send our star kids to school in person when that was in a given when that wasn't something that was necessarily taken for granted was just a wonderful experience for us to be able to say to the kids are going to school and if the resources that the JC provided with respect to the standards in terms of Technologies and betting the the platforms that were necessary to it happened putting putting aside me if you can on the efficiencies associated with that is well was just wonderful to go see an experience at a time where seeing the kids at home would have been honestly just sad you're also cognizant of the issues facing supplemental school they have the same kinds of issues that the Day School parent keeping the kids keeping the staff say what kind of said he would we put the children in so we gave money to the supplemental School congregational school to hire additional staff to have additional protective equipment we gave them to have outdoor classrooms and provided heaters for the spaces and it made a huge difference but we are not a wealthy congregation and most of our programming is largely funded by the grants that we received from the Jewish Education Center I don't think we would have a quality program without the retreat Institute and without the funding that we get from the jec that the findings help us with maintain that connection through the pandemic with community members and really keeping the kids and involved where it's really kind of difficult for them to specially during at homeschooling their sing in front of Zoom screen all the time and that was really the only way we had for a while you guys kind of provided some activities that kept it trash and had them looking forward to doing something really thankful easy fondant recipe Apple to meet at Hudson City Hall to be in a safer environment with better airflow so and I think that you can't ask that they've helped us how teachers became even more of here then they were before is that we showed up for the first time showing up in and of itself was going above and beyond standing alongside our own worry and our own discomfort with everything that was happening and choosing to be here anyway one of which is to support the the challenges of Staff recruitment retention and what they've always done really well that I myself have merited from is the reimbursement of funding for professional development and that has allowed us to keep people in Courage and being a part of this journey together not just an early education but Jewish Early Education there's just something very comforting when there's a group of people who really understand the position that you're in life and I have both been apart of professional leadership fellowships and there's something about that connection and Polly diality when you know that the person that you're calling not only cares about you but also really understands where you're at and where you stand and I'd say my perspective just being new to the directors group that's really what it brings and share in my hometown one of the things that makes me so happy is that is that I'm working with really talented people with great vision we're going to serve this community for years to come the issue that we've been dealing with this K but they'll be another issue although be other significant issues that will come to the community and knowing that we have a federation and a Jewish Education Center to lead in the effort allows me to sleep with my location Center's annual meeting is looking room and seeing so many of you from so many different parts of our Cleveland Jewish Community it's actually the coming together of all of us patient center that really makes us the strong community that we are wow what an inspiring video I am Danielle wild chair of the Jewish Education Centers Awards committee once again this year the awards committee members saw firsthand the remarkable work of the outstanding Educators we have in our Unity we had the privilege of selecting and honoring 6 outstanding teachers in a variety of educational settings thank you to the following committee members who contributed their time and input in Moscow Kevin Margolis Susie Mae thank you to Judy Schiller I've coordinator of the educator Awards awards presented tonight not only honor our Educators but provide them with opportunities to professional growth the Albert B Ratner and Jack and Esther Goldberg is Fellowship recognizes the dedication and devotion of two outstanding teachers in Cleveland Jewish schools one day school teacher and one congregational school teacher the Steiger family education grants recognizes an outstanding Jewish Day School by providing an opportunity for judaic study advancing the educational experience for children with special needs in a Jewish educational setting Olivia Braverman award is a parent nominated award that recognizes a teacher who demonstrates dedication devotion in creativity in Cleveland Jewish schools the Ashley Korman award and Jewish experiential education this award recognizes a beyond the classroom educator who displays a positive impact as a role model and Devonshire effective experience will Jewish learning that impacts the identity and Jewish connections a participant please enjoy this video presentation highlighting our 2021 Award winners following the video we will formally present the awards to Visa wedding professionals my undergrad is in Communications and I have a double minor in public relations and creative writing and at the time I thought like that it would combine all if I cash it so I can be even having fun and after a couple years I realized I didn't feel like I was making the different phases of my English teacher started popping into my head and I realized that I had said from if I couldn't be a writer and I couldn't do whatever else crazy pie-in-the-sky dream I would be happy being a teacher and making the same kind of difference in someone's life the way that my teachers had for me something that's really special about working in Jewish Education and specifically at factor is that I get to loop with these kids from the time they are in sixth grade through the time to therapy so I teach them for three years and it seems like that's a lot of floor in there but the baddest that is that I get to know them so well and make such a connection that years later they come back they come back during finals week I may just sit in my room because they had free time and they want to catch up in terms of but jez the Jewish Education Center I would be so lost without the guidance it's so nice that there's this resource that you can go to who is responsive and rooting for you and you're not the store number I was not expecting if it's at all because people who I know who have been role models and mentors in my profession and in my life had received word similar to this before and should be considered even remotely on the same playing field as soon as these people Aziz amazing part of Educators who I had always aspired to be at such an early stage in my career is so insane to me I can't even I don't even know how to express the gratitude I have towards the administration at gross Schechter I always enjoy is working with kids and some by time I was in high school I think I do the direction I wanted to take I never changed my major and I never look back I thought this is going to be my lifelong career when I did start teach at that Israel I feel proud that I'm helping to nurture by students there with their Jewish identity the one thing that was really exciting that we started was an overseas connection with students in Russia be connected with kaliningrad Russia we would sometimes Willie I'm in seventh grade we would sell the holidays wonderful to share to cash pot with you being able to take a jecc let us especially on the West Side that's been very wonderful and helpful and also with you Shelor I know I have gone to all of the retreat that she's helped the plan with the support of the jecc I would like to thank I have a really that's one that I've had contact with in the Jewish Community everything from former colleagues to all of the rabbis I've worked with all of these people that Jamie CC they've just been very helpful they've had a bridge guidance in my life and I'm very proud that I've been able to have a small part in helping to nurture my students help them nurture them cell they have more of a Jewish identity in Cleveland I grew up in Family full of love and passion for Education my grandfather was one of the founders of the Hebrew Academy my parents both taught their my mother was my teacher in 7th grade and I just learned watch from her also I am so proud to be an educator in the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland and in general in the Cleveland Community I think we are part of an amazing team I work under amazing administrators I work with Fantastico teachers support staff in general my goal as a teacher is to create and excitement for learning that my students should really like want to be learning on their own so I do this by trying to focus on each individual person learning at their own peace and then feeling a drive to to learn more and compete against themselves and they just want to learn more the bell rang and then I wish I didn't finish this I learnt a lot from every everyone I work with any time I talk to other teachers I get such an amazing insights mrs. goldbaum has been incredible she is in a credible credible incredible administrator helping me as a teacher and also helping my children in school just a couple weeks ago in 8th grader came over to me and said when I was in 4th grade I asked you a question and you said I should come back to you when I'm 15 I'm 15 can you tell me the answer I feel extremely fortunate to be working as an educator and a Jewish Day School in this community and a Cleveland Community the amount of resources the amount of support and the amount of personal encouragement that I have received and seeing has allowed me to grow tremendously as an educator it's also allowed me to put into place Implement a vision that I have had for our school extremely grateful to the JC I feel extremely grateful to the Federation I am extremely grateful to the leaders at my school what we work really hard at at Mandel is making School that's a core part of what drives me as an educator are always challenges there are always sort of limits and barriers and wasted thing think about how things are going to fall apart it's much harder to think about how can we come together we make the most of what we have and what each other up and I've been very fortunate I'm in this community police at my school with a colleague outside of the school that you see I feel grateful for this award I feel grateful for the recognition and the effort the dedication and commitment that this community has two included including all students in our schools and our Jewish people that Mendel is a beautiful thing and it's it's very important I started at Solon Jewish preschool which was the best decision I ever cuz it's an awesome place and I love teaching in the Jewish Center I love to get a soldier's preschool because it's like everyone there is there great all the teachers are phenomenal and making an impact on the kids Jewish I did have a student last year she's really quiet and shy and it's around Passover we doing all the songs we have the kids in pre-k make their own fogones and she she she my mom brought it home and I didn't know she was really do the song because we were and then I get an email really kind email from her parents later and said you know what at our stated this year she led the whole satyr she was so excited she had a sign that we didn't even know that many feel good I want to instill a feeling of wow this is the greatest thing ever learning and and learning new things and discovering new things I am beyond thankful Beyond socks and butts so appreciative I was recognized by the parents because my parents are awesome they're always awesome this year's amazingly awesome but they're always great they know that Michael is really not so much ready for kindergarten with their ABCs and numbers which they will be ready but is to make them really good people like teach them and Poppy and kindness and be a good friend to be a good family member I just been like really strong people I knew I want to do something with landscape design and education beside you and wanting to go sort of like a secular contact secular schools for this or do I want to go in a more narrow but deeper Jewish path so I took that and and do been to this pieces project I was looking at that relationship to landscape sort of like as metaphors landscape is to and thinking about landscape design and curriculum and pedagogy sort of with that metaphor in mind for outdoor Jewish learning experience for landscape design I was really thinking about how do we create the environment in which learning and sort of meaning-making can happen that laid the seeds for me so we collect them and so very much and send it and so mitsui is it's an Aramaic word and it means the activation of potential and so we so assertive I think of it as sort of the Catalyst that kind of finds a potential energy right and brings us together and catalyzes that for Change and for growth when I think about experience education and especially education or there's a couple things that I think about one is pretty simple it's a phrase that we can from Torah not a 7 ish, which translates more or less do we will do and then we will learn a good facilitator of experiential learning is also really thinking about how do we cultivate and how do we treat the space in which the experience can happen in a way that's learning full and meaningful and support animal really you know what people's Comfort zones just enough Ratner Goldberg Israel fellowship with given to Lincoln Brewster Day School teaches 6th 7th and 8th integrated language arts is the 8th grade visor middle school coordinator and power of the pen coach Randy Burris director of academics Lauren has enhanced the Middle School culture raise academic standards and expectations and contributes to the entire School Community Lauren is a wonderful role model for her students and their Jewish Journey Lauren shared the through the world of literature examine the value of a Thelma Loki and being made in God's image and discuss the role in changing the worlds of the acts of sequin alarm for students create a key lock is OSHA a sacred community in their classroom making it a safe space to discover create rather Goldberg Israel Fellowship will be given to valpal Macbeth Israel the West Temple merrilltown Nick has taught those to the grade five six and seven eight classes and let the junior youth group at Beth Israel the West temple for more than 20 years Debbie chesson education director share the barrel and bodies what it means to be a Jewish educator and is a role model for her students her lessons are infused with Jewish values and are designed to help each child develop kindness respect and a sense of community for one another she gently guides her students and learning vital social skills and positive self-esteem her goal is to help create a foundation for each student to feel confident and develop a love of Judaism and strengthening whether a building a closed community the Steiger family education grants is being given to Gina Rivia from the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland or Hebrew Academy have school sharestuff Regina Rubio 4th grade teacher at the Academy teaching is not a vocation her passion and her life a fountain of creativity she has taken she has a keen ability to hone in on the unique learning style of her students and then address their needs accordingly Gina's goal as an educator is to empower her students to succeed both in school and Beyond she aims to create a classroom atmosphere of positivity excitement and growth Guided by the philosophy that self-confidence will breeds success Dina instilled in her students a passion for Jewish values and land of Israel so that they aspire to become leaders who will inspire others Olivia Al Braverman award given to Mercy Harrison a Solon Jewish preschool was nominated by two parents Amy call and Brittany nitis for her optional attention and dedication to enriching the lives of pre-kindergartners everyday her students are so eager to enter a classroom and are excited about what they are working on and learning according to Miriam Greenberg of solemn Chabad it has a unique ability to continually recreate the Pre-K Learning Centers and incorporate whatever skills the children need the most at that time Marcy's warm loving and kind of meaner has managed to win over even the most challenging child because they know she really loves and cares for them the doctor Sylvia flakka what's a word for special education is being given to gussie singer from the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School Duffy singer directs and supervises the Mandel Jewish Day schools learning enhancement team serving students need individual learning plan with multiple areas of intervention in classroom accommodation J Lieberman head of school share that Gotti brings a wealth of knowledge skills and expertise and a tremendous sense of dedication to all she does she guide Adventures learning enhancement team with great care ensuring the success of all the students receiving services from her Department yes he is dedicated to the success of each and every one of her students creating an atmosphere that is nurturing and supportive he actually Korman award and experiential Jewish Education is being given to Yoshi Silverstein from the mitsui collective Yoshi Silverstein sounded mitsui Collective a new organization based in Cleveland that builds resilient community Through embodied patience and racial Equity he is widely respected and known for his ex in Jewish outdoor and Environmental Education and body spiritual practice and anti-racism Yoshi has expanded the experiential Jewish Education field here offering new and unique experiences to engage people jewishly he offers a meaningful opportunities for youth Adult and Family to connect with Judaism and experience how Jewish values can sustain them and add substances to their lives he makes Judaism accessible and relevant reaching hundreds of Jews you otherwise might not be to Ashley connected congratulate all the 2021 award recipients their success is an outgrowth of their professionalism and dedication to their school students in Jewish Education as a whole mouthful tub he 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 now I'm happy to invite Kevin back on stage to conclude the evening wow rate Award winners let me a call from Erica Thomas from the video I've been coming to these meetings for a long long time and you have lots of community events in this is one of them where we see the breadth of the communities you all of you and then we wrestler Community Academy Awards and award winner speech I had up here another round of applause. And of course a big thank you to Danielle if we're running out of words comedian running this process thank you. before we conclude this evening's event we want to express our gratitude to all of us find Jewish Educators throughout our many to First educational settings especially as they navigated the unique and complex challenges of pandemic or the past few years you are truly are heroes and Role Models you're into making an important impact on the lives of Cleveland's Jewish children's families and the future of Judaism you look forward to celebrating with you all again next year at you should acacian Center 29th annual celebration thank you for joining us for those here in person thank you for joining us and please enjoy deserve to go on your way out of the authority I don't know or you everyone have a great evening I hope to see you all again very soon good night

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28th Annual Celebration and Educator Award Ceremony (virtual recording)

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