Eight teachers win grants in Jerusalem
Winners from six countries received $2,500 each at a four-day summit that drew 250 educators to the city.
By Gabriela Ivanov ·
Eight Jewish educators received grants and public recognition in Jerusalem on October 12.
The ceremony closed the first day of the Global Jewish Educators Summit. The event was organized by the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism and UnitEd. More than 250 teachers, principals, and administrative leaders from dozens of institutions attended the four-day conference. Participants engaged in professional development sessions, panel discussions, and workshops. They also toured heritage sites and communities along the Gaza border.
The Global Jewish Teachers Award selected eight winners from a pool of more than 250 nominees. Each recipient received a $2,500 grant from the Mayberg Foundation. The award is a joint initiative involving UnitEd, The Jerusalem Post, the World Zionist Organization, and Herzog College. Limor Riskin, director of strategy and innovation at Herzog College, led the review and judging process. She noted that the nominations revealed many dedicated educators, making the final selection difficult because so many candidates were exceptional.
The recipients represent diverse geographic regions and educational roles. Marina Grushevskaya from Russia has led the Judaica department at Lauder Etz Chaim school in Moscow since 1992. She was selected for her three-decade tenure and her focus on identity and belonging. Dina Jacobson from the UK teaches Jewish studies at Yavneh College in London. Her work emphasizes creating lasting educational experiences and maintaining accessible connections with students after they leave school. Meir Bunytow from Mexico directs Jewish education at Bet Hayladim in Mexico City, where he focuses on helping students find pride and meaning in their identity.
Other honorees include Rabbi Zvi Lew and Anat Kampf from the United States, Tal Kattan from South Africa, and Raquel Hakim from Argentina. Rachel Fink, UnitEd’s educational director, stated that the organization currently works with more than 850 Jewish schools in over 50 countries. She described the award as a way for the global community to express tangible appreciation for these educators. Gael Grunewald, vice chairman of the World Zionist Organization, said the selection process exposed over a hundred extraordinary stories of educators going beyond their standard roles.
Manette Mayberg, president and trustee of the Mayberg Foundation, said the foundation’s gift honors role models whose careers have strengthened the Jewish future. Rabbi Dr. Howard Deitcher, a professor emeritus at Hebrew University and chair of UnitEd’s advisory committee, served as a judge. He observed that the winners’ devotion and passion reach beyond the classroom to impact Jewish communities worldwide.
The summit concluded with the recognition of these eight individuals. The awards acknowledged contributions to strengthening Jewish identity and connecting younger generations to the State of Israel. The recipients joined a broader group of professionals who spent the week exchanging ideas on educational methods and community building.
