Learn more about the recipients of the 2020 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award who demonstrate a commitment to new ideas and the use of innovative approaches to inspire children and families in their community.

Laura Belferder, Temple Sinai of Roslyn

"Knowing that together we are strengthening the Jewish community through positive relationships, creative programming and innovative ideas is what motivates and inspires me.  I feel blessed each day to work with the incredible teens and families of our community and know that together we will change the world!"

Lauren Belferder, better known as “Lulu”, serves as the Director of Youth Engagement at Temple Sinai of Roslyn on Long Island.  In this role Lulu is changing the way youth and teens connect with their synagogue and the larger Jewish community.  Lulu earned her B.A. in Judaic Studies at Hofstra University, and continued her education at Long Island University where she earned a M.S. is School Counseling.  Lulu started her career focused on supporting individuals with developmental disabilities through two different non-profit human service organizations.  During this time, Lulu led over a dozen Birthright Israel trips, as well as more than five Jewish teen service-learning travel programs. Lulu joined the team at Temple Sinai 8 years ago as a Religious School Teacher and Teen Educator. In 2016 she accepted the full-time position of Director of Youth Engagement.   Lulu is thrilled to be counted as a mentor in the URJ’s YP101 program for new youth professionals.  In addition, Lulu is a proud to be pursuing a Masters in Jewish Educational Leadership through HUC-JIR. 

Reflections from Colleagues: 

"Temple Sinai takes pride in prioritizing teen engagement and programming. We are so proud of the way in which this department continues to grow and evolve under the vision and leadership of Lulu, and are grateful to the Jewish Education Project for its recognition." Rabbi Ilana Schachter, Associate Rabbi, Temple Sinai of Roslyn 

Carly Namdar, Hebrew Academy of Long Beach

"I am truly grateful, honored and humbled to be receiving the Jewish Education Project’s Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award.  This is empowering for the field of mental health, and speaks to the increasing need to enhance learning experiences related to social-emotional wellness, student strengths and supports within our schools.  I feel blessed to be able to contribute to this important work, and inspired to continue to promote thriving and flourishing within the Jewish educational community.”

Carly Namdar is the Director of Middle School Guidance at Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB).  Carly has been involved in the Jewish educational community in the US and in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia for the last fifteen years.  Carly was a Dean’s Scholar at the University of Melbourne, Australia, where she completed a BA in Psychology and Judaic Studies, and then a Master’s in School Psychology at Touro College, after moving to New York.  Carly is currently completing her doctoral studies in Jewish Educational Leadership and Innovation at Yeshiva University, as a means to combine her passion for Jewish education and psychology, and promote holistic wellbeing throughout school communities.  Carly is a proud alumna of the UJA Graduate Fellowship Program, and a Hidden Sparks Learning Coach.  In the summer, Carly is a psychologist in OHEL's Camp Kaylie, an inclusive camp experience for campers of all abilities, and provides training to staff and social-emotional support to campers.  

Carly has extensive experience teaching life-skills classes, delivering and coordinating social-emotional learning and informal educational programming, and implementing counseling and interventions to address students’ social, emotional and academic needs.  Carly has recently engaged in a multi-level collaboration with mental health support-based communal institution OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services, on an initiative to address the significant increase in anxiety among today’s children and adults, as HALB Middle School has become the pilot school for OHEL’s Anxiety Prevention program.  Recognizing that middle school is a time when many students are vulnerable to developing anxiety, establishing a communal partnership has provided greater access to mental health education and support for students and faculty, particularly by teaching students a wellness and resiliency-based curriculum as they transition to the Middle School.

Carly is bridging the work of positive psychology and Jewish education to introduce students and faculty  to ideas related to cultivating character strengths, building resilience and breaking down stigma associated with mental health.  Carly is committed to nurturing a school environment that promotes empathy, concern for others, social cohesion and support for all kinds of learners.  By working together with students and faculty in a collaborative manner, creating student-centered programming and increasing education and awareness of students’ strengths and coping abilities, Carly is working towards fostering students’  self-awareness, self-advocacy and building skills to navigate their ever-changing world.  

Reflections from Colleagues:
“We are so proud that Carly Namdar, our Director of Middle School Guidance here at HALB, was selected as the recipient of the prestigious Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award of the Jewish Education Project for 2020.   Carly is well deserving of this honor, and we are so grateful to her for all she has accomplished. This award means so much to us as an institution. It symbolizes our ongoing commitment to ensuring that each and every student at HALB is educated upon a foundation that recognizes the importance of positive psychology and overall well being. It has become clear to all modern day parents and educators that this is the issue of our day when it comes to raising healthy, flourishing children, and HALB is proud to be taking a proactive, 21st century approach.”  Rabbi Adam Englander, Head of School, Hebrew Academy of Long Beach 

Dina Newman, Congregation Rodeph Sholom

"I can’t even begin to fully express how grateful I am to receive the Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award. To me personally, this award means that I’m making a difference with the unique work that I do and inspiring others as so many have inspired me over the years. But most of all, the fact that the Jewish Education world acknowledges innovation and creativity in this way means to me that we’ve come a long way from the stale Religious School experience so many of our parents had and are truly making an important shift in what it will mean for a new generation to be Jewish.

Dina Newman is the Associate Director of Youth Engagement at Congregation Rodeph Sholom on the Upper West Side. She is passionate about the intersection of contemporary popular culture, Judaism and the foundations of Jewishness. Despite being a self-declared Post-B’nai Mitzvah Religious School drop-out, Dina holds a Master’s in Modern Jewish Studies from The Jewish Theological Seminary as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Judaic Studies from The George Washington University. She is particularly passionate about contemporary Jewish identity and how Generation Z is engaging in and developing their own unique understanding of what it means to be Jewish.

In her close to five years at Congregation Rodeph Sholom, Dina has worked to expand upon a strategy of multiple avenues of engagement to create a meaningful transitional experience for students moving through middle school to high school.  Through the development of an innovative Post-B’nai Mitzvah Paid Internship experience students begin gaining office experience and a behind the scenes look at the way the congregation works as a unique opportunity that retains a large number of students following their B’nai Mitzvah. Interns are placed in departments including our Executive Director’s office, the youth office, Sholom Sprouts Early Engagement program, Religious School, Security, Social Media, Congregational Programming & Engagement, and our Cantor’s Suite. Dina has worked to make 7th and 8th grade an excited transitional moment into our teen programming through this as well as our 8th Grade New Orleans Service Learning Trip, Pop Culture Parsha Study experience called Cup of Joe & The 5 Books of Mo(ses), as well as an innovative formal 7th grade curriculum focused on Jewish identity formation.

Judaism isn’t just her job it’s what Dina does for fun, catch her ! She is also a pop culture aficionado and enjoys arguing that the Kardashians are a valid contemporary comparison to Joseph and his brothers because they’re all just jealous!  Dina loves dogs (and has a large one named Ellie), is an avid reader (of contemporary Jewish literature especially), loves and lives with a videogame playing paralegal and is best friends with her Mom and older brother. When not at her desk in the youth lounge, Dina can most often be found in a silly costume, covered in frosting, sleeping on the synagogue floor or explaining why she has a  masechet of Talmud in her purse!

Reflections from Colleagues:

"Dina uses her passion and creativity to engage and connect with every student and family in our community.  She does this through her innovative interest based programming, trips, and modifying content or a program whenever needed so that it truly meets the needs of all of our youth and teens.  Dina is very deserving of this award.  We are proud of her and the work that she does every day at Rodeph Sholom." Kerith Braunfeld, Director of Religious Education and Youth 

Phreddy Nosanwisch, Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale

“I am so delighted and humbled that The Jewish Education Project has recognized my work. I want to share the honor with my students who inspire so much of my curriculum and bravely manifest it, and my teachers who continue to model for me how a pedagogy of love is the best blueprint for building knowledge and making positive change.”

Phreddy Nosanwisch teaches spiritual technologies and Hebrew school at Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale in The Bronx, N.Y. He uses as many modalities as possible (including art, scent, music, film, movement, food, prayer and text) in Judaism to help connect his students to each other, their world, G-d and themselves in deeper and more life-affirming ways. He also teaches at the Fort Tryon Jewish Center in Washington Heights (where he is an active member) and is a full-time student at the William Davidson School of Jewish Education at JTS and is a current Wexner Graduate Fellow/Davidson Scholar. Phreddy graduated from Florida State University in 2001 with a BA in Classical Civilizations. Before coming to Jewish education, Phreddy worked as a storyteller, wedding and karaoke DJ, journalist, bartender, waiter, cook, handyperson, musician, event producer, venue manager and flower salesman. He was once a frequent competitor in and host of Moth StorySLAMs in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan. He loves people, talking, reading, snacking, making music, sleeping, being outside and laughing. Phreddy and his best friend, Blair, are the joyful parents of Honi and Erev Willow.

Reflections from Colleagues:

"The entire CSAIR community is tremendously proud of Phreddy and honored that he is being recognized for his work in our Hebrew School.  Phreddy possesses an original and creative mind, disarming love and exuberance for Judaism and Jewish learning and leaves a lingering joy on all who have the opportunity to encounter him.  Phreddy is a unique force of good in the world and a true gift to his students, colleagues and to the field of Jewish education." Mason Voit, CSAIR Director of Education and Jewish Family Life

Jonathan Schmidt Chapman, Congregation Bet Simchat Torah

“I am inspired and honored to be awarded The Jewish Education Project’s Young Pioneer Award. This recognition acknowledges the power that the arts can have in Jewish education and family engagement. This award encourages me to pursue my mission to introduce Jewish tradition to very young children through the power of theater.”  

Jonathan Shmidt Chapman is the founding project director of Aggadah Adventures at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), the country’s largest LGBTQ synagogue. Aggadah Adventures brings Jewish stories to life through immersive, multi-sensory, and interactive theater for very young children and their families. The project was awarded a 2018 Ignition Grant and a 2019 Signature Grant from The Covenant Foundation. He was selected to participate in the 2018 Asylum International Jewish Artists Program, and he is the recipient of the 2019 inaugural Luminary Award for his contributions to the national field of theater for children, presented by New York City Children’s Theater. As a writer and director, he has created theater productions for young audiences at The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Seattle Children’s Theater, and Abrons Arts Center. He is a graduate of the Masters Program in Educational Theatre at New York University, where his thesis work focused on exploring Holocaust education through theater. 

Jonathan’s love of theater and his belief that the arts can transform communities began at an early age. As a high school student, Jonathan founded the first-ever drama program at Hebrew Academy of Nassau County and directed its first production. Nearly 20 years later, the program continues to thrive at the school. He is passionate about finding new ways to use theater as a vehicle for children (and their grownups) to learn about themselves, their world, and their Jewish identity. Outside of his work within the Jewish community, Jonathan serves as executive director of Theater for Young Audiences/USA (TYA/USA), the national organization for the professional field of children’s theatre. He co-authored the report “Envisioning the Future of Theater for Young Audiences,” published by the National Endowment for the Arts. Jonathan lives in Port Washington, New York with his husband David and their son Elior. 

Reflections from Colleagues:

“Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) has always used the arts to inspire deep Jewish engagement. We are so proud of the innovative ways that Jonathan has found to use theater and music to bring Torah to life for the youngest members of our community. Under his leadership, Aggadah Adventures has helped us build a vibrant community of babies, pre-schoolers, and their grownups at CBST. This award is a profound honor for our LGBTQS synagogue, where the mere idea of an education program for Families with Children was unthinkable 30 years ago. Now, our thriving education program is paving the way by creatively bringing Jewish tradition to life for all families.” - Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum D.D., Senior Rabbi, CBST  

Rena Allen, Central Synagogue

"Receiving the Young Pioneers Award is humbling, and an extraordinary honor. I am so proud that the Jewish Community is further committing to improving the access points of Jewish Education, by investing in special educators. I feel lucky to work for institutions who value this work, and walk the walk." 

Rena Allen is the Director of Developmental Learning and Special Education at Central Synagogue. She is passionate about making Jewish education accessible to all learners, and structuring environments that contribute to student success. Rena earned a B.A. in psychology from Binghamton University and an MS.Ed. in special education from Bank Street College. Rena’s career has taken her from classroom teaching to early intervention, and has landed her in her current work — focusing on teacher training and program development in synagogues across Manhattan. Rena is a proud alumna of the Ruskay Fellowship and deeply enjoys both participating in, and conducting leadership training for young professionals in the field of Jewish Education.

Reflections from Colleagues: 

“We are so honored to see Rena recognized for the wonderful and important work she does at Central. Her commitment to every child and every teacher has influenced all of us to be better, more inclusive educators. We are so proud of all Rena has done, and we look forward to continuing to elevate the work of inclusion at Central.” - Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal, Director of Youth & Family Education, Central Synagogue

Ora Bayewitz-Meier, SAR High School

"I value the ways that literature, art, culture and community service inform and deepen my religious practice. As an educator, I apply this interdisciplinary approach to engage my students in our shared learning and volunteering. I have always felt fortunate to teach at an Orthodox Jewish institution that supports this type of student-centered learning. Earning The Jewish Education Project’s Young Pioneers Award underscores for me the importance of utilizing student strengths and creativity in the classroom and the community at large and is consistent with my passions."

Ora Bayewitz-Meier teaches Advanced Placement Art History, English Literature and Writing, Literature and Film Senior Elective, and co-teaches the Drawing from the Text Judaic Studies Senior Elective at SAR High School in Riverdale, New York. She is also the Founding Coordinator of Chesed Programming at SAR High School.

Ms. Bayewitz-Meier founded SAR’s annual student-led film festival in 2018. She established an ongoing partnership with LUNAFEST® for the festival and received a microgrant from The Jewish Education Project to assist in funding. Additionally, Ms. Bayewitz-Meier and her Drawing from the Text co-teacher plan all aspects of a Jewish text publication that features her students’ visual interpretations. As the Founding Coordinator of Chesed Programming, Ms. Bayewitz-Meier also manages and drafts proposals for community service competitions, which has resulted in SAR's national recognition and awards from the New York Blood Center and Altice Charity Champions Program.

Prior to joining SAR in 2007, Ms. Bayewitz-Meier founded and headed the expansion of Project Sunshine's national hospital literacy program, Book Buddies. Ms. Bayewitz-Meier received her M.A. in English Education in 2007 from Teachers College, Columbia University and earned her B.A with a major in Art History in 2006 from Barnard College, Columbia University, Summa Cum Laude, where she was Phi Beta Kappa.

Reflections from Colleagues:

"We are so proud to have one of our faculty members celebrated for her innovative and creative spirit! Ora Meier has built programs that have helped shape SAR's community and culture. Her work in creating our Chesed program and establishing relationships with a myriad of institutions and agencies has empowered our students to change the world through hours spent in hospitals, with special needs students, at nursing homes, and in soup kitchens.  Her creativity in the classroom has provided students with the opportunity to analyze Jewish texts through their drawing as well as films and their storytelling techniques. Mazal tov, Ora! May you go from strength to strength. " Rabbi Tully Harcsztark, Principal, SAR High School, Dean, Machon Siach

Rachel Figurasmith, Repair the World

"Receiving The Jewish Education Project's Young Pioneers Award signals an acknowledgment of how critical it is for young people to be educated about social justice within Jewish communities. It is such an honor to be recognized as a leader in the bridge between meaningful community service and inspirational Jewish learning, as we raise a generation of caring children." 

Rachel Figurasmith is the Senior Educator at Repair the World, where she works with families of all ages throughout New York City.  Rachel holds a Masters Degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary, a Bachelors Degree from Hampshire College, and is a trained special educator. She has worked with children in Kenya, South Africa, Atlanta, Massachusetts, and beyond. She has worked as a teacher, after-school director, caseworker, advocate, trainer, and inclusion consultant. Throughout her career, Rachel has weaved a common thread of commitment to social justice and community-based education, and is a fierce disability and racial justice advocate. A born-and-bred New Yorker raised by Jewish Brooklyn-ites, Rachel is thrilled to have settled into working at the intersection of her passions in her hometown.

At Repair the World, Rachel oversees a robust calendar of programming for families to volunteer in Central Brooklyn and Harlem neighborhoods on farms, in soup kitchens, at local schools, in community centers, and more. Rachel is passionate about social justice education, and frequently develops new modalities for learning. In 2018, Rachel received a Seeds of Innovation grant from the Jewish Theological Seminary that has allowed her to develop new content to support parents in engaging in difficult conversations with their children. Rachel’s favorite part of her work is watching the moment when difficult concepts “click” for children right in front of her eyes, and when she is able to see them internalize what they’ve learned and integrate new ideas into their home and family lives. Rachel lives in a very colorful home with her husband, daughter, and two noisy dogs on Long Island.

Reflections from Colleagues:

 "The Repair the World team is proud and excited to be pushing as hard as we can to bring innovative, experiential, Jewish education into our models of youth and family engagement. We've known for a while that Rachel brings breakthrough capacity to this work, and we see her selection as a Young Pioneer by The Jewish Education Project as an important affirmation of our progress and impact." David Eisner, CEO of Repair The World

Rabbi Maura Linzer, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester

“Being named a Young Pioneers Award recipient encourages me to continue to inspire and innovate in the field of Jewish education.  This award acknowledges the significant influence that an engaging and inclusive supplemental school can have on the lives of Jewish youth and teens.”

As Associate Rabbi-Educator of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, Maura Linzer has dedicated her rabbinate to building positive Jewish memories in a family-centered, experiential, and inclusive environment. Under her leadership, she built a madrichim program of more than 45 teen volunteers, whose primary focus is to assist the 30 percent of students who have unique learning or emotional needs.  Beth El’s Religious School has become known for its experiential learning units, Artist-in-Residence Programs, which expose the students to music, yoga, mural art, theater, pottery, and dance. Additionally, there is a large number of lay volunteers, including more than 50 parents who are regularly involved with school and social youth programming.  

Rabbi Linzer was ordained at the Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in 2012.  She received an MA in Hebrew Letters from HUC-JIR in 2011 and an MA in Religious Education from the New York Campus of HUC-JIR in 2013. She is very passionate about Israel and Jewish peoplehood education and has built an innovative Israel educational curriculum that delves deeply into the nuances of modern Israel.  Rabbi Linzer studied abroad at Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 2005 and also earned an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, Israel in 2010. Rabbi Linzer graduated with honors with a BA from Washington University in St. Louis with majors in Psychology and Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern Studies and a minor in Modern Hebrew.  She lives in Pleasantville, New York with her husband, Liad, a mechanical engineer, her daughter, Sarah and her son, Ori.

"Rabbi Maura Linzer embodies each of the qualities highlighted in the Young Pioneers Award.  Within a short period of time, she has transformed what had been a staid program into an interactive, creative and collaborative one in which our students look forward to entering our building.  Rabbi Linzer brings her unique blend of wit, thoughtfulness, humor and care to all that she does.  She has also succeeded in engaging members of our congregation as lay leaders and partners in building Temple Beth El into a place in which our students always feel welcome.  She is admired and appreciated by our teachers, parents, students and perhaps most of all, colleagues.  We are so fortunate to have her as a member of our team." Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, Senior Rabbi for Temple Beth El of Northern

Rebecca Schoffer, 92Y

"I feel so grateful to be a part of a community that celebrates innovation and imagination. I am inspired to continue exploring ways to help people connect with Jewish life and each other."

Rebecca Schoffer is a musical and experiential Jewish educator, a singer songwriter and a playwright of Jewish family theater. She is the Director of Jewish Family Engagement and the leader of the Shababa community at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan. Founded in 2007 by Karina Zilberman, 92Y Shababa celebrates the intersection between ancient Jewish tradition and the needs of modern families by creating playful, soulful Jewish family experiences for all generations. Rebecca brings her background in theater, acting, music and improvisation to her work, creating spaces where hundreds of kids, parents, caretakers and grandparents come together every week to celebrate Jewish life through interactive music and movement. In addition to her weekly Shabbat celebrations, Rebecca also leads High Holiday services, Passover Seders, baby naming ceremonies, concerts, mitzvah troupes and many other joyful Jewish celebrations for families. She sings as a cantorial soloist during the 92Y High Holiday season.

In her original music, Rebecca weaves psalms, prayers and Jewish concepts into upbeat contemporary melodies. In 2015, she and Karina Zilberman released their first collaborative album “Shababa of the Heart.” Rebecca plans to produce another album in the near future.  Rebecca is also a theater director and playwright of family musicals, including “Bagels from Benny the Musical” and “Sammy Spider’s First Mitzvah the Musical!” co-written with Joel Esher and based on the beloved PJ Library books by Aubrey Davis and Sylvia Rouss.  She is a alumna of Tufts University and the Atlantic Acting Conservatory. Born and raised in Margate, New Jersey, Rebecca now lives in New York City with her husband Jonathan and son, Sam.

"As an institution founded on serving the community and bringing people together, 92Y is proud to receive recognition for our innovative Jewish family programming. Rebecca Schoffer continues to reimagine Jewish family life in a way that resonates, creating caring, socially conscious children and families inspired to connect with Jewish values for a lifetime. "- Henry Timms, President and CEO, 92nd Street Y 

Rabbi David Levy, Westchester Reform Temple

"I am so lucky to be working in an institution that celebrates change and isn't afraid to explore new ways of doing things, and I'm honored that The Jewish Education Project is recognizing the way in which I'm leading a living laboratory of Judaism and Jewish experiences!"

Rabbi David Levy is the Associate Rabbi & Jewish Learning Lab Director of Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale New York. Rabbi Levy grew up in a small town in Connecticut, before attending Drexel University where he earned his BS in Information Systems, Magna Cum Laude, and was later ordained by Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR)in New York.

While pursuing his undergraduate degree, it became clear to him that his passion lay in working with the Jewish people, and not in a cubicle. Due to his passion for education, Rabbi Levy studied for an extra year and earned an MA in Religious Education while at HUC-JIR. Education of people of all ages has been a cornerstone of Rabbi Levy's work throughout his career, and he has grown in his rabbinic and educational leadership while at Westchester Reform Temple. Under his direction, WRT has continued to invest in travel based learning for the post-B'nei Mitzvah community, and the Religious School has become the Jewish Learning Lab, a center of joy and experimentation where a robust team of full-time and part-time educators strive to create a joyful learning environment. He tries to live by the ethos of WRT, which is to never say dayeinu (It's good enough), but rather strive for excellence in education and experience for all learners. Rabbi Levy has loved being a part of the WRT congregational community. He is married to Kate Stambler Levy and lives in Westchester along with their sons Benjamin and Micah.

Reflections from Colleagues

"WRT is thrilled that Rabbi David Levy has been acknowledged with a Young Pioneers Award! This recognition acknowledges his skillful leadership of our educational program and staff, and our innovative new Jewish Learning Lab, which has launched under his direction." - Rabbi Jonathan Blake, Senior Rabbi, Westchester Reform Temple

Carla Friend, Tkiya

"Having been very involved with The Jewish Education Project for several years through the microgrant process and family engagement coalition, it is particularly special for me to be recognized with this honor! I am hyper aware of all of the wonderful work they are doing and it means so much to me for them to hold my work in such a high regard!"

Carla Friend is the Founder and Executive Director of Tkiya: The Jewish Community Music Initiative. She holds a Masters Degree in Music Education from NYU, a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College, and has extensive experience on both the teaching and administrative ends of the field. She has taught and researched music and dance across a variety of cultures including locations such as Uganda, Japan, and the Middle East. Carla’s passion lies in community music education and connecting with culture through music and dance. She started Tkiya to help others find their unique connection with Jewish culture and to reinvigorate diverse Jewish communities. Through her work with Tkiya, Carla engages with hundreds of families in the New York Metro Area through partnerships with more than two dozen Jewish organizations. Her approach to Jewish music for families is unique in that it is developed from a true educator’s perspective. This has proven to be so effective and inspiring that Tkiya is now in high demand all over New York and they are even providing family engagement for the majority of PJ Library’s New York initiatives. Carla and her staff think outside the walls, meet families where they are, and engage the unengaged. She looks forward to putting out her first album of recorded original music this year! 

Reflections from Colleagues:

"We are blessed to have mega talented Carla Friend and her Tkiya program to be an integral part of our JCC Brooklyn (a project of the Kings Bay Y) programming in Brownstone and North Brooklyn. They touch countless lives through their music by exposing families to the beauty of our Jewish Civilization. I am so thrilled that Carla has been awarded this well-deserved honor from The Jewish Education Project." - Leonard Petlakh, CEO of Kings Bay Y

Allison Kapusta, B'nai Jeshurun

"I am truly honored to receive this award and I am inspired to keep creating unique opportunities for families to engage with Judaism and Jewish life in ways that are personally meaningful to them. Receiving this award affirms my belief in the power of community and I am grateful to The Jewish Education Project for their commitment to supporting professionals in this field. I am motivated to continue exploring Jewish values and traditions with our youngest community members as they are the future of the Jewish people."

Allison Kapusta, Assistant Director of Family Life and Learning at B’nai Jeshurun, oversees the synagogue’s young family programs including weekday classes, Shabbat services, and holiday celebrations. Allison enjoys creating engaging experiences for families looking for community and connection to Jewish life, and serves as a guide and resource as families explore Judaism in ways that are meaningful to them. She especially loves inviting families out of their comfort zones, for example, at the annual Young Families Retreat that takes place at a camp outside the city, and finding that the connections made during these experiences are deep and lasting. Prior to joining BJ, Allison spent many summers working at Young Judaea camps in New York and Wisconsin, and also worked on the Jewish programming team at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington D.C. Allison received her BA in Judaic Studies at Binghamton University and completed her MA in Jewish Education at the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary. She is also a part of The Jewish Education Project’s Family Engagement Network. Allison is grateful for her husband, Pablo, and son Gavi, who are frequent participants in BJ’s family programs!

Reflections from Colleagues
“Allison has this ability to fasten ideas and awaken them into life through great precision. It is her precision that I am in awe of each day.” - Michael Witman, Director of Family Life and Learning, B'nai Jeshurun

Andrew Davies, The Bible Players and CharacTours

"It is such an honor and a privilege to be named a recipient of this Young Pioneers Award. It makes me feel that my simple idea of using improv and comedy to teach Jewish values, has had a big impact. Further it encourages me to keep dreaming of the Jewish community I want to see, and creating programs to help us get there. As Golda Meir said, 'We must fan the tiny inner sparks of possibility, into great flames of achievement.'"

Andrew Davies is an improviser and facilitator based in Philadelphia, PA where he lives with his wife, Molly, and dog, Ducky. Andrew received a B.A. in English Literature from Brandeis University, went on to study Improvisation at The Magnet Theater, and received a certificate of Facilitation from Georgetown University. In 2011 Andrew co-founded The Bible Players, a comedy team that is improv-ing Jewish Lives. The Bible Players have toured in 25 states, visiting hundreds of camps, schools, and synagogues teaching Jewish Values with a sense of humor. Andrew walks softly and carries a big Shtick! In 2016 Andrew co-founded the non-profit CharacTours, an interactive theatrical walking experience where the past visits you. He is the Executive Director of both The Bible Players and CharacTours. Andrew is honored and grateful to be receiving the Young Pioneers Award from The Jewish Education Project.

Reflections from Colleagues:

"Watching Andrew is watching a master at work. His programs are creative, engaging, full of meaningful content, and consistently high in quality. He raises the game and inspires others, including me, to go above and beyond. I'm so thrilled that Andrew is being recognized for his visionary work. I know I wouldn't be the kind of educator I am today without him!" - Eliana Light, Music Educator, Department of Family Life & Learning at B'nai Jeshurun

Esther DuBow, Schechter School of Long Island

"I know I’m lucky because I love coming to work every day. I know I’m fortunate because I work in a place where that love is returned and my work is appreciated. But knowing that The Jewish Education Project thinks I’m innovative and doing special work to help form Jewish identities, that is truly gratifying."

Esther DuBow is a Jewish Studies teacher and the Special Programs Coordinator at the Schechter School of Long Island. She lives in Manhattan, was born in Brooklyn, and grew up in Woodmere, attending the Yeshiva of Flatbush and HAFTR during her formative years. Esther received a Bachelor of Science in Family Science from the University of Maryland and continued her studies in Jerusalem at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. She completed the Pardes Educators Program and has a Master of Jewish Education from Hebrew College and a Certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies from Pardes. Esther feels like she has found a home at Schechter Long Island and is proud of the work she’s done there since returning from Israel. She uses chavruta learning in all her text classes, asking students to find the everyday relevance in the nuance of traditional Jewish sources to pass on the love of learning that she brings to her craft. In addition to being a classroom teacher, Esther works with other faculty and student leaders to plan and offer exciting programming for the school, always looking for another way to engage the demographic. Outside of school, two of Esther’s loves are theatre and cooking, both of which she has worked to bring to SSLI, whether through class trips to Broadway shows, inclusion of cooking competitions at school events, or the creation of a Jewish Food Culture course wherein upperclassmen explore various world Jewish communities by learning their histories and cooking their foods. The best bit? When students sit down for family dinner every 6th school day at 3:15 pm!

Reflections from Colleagues:

"I couldn't be more proud of Esther DuBow on her receiving The Jewish Education Project Young Pioneers Award. Yet, I am not surprised that she is being recognized as an innovator in Jewish Education. She has the immense power to transform brilliant ideas into engaging curricula, beautiful art, and the most fun activities - all the while driving home the message to our students to take pride in their Judaism, know their traditions and love their community. We are blessed that Esther DuBow has made Schechter School of Long Island her professional home." - Ofra Hiltzik, Upper School Principal, Schechter School of Long Island