About 250 teachers, school principals and educational leaders from dozens of Jewish schools and communities around the world arrived in Israel to participate in the Global Jewish Educators Conference, held this week in Jerusalem under the leadership of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. They were joined by 100 Israeli educators and school administrators as part of a collaboration with the Education Ministry.
Eight Jewish teachers from the Diaspora received the Global Jewish Teachers Award, presented for the first time at the conference's gala Monday evening in the presence of President Isaac Herzog and Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli.
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Eight Jewish teachers from the Diaspora received the Global Jewish Teachers Award
(Photo: Yuval Yosef, GPO)
The recipients were Rabbi Zvi Lew of the United States, Tal Katan of South Africa, Meir Bonito of Mexico, Anat Kemp of the United States, Raquel Hakim of Argentina, Dina Jacobson of England, Marina Grushevskaya of Russia and Rachel Israelovitch of France.
The Global Jewish Teachers Award is a joint initiative of the Diaspora Affairs Ministry, UnitEd, the World Zionist Organization, Herzog College and the Mayberg Foundation. The winners, selected from more than 200 nominees, were recognized for their contributions to strengthening Jewish identity, deepening young people's connections to Israel and shaping the future of Jewish communities. Each recipient also received a $2,500 grant from the Mayberg Foundation.
The conference is organized through UnitEd, with production by the Prime Minister's Office's State Ceremonies and Events Department.
The gala featured remarks by Miriam Peretz, musical performances by Evyatar Banai and Hilik Frank, and testimonies from Diaspora educators about the challenges they have faced in recent years.
'A little jealous': President Isaac Herzog speaks to teachers from the diaspora
(Credit: GPO)
Herzog opened his remarks by addressing the unexploded munition blast during a school trip in northern Israel. He expressed his condolences to the bereaved family, wished the injured a speedy recovery and offered words of support to their families.
Addressing the educators from Jewish communities around the world, Herzog said: "“Your role as educators is not only to see what is good and positive or beautiful. It is also to see the unique contours and needs of the present, and identify with clarity what needs attention. This means not averting our eyes, but opening them further and further, and it's not always easy."
"Our future as a people depends not only on what happens within each of our communities, but also on the connections that bind them together," Herzog added. "Our continuity depends on our ability to know one another and feel responsible for one another. We cannot thrive as a people, or cultivate a sense of responsibility and solidarity, when we are buried deep in our own echo chambers, when our different parts become parallel lines that never meet. This is where your role as educators and teachers becomes critical."
Herzog also shared his own aspirations for life after the presidency.
"I'll be honest, my heart is filled with a little envy, because I've already announced that, after my term as president, I intend to become a teacher. I plan to join you in the classroom, among the Jewish educators who dedicate their lives to future generations."
Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli told participants at the opening of the conference that: "You, the teachers in Jewish communities around the world, give children the knowledge that they have a place in the story of the Jewish people, that every part of it matters. We here in the State of Israel are committed to being partners in your mission."
Miriam Peretz also addressed the educators, emphasizing the importance of Jewish identity. "You deal with the single greatest foundation in my view – the issue of the identity of the Jewish child in the Diaspora," she said.
Throughout the week, the conference will include discussions, lectures and parallel workshops. Educators will examine the major challenges currently facing Jewish schools and communities worldwide, while sharing knowledge, experiences and professional tools. Participants also will tour the City of David in Jerusalem.
At the conclusion of the conference, they will work in groups to reflect on the knowledge and experiences they have gained and develop practical action plans for applying those insights in their schools, educational networks and communities. The program also includes educational tours of southern Israel, the Gaza border communities and Jerusalem.
President Isaac Herzog addresses the Global Jewish Educators Conference
(Photo: Haim Zach, GPO)
These visits are intended to provide educators with firsthand exposure to innovative educational approaches within Israel's school system, Jewish history and heritage, Zionist initiatives and communities coping with the aftermath of the October 7 attacks.
Avi Cohen Scali, director-general of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, said that "the future of the Jewish people is built every day in schools around the world. Jewish educators are the ones who give the next generation a Jewish identity and a sense of belonging to Israel.
"The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism places great importance on providing educational tools and creating a global network of educators within Jewish communities worldwide. That is why we will continue investing in Jewish education and educators."
Rachel Fink, UnitEd's educational director, said the Global Jewish Teachers Award provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions of Jewish educators. "UnitEd currently works with more than 850 Jewish schools in over 50 countries. Every day, I see the depth and dedication behind the work of teaching, and I have the privilege of meeting devoted teachers for whom educating the next generation is their life's mission," she said.
"This competition is an opportunity for us, as a global community, to stop for a moment and thank them. We are grateful to the Mayberg Foundation, which provides grants to the winning teachers and thereby demonstrates tangible appreciation for their extraordinary contributions."