JCDS teacher wins Jewish education award

Posted

Andrea Katzman of the Jewish Community Day School (JCDS) has earned this year’s Lea Eliash/Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Normally awarded every other year by the Jewish Alliance, this award was named in honor of Lea Eliash, a survivor of the Holocaust, who was a widely respected teacher in Rhode Island. This award serves as the local recognition for the Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education, which is supported by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Recipients demonstrate creative curriculum design, effective planning skills and inspirational teaching.

In nominating Katzman, Adam Tilove, head of school at JCDS, wrote, “I have worked in education for many years, and Andrea is simply the best teacher I have ever met.” Katzman teaches the Pre-Kindergarten class at JCDS. Since arriving in Providence in 1999, Andrea has taught in the education department of Rhode Island College and volunteered in the Providence Public School system. Currently an instructor in the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education at Hebrew College in Newton, Massachusetts, Katzman is co-author of “Purple Leaves, Red Cherries: Short Stories on Motherhood.”

Katzman describes her educational approach: “Influenced by educators that speak to the values of progressive education (including John Dewey, Alfie Kohn, Ron Berger, Abraham Joshua Heschel and Parker Palmer), I strive to treat each of my students as unique, capable and worthy of kindness and respect. My co-teachers and I honor each child’s experiences and understandings and recognize that s/he is as responsible for her/his learning as we are.” She believes “that the process of reflection is a ‘best practice’ that bridges theory and practice, provides opportunities for meaning-making, and effectively integrates the personal and the professional.” 

One of Katzman’s most outstanding initiatives has been copied in a number of classrooms at JCDS. Ten years ago, she introduced to JCDS “the Peace Table (and its corresponding curriculum and tools – including a Quiet House, meditation, yoga, Feelings Journals and a Friendship Loft!).” This initiative “was driven by the belief that if we want our students to nurture themselves, sustain healthy relationships with others, and participate in meaningful ways in their communities, our vision should include the creation of a just and peaceful classroom in which teaching social and emotional skills informs all aspects of the core curriculum.”

Lea Eliash, in serving for more than 50 years as a teacher, taught the love of Hebrew language and Judaism to generations, often of the same family.  Eliash forged deep connections and personal attachments to many of these students.  Even at more than 80 years old, she was still exhilarated by her teaching and learning.  For her, it was not “what I teach” but “who I teach.”

A survivor of the Kovno ghetto, Eliash generously shared her own highly personal, intimate story with school and church groups throughout Rhode Island.

The Lea Eliash Award was established in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, which brings national recognition to the local recipient. Harold Grinspoon created this award as an expression of his commitment to quality Jewish education and his belief that teachers are at the heart of the educational process. Grinspoon is active in funding Jewish initiatives in Western Massachusetts and in the national and international Jewish philanthropic community.  The Grinspoon Awards (formerly Grinspoon-Steinhardt Awards) have recognized more than 700 outstanding educators in the U.S. and Canada in the past 15 years, including several from Rhode Island. Today the award celebrates successful innovation in Jewish education through a partnership between the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and the participating community. For additional information, visit hgf.org/teacher-awards. 

The Awards Committee was impressed by all of this year’s nominees. They were: Nitza Attali of Temple Beth-El, Susannah Carter of Temple Sinai, Rivkie Gerber of Temple Emanu-El, Alan Rosenberg of Temple Beth-El, Rabbi Yaakov Zimmerman of Providence Hebrew Day School

LARRY KATZ is director of Jewish life and learning at the Jewish Alliance. For more information about the Eliash/Grinspoon Award, please contact Lawrence Katz at lkatz@jewishalianceri.org.