Young Pioneers Award Reflection: Phreddy Nosanwisch
A short time ago, in a world far different, I had the pleasure of meeting four other incredible educators – Lauren Belferder, Carly Namdar, Dina Newman, and Jonathan Shmidt Chapman along with their colleagues/mentors/supervisors, and the team at The Jewish Education Project who had chosen to recognize and celebrate how we educate. I can already see how much more visionary The Jewish Education Project is than I realized then.
Once upon a time, Shmuel, the prophet, was deeply troubled by the failure of national leadership in a crucial moment. So, G-d sent him to anoint a new king.
When Shmuel saw Yishai’s oldest child, Eliav, he thought to himself: “Definite King material!” But G-d chimed in: “Don’t be overwhelmed by his beauty. Humans can only see what is visible, but HaShem sees into the heart.” כִּ֣י לֹ֗א אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִרְאֶה֙ הָאָדָ֔ם כִּ֤י הָֽאָדָם֙ יִרְאֶ֣ה לַעֵינַ֔יִם וַיהוָ֖ה יִרְאֶ֥ה לַלֵּבָֽב׃ (I Samuel 16:7)
Shmuel went down the line of Yishai’s children – each more beautiful, successful, and talented than the last. But no one was the right one. “Is that all of them?” he asked.
“All but the youngest,” Yishai responded. “He is busy caring for the flock.”
And that’s who G-d chose to lead the nation: David, the caregiver.
Later, the caregiver volunteered to confront a great ill, but Shaul, the king, scoffed. “You’re too young; it’s too dangerous.” And David replied, “Your servant has been caring for his parent’s sheep, and if a lion or a bear came and carried off an animal [a single animal!] from the flock, I would go after it and fight it and rescue it from its mouth.” (I Samuel 17:34-35)
Schools are the most radical places in our world. At their best, they are places where each and every individual is welcomed, nurtured, challenged, and cared for. This essential, transformative and healing work is typically not foremost in our cultural dialogue.
And yet, two weeks ago, the whole nation finally saw what The Jewish Education Project has had eyes to see for a long, long time: that our schools and educators do more than teach the aleph-bet: they care for people – intellectually, spiritually, and often physically as well.
And yet, two weeks ago, the whole nation finally saw what The Jewish Education Project has had eyes to see for a long, long time: that our schools and educators do more than teach the aleph-bet: they care for people – intellectually, spiritually, and often physically as well. For every population and neighborhood, a closed school means something different. But in every place, a school – be it public, day or congregational – means something. Means multitudes.
Moshe didn’t meet G-d when he was a prince nor even when fighting injustice with his fists. He met G-d when he was a shepherd, a caregiver. If Moshe enjoyed his time exploring the vastness of the heavens and the earth with his chatty flock of sheep half as much as I enjoy exploring Infinity with my students, I understand how he learned to see G-d in every nook and cranny.
In this moment, it is clearer than ever that we as people and as a people (the Jewish people) are interdependent, and that by healing, educating, liberating, or caring for one, we benefit all. Maybe that’s why the words care-giving and care-taking mean the same thing.
The Coronavirus has revealed so many hidden vulnerabilities. Lauren, Carly, Dina and Jonathan are people who spend each day revealing hidden strengths, making success accessible, and empowering everyone in their care to stand up to whatever the moment brings. These and those like them are the people I want to midwife our future.
Over the past three weeks, I have watched in amazement (through the relative safety of my email inbox) as The Jewish Education Project has prepared and equipped them and educator like them across the globe to rise and respond to an unprecedented opportunity to bring Torah (in its broadest and most expansive definition possible), connection, and care through every wall and barrier.
I feel so blessed to be counted among the other Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneer Award recipients and so thankful to everyone at The Jewish Education Project and all of you who support it and who recognize (I’m paraphrasing I Samuel 16:7 again) that the strength of our interdependence does not rely on how we interact with the surface (or surfaces) but rather what emanates from our hearts.
Phreddy Nosanwisch is one of five recipients of The Jewish Education Project's 2020 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award. He is a fifth-grade educator at Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale. Celebrate Phreddy at The Jewish Education Project's Virtual Benefit on April 2nd at 7:00 pm EDT.
