JCUA Education Coordinator Recognized as One of 20 Emerging Jewish Community Leaders

One of JCUA’s own, Miriam Grossman, education coordinator, was recently recognized by the Jewish Educators Assembly (JEA) as an emerging leader in the Jewish community. Below is a news release from JEA about the award and the event honoring Grossman and other young Jewish educators. Learn more about the program Grossman coordinates at JCUA, Judaism and Urban Poverty, at jcua.org/jup.

P.O. Box 413, Broadway & Locust Ave., Cedarhurst, NY 11516
516.569.2537 jewisheducators@jewisheducators.org

20/20 – The Future Is Clear

JEA Celebrates 20 Emerging Leaders of the Jewish Community in Their 20’s

Miriam Grossman, JCUA education coordinator

The Jewish Educators Assembly is pleased to be honoring Miriam Grossman of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs on Sunday evening, Jan. 23, 2011 at the opening night of its 59^th Annual Conference at The Westin Mount Laurel Hotel, Mount Laurel, N.J.

The program will be a celebration of the future as 20 young people who are already making creative and substantive contributions to the Jewish community are recognized.

The honorees represent a broad cross-section of Day Schools, Congregational Schools, Informal Education, Summer Camps, Hillel and the College Campus, and a variety of other Jewish Communal Service Agencies.

The evening will begin at 7:00 p.m. with a Dessert Reception. Each honoree will then be called up and presented individually. A concert will follow featuring the cutting edge sounds of the David Morgan Band with special guest Noah Solomon of Soulfarm. The general community is invited to attend. The cost is $36 per person and advance reservations are required.

The Jewish Educators Assembly is the professional organization of educators in the Conservative movement. Our mission is to promote excellence among educators committed to Conservative Jewish education by advancing professionalism, encouraging leadership, pursuing lifelong learning and building community.

The Annual Conference takes place this year from Sunday, Jan. 23 through Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the Westin Mount Laurel Hotel. More than 150 Principals, Heads of School and educational leaders from across North America will gather to further their professional growth and knowledge.

The theme for this year’s conference is “From Sinai to Cyberspace: Exploring the Impact of Technology on Jewish Education.”

The Jewish Educators Assembly believes that the grooming of a new generation of teachers and leaders to inspire the next generation is critically important to our Jewish future. We take great joy in applauding the talents of these exceptional young leaders.

For Esther Saks and Family, Social Justice is a Way of Life

A colorful quilt by the artist Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, hangs on the wall in the dining room of Esther Saks’ Chicago apartment in Lakeview. Its elements are finely detailed—down to the images of people woven into the fabric. And like the images woven into the quilt, so has the desire to do social justice work been woven into the fabric of who Saks is.

“Living a self-sustaining and self-supporting life is a given, but above that offering one’s resources, time and intelligence to your communities, takes the meaning of life next level,” said Saks. “Our family has always felt that one owes something to your community,” she said.

Saks, 80, shared this passion for social activism with her late husband Alan Saks, and in their 50-year marriage, the couple were deeply committed to many political and social justice movements and activities, and raised four daughters who followed in their footsteps.

“Both my parents and Alan’s parents led by example – we always tried to do the same,” said Saks.

Esther and Alan Saks

JCUA Gets Award for Collaboration, Annual Dinner Coming Up, Get-Out-the-Vote Opportunities and More

Don’t miss out on our latest news! Check out the October JCUA eNewsletter and find out about:

• JCUA receiving an award for collaboration from A Just Harvest
• Our Annual Dinner coming up November 18
• The multiple upcoming get-out-the-vote opportunities through our Define America 2010 campaign
• Other ways to get involved with JCUA

View the newsletter here and share it with your friends!