From time immemorial, education has been one of Judaism’s most important values. In Jewish tradition, teachers are revered figures. “Parents bring a child into this world, but a teacher can bring a child into the World to Come,” says the Talmud.
In that spirit, the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, and its partner organization UnitEd convened the four-day Global Jewish Educators Summit in Jerusalem on October 12.
More than 250 teachers, principals, and educational leaders from dozens of educational institutions and Jewish communities worldwide attended. The conference program included professional development sessions, panels, workshops, and tours of the Gaza border communities and heritage sites.
A highlight of the conference was the presentation of the Global Jewish Teachers Award to eight distinguished Jewish educators. The winners, selected from more than 250 nominees, were honored for their exceptional contributions to strengthening Jewish identity, deepening the younger generation’s connection to the State of Israel, and shaping the future of Jewish communities. In addition, each awardee received a $2,500 grant from the Mayberg Foundation.
The Global Jewish Teachers Award is a joint initiative of the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, UnitEd, The Jerusalem Post, the World Zionist Organization, and Herzog College.
Limor Riskin, director of strategy and innovation at Herzog College, who led the review and judging process for the Global Jewish Teachers Award, said, “The nominations revealed inspiring stories of educators who dedicate their lives to Jewish education and make a meaningful difference in their communities. Our greatest challenge was not finding eight educators worthy of the award but choosing only eight from so many exceptional candidates.
“I hope this award will not only celebrate the winners, but also shine a light on the extraordinary work of Jewish educators around the world, much of which happens quietly, away from the spotlight.”
Rachel Fink, UnitEd’s educational director, said, “UnitEd currently works with more than 850 Jewish schools in over 50 countries. This award is an opportunity for us, as a global community, to pause for a moment and thank them. We are grateful to the Mayberg Foundation, which provided grants to the winning teachers, expressing tangible appreciation for their exceptional contributions.”
Gael Grunewald, vice chairman of the World Zionist Organization and head of its Education Department, added, “During the award selection process, I encountered more than a hundred extraordinary stories of educators who went far beyond their roles and succeeded in bringing Judaism to the next generation. We still have much work to do, but we can be proud of our generation and the resources it devotes to this vital mission.”
The award recipients were Rabbi Zvi Lew, United States; Tal Kattan, South Africa; Meir Bunytow, Mexico; Anat Kampf, United States; Raquel Hakim, Argentina; Dina Jacobson, UK; Marina Grushevskaya, Russia; and Rahel Israelievitch, France.
Grushevskaya joined the Lauder Etz Chaim school in Moscow in 1992, and heads the school’s Judaica department. She was selected for a sustained educational mission spanning more than three decades, and for an approach that treats Jewish education as identity, belonging, and responsibility – not only the transmission of knowledge.
She was nominated not only for her formal educational skills, but for her intergenerational impact: alumni continue to turn to her, she maintains relationships with former students in Israel, and children of former students now attend the school. The evidence points to an educator whose influence is built through knowledge, trust, confidence, and a lasting sense of belonging to the Jewish people.
“This award, for me, is a high recognition of my 34 years of work as a teacher of tradition and Torah,: she said. “At the same time, I would like to note that this award is for all the teachers of tradition at the Etz Chaim school, since all these years we have always worked as one united team of teachers, supporting each other, devising new ideas together, and bringing them to life.
“Stay true to the past while raising the future.”
Bunytow, director of Jewish education at Bet Hayladim in Mexico City, expressed hope that students will take pride in being Jewish while retaining their curiosity and desire to learn.
“After so many years in Jewish education,” he said, “one question has become increasingly important to me: How do we help the next generation not only remain part of the Jewish people, but want to belong to it – and find pride, meaning, and responsibility in that belonging?
“I hope my students leave with deep roots and, at the same time, the freedom to question, choose, and build their own path. I want them to have the tools to live their Jewish identity with pride, even when doing so is not always easy; and to find – in Israel, Hebrew, our history, and collective memory, and the remarkable national and cultural renewal of the Jewish people over the past two centuries – points of reference that help them understand where they come from and choose where they want to go.
“I do not believe my role is to decide what kind of Jews they should become. My role is to give them knowledge, experiences, reasons, and a sense of belonging so that they choose to remain part of this people and want to take their place in its continuing story.”
Jacobson, who teaches Jewish studies at Yavneh College in London, was selected for her ability to create meaningful Jewish educational experiences that stay with students long after they leave school. Her work with older students was designed to make her a consistent, accessible presence for Jewish learning and conversations about gap year, university, and Jewish life beyond school.
She emphasized the vital role of Jewish education amid rising antisemitism. “At a time when antisemitism is increasing in many communities across the Diaspora, the role of Jewish education has never been more important. It is vital that young Jews are given the tools, understanding, and confidence to navigate difficult conversations, strengthen their sense of identity, and take pride in their Judaism.”
Kampf, an Israel studies educator at the Margolin Hebrew Academy in Memphis, was chosen for her exceptional combination of Jewish knowledge, personal connection, Israel education, and student leadership. Her nomination describes an educator who refuses to let the limitations of a small Jewish community reduce the depth or ambition of students’ Jewish education.
“Teaching is most fulfilling when you know you are making a difference in the lives of your students,” she said. This recognition affirms that, in some way, I have been able to have that kind of impact, and I am truly grateful for that.
“One belief that guides me as a Jewish educator is that every student possesses unique strengths and talents. It is our responsibility to help students discover those strengths, nurture them, and provide opportunities for each child to experience success and reach their potential.”
Rabbi Dr. Howard Deitcher, professor emeritus at the Seymour Fox School of Education at Hebrew University, chair of UnitEd’s advisory committee, and one of the judges who made the final selections of the award recipients, commented on the overall excellence of the winners.
“As a judge, I witnessed firsthand how these eight exceptional educators are transforming their students’ lives and inspiring the next generation. Their devotion, passion, and love of teaching reach far beyond the classroom, leaving a lasting impact on Jewish communities worldwide. “Publicly honoring educators like them is essential because they are the pillars who strengthen our communities and secure the future of Jewish education.”
Manette Mayberg, president and trustee of the Mayberg Foundation, and a member of the professional committee that selected the award winners, added, “We recognize the invaluable role of Jewish educators in developing the Jewish identity of their students.
“Our gift is an opportunity to additionally honor these special role models, whose careers in Jewish education have strengthened the Jewish future.”
If, as the Talmud teaches, an educator can bring a child into the World to Come, these eight award recipients show how much teachers can shape the world that their students inhabit today. Through knowledge, connection, and a sense of belonging, they are helping the next generation find its place in the continuing story of the Jewish people.
This article was written in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, UnitEd, Herzog College, and the World Zionist Organization’s Department of Education.