Dammara Kovnats Hall - 2021 Young Pioneers Award Recipient

Dammara Kovnats Hall was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada) to an Ashkenazi mother and a Jamaican father. After finishing her first degree at the University of Winnipeg, she moved to New York City and completed another degree in Early Childhood Education and Jewish Studies at The City College of New York. Dammara then lived and studied in Israel for two years at the Pardes Institute of Jewish learning studying Talmud Torah where she completed a Masters in Jewish Education through Hebrew College. Currently, Dammara works full-time as a Jewish Studies teacher at Rodeph Sholom School where she strives to create exciting classroom communities that celebrate diversity and inclusion. She is also currently enrolled in the Institute of Culinary Education in a plant based health supportive track. She is also the founder of Jewish Cocktails, a kosher cocktail company that offers mixology classes and services (currently online). In her free time, she enjoys hosting Shabbat meals and riding motorcycles. 

From The Recipient 

"I love sharing Jewish teachings, history and culture. To be celebrated for doing so is truly an honor.  I am humbled to be acknowledged by The Jewish Education Project, an organization that has inspired me and supported my growth with programs that are meaningfully aligned with the Jewish values of chesed, loving connection and tikkun olam, the repair of the world."  

Reflections from Colleagues: 

“Dammara is an educator who teaches from vision and passion. Her creativity, innovation, and dedication to her students is unmatched. She never let go of her passion and vision during the COVID-19 crisis, and her students were the very lucky recipients."

Susan Yammer, Mentor to Dammara, Pardes Day School Educators Program

Video by Shulamit Photo + Video @shulamitphotovideo www.shulamitphotography.com

YOUNG PIONEERS AWARD 2021 | K.M. (DiCo) DICOLANDREA | MELISSA HUME | DAMMARA KOVNATS HALL | PAMELA SCHULLER | AVI SIEGEL