The Jewish Education Project Announces Young Pioneers Award 2020 Recipients

Recipients of the 2020 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award.

The Jewish Education Project has announced the next cohort of New York-based educators to be honored with the organization’s Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award. This year’s five award recipients have created fresh and engaging Jewish learning experiences that inspire and empower children, teens and families. Their innovations include immersive Jewish theater experiences for children ages 2-6, curricula for teens and preteens that integrate pop culture and Jewish history, and creating a school wide culture rooted in positive psychology and Jewish tradition and wisdom. The recipients of this year’s Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award are:

Lauren Belferder, Temple Sinai of Roslyn
Carly Namdar, Hebrew Academy of Long Beach
Dina Newman, Congregation Rodeph Sholom
Phreddy Nosanwisch, Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale
Jonathan Shmidt Chapman, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah.

“The recipients of the Young Pioneers Award are young Jewish educators who are motivating and inspiring students by fusing the best pedagogies with Jewish wisdom and tradition,” says David Bryfman, CEO of The Jewish Education Project. “These educators are deeply committed to the students, families, and institutions they serve. Their work transforms Jewish education every day and we cannot wait to see how they will elevate the field of Jewish education in the future. Their impact stretches beyond metropolitan New York and truly permeates every corner of the Jewish world.”

The recipients of the 9^th annual Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award will be recognized at The Jewish Education Project’s annual Benefit, on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in New York City.

The award recipients will receive a $1,000 professional development stipend.

The Young Pioneers Award is named for Robert M. Sherman, the CEO of The Jewish Education Project from 2007 until July 2019. Since 2012, the Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award has recognized 40 Jewish educators from greater New York that push the boundaries in Jewish education. Recipients work in Jewish educational spaces ranging from traditional school settings to camps, seminaries, and private foundations.

This year’s Jewish Education Project Benefit will also celebrate two generations of leadership, Fred Claar and Lois Kohn-Claar, for their exemplary commitment and vision to empower the youth of today and tomorrow.