Chidush Lessons Plans

Chidush Awards 'a Push' for Educators
By Kathryn Bernheimer
IJN Boulder Correspondent

"Jewish educators are not used to tooting their own horn," Fran Weaver observes, noting the relatively small number of teachers who presented themselves for consideration for the second annual Chidush Awards. But tooting the horn for Jewish education is what the Chidush Awards are all about. A project of the Weaver Family Foundation, in cooperation with CAJE and the Boulder Jewish Community Foundation, the Chidush Awards are an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding Jewish educators working in the Boulder community. "They need a little push," Weaver says during an interview with the IJN. "The award is there because I want to focus attention on Jewish education in Boulder. I want to build confidence in the teachers. I want them to feel good about what they are doing." There is a national effort to search out and recognize good Jewish educators. Many Jewish educators teach on the side, while they are in school or involved in other careers. The idea is to make Jewish education a more attractive career option. "We want to encourage teachers to take the work seriously, so that they will motivate their students. We want to reward educators who teach with a Jewish neshamah."

The three teachers with a Jewish neshamah honored this year at the awards ceremony held this week at the Boulder JCC were an-nounced in advance. Weaver explains: "Last year some people didn't like not knowing who the winner was ahead of time. It was too much like the Academy Awards. So we moved the schedule up to be able to announce them in advance." Adena Shoshan and Eliyahu Krigel won this year's Chidush awards. An additional honor was given to long-time Boulder Jewish educator, Sue Hartnett at the second annual "Chidush: Sweetening Jewish Education" presentation. Another change this year was in response to some confusion last year about whether the award was for excellence or innovation. This year the award focused on innovation, on the belief that excellence is harder to judge and quantify. The eight-member selection committee spent less time meeting with teachers and focused more on their projects. The application form was shortened and the rating sheet was changed to reflect the emphasis on innovation. One of the main goals this year was to build the teacher resource collection at HaSifria, the JCC library, by providing teachers with practical hands-on ideas to refer to when planning lessons. "Our award winning projects that we would like to share with you this evening both reflect a love of Judaism, a series of positive experiences, an infusion of Jewish values into other parts of life and a community of Jewish learners and teachers who are enjoying what they are doing," said Weaver. At the ceremony, at which Rabbi Jack Gabriel served as emcee and minstrel, and Sheldon Sands supplied piano music, Weaver asked: How does a teacher know if he or she is doing a good job? How does one know whether the kids are getting it? Weaver began her answer with a personal anecdote about her second daughter, Becca, now a college freshman. "About the middle of March, I received an e-mail when I woke up in the morning. "'Mom, So as I was brushing my teeth tonight I was talking with this girl Pam, from down the hall. She was saying how she has to do the dvar torah for tomorrow night and she hasn't started writing it yet. "'Then she left and I continued to brush my teeth - which has proven many times to be the best thinking activity for me - and I came up with a great idea for a dvar torah! So I ran to her room and asked her if I could do it. "'She was thrilled that the task was off her shoulders and said sure. So I wrote it in the next hour and now I want you to read it. Make any feedback that you want. Hopefully you will read it and e-mail me back before Shabbat starts. "I leave for Hillel at 5:30 (that's 4:30 your time). I love you! Becca.'"

Weaver commented that peoples do not always know whether they are doing a good job educating their children Jewishly, at least not right away. "Yes there have been studies saying that Jewish day school, Jewish overnight camps and teen trips to Israel reap more involved adult Jews. But basically, we do the best we can to provide multiple positive Jewish experiences with our children. We are good models to our children, and we do a lot of praying!"

The awards began with Adena Shoshan, who was recognized for her Mitzvot, Tzedakah, and Tikkun Olam curriculum, which she described after Weaver's introduction. Shoshan came to Boulder from Har Shalom in Fort Collins and is presently a graduate student at Naropa. She had a grandmother who was Jewish and she became intrigued as she was growing up with searching out her family heritage. Her Jewish and educational journey took her to Boulder. She teaches for both Bonai Shalom and Jewish Renewal Community of Boulder. Eliyahu Krigel was honored for a retreat manual for helping B'nai Mitzvah kids connect to each other while at the same time appreciating the environment from a Jewish perspective. Krigel is director of education at Ma'ayan Chayim, the Conservative United Synagogue School of Excellence affiliated with Bonai Shalom. Eliyahu is also a program director at the Boulder JCC "Celebrations." He coordinates the Derech Hayim introduction to Judaism class in Boulder and is also an advisor for the Kadima youth group in Boulder. He is a candidate for a Masters in Jewish Education through the Jewish Theological Seminary's online degree program.

The awards ended with a tribute to Sue Hartnett, presented by former JCC pre-school director Judy Morosohk. Hartnett has worked for the past 10 years at Har HaShem, JRCB and the JCC preschool and camp. She has taught games, responsibility and songs. Weaver called her "one of those unsung heroes in our community who has made an impact on Boulder Jewish education and Jewish learners, especially our smallest ones. She has made an imprint on our hearts that will remain for many years after she leaves Boulder." The evening ended with songs by Hartnett and Holly Berman and by Rabbi Gabriel.