Mayberg Foundation

It's always wonderful for us to see our partners advancing the field of Jewish day school education — especially when two of them work together to achieve that goal! Read the interview between Prizmah's Odelia Epstein and Hillel at The George Washington University's Adena Kirstein here: https://bit.ly/3XwaKtB

We are grateful to our partners at Aish for their tireless efforts in bringing so many Jews closer to Judaism. We are proud to support their annual Professional Development Conference, which provides their educators from around the world with much needed inspiration, learning, and connection, empowering them to continue proliferating Jewish wisdom and values in the contemporary world.

We are pleased to share that Rachel Jackowitz Berezin has been appointed as the first-ever CEO of our partner, MyZuzah.??With 18 years of experience in Jewish communal leadership, Rachel brings a wealth of expertise in strategy, fundraising, and community engagement. Her leadership comes at a pivotal moment as MyZuzah continues to expand its global impact, ensuring that more Jewish homes around the world are connected through the tradition of mezuzah.? “Bringing on Rachel to steer the future course of MyZuzah comes at just the right time to move this dynamic organization to its next phase of its development,” said Mayberg Foundation Trustee Manette Mayberg.? “We are confident that Rachel will take MyZuzah to the next level and beyond. She has a gift for engaging people that will serve MyZuzah well,” said Executive Director Todd J. Sukol. We are proud to support MyZuzah in this next phase of growth. Read more about this important milestone here: https://lnkd.in/ehUxVGY4?

"Building our students’ Jewish identity and self-esteem, based on the teaching, 'love your neighbor as yourself,’ creates school and community cultures that deeply reflect the values and wisdom that have sustained us for thousands of years.” That was the message Manette Mayberg, trustee of the Mayberg Foundation, delivered to 50 female educators who attended the Amatz Initiative’s 2025 Winter Conference. With the theme “We Are One Together,” the conference emphasized community-building among principals, staff, and students. The AMATZ Initiative, co-founded by Michele Weiss, Leba Schwebel, and Tzippy Reifer, is a Mayberg Foundation partner program that works in yeshivas and Jewish day schools to foster students’ emotional, intellectual, and spiritual connections to Hashem.

We applaud The Zionist Federation of Australia President Jeremy Leibler on his recent Jerusalem Post opinion piece, in which he states that the?? Jewish philanthropic response to October 7 and the resurgence in Jewish peoplehood that followed, need to focus on more than combating antisemitism. It must involve "serious investment in Jewish education and literacy – creating pathways for people, young and old, to develop a meaningful engagement with Jewish tradition. If we can achieve this, we will not only fight antisemitism–we will build something much stronger in its place." Serious investment in Jewish education and literacy is at the core of our mission of creating a vibrant Jewish future rooted in foundational Jewish principals and inclusive of diverse perspectives. The most impactful response to antisemitism is an unshakeable Jewish identity, which can only be achieved through meaningful Jewish education and experiences.

How can educators design a focused and meaningful Tanach curriculum? According to Jewish Day School Standards and Benchmarks Academic Director Cindy Reich, PhD, and Director of Field Operations Aviva Silverman, MA, using clear lenses and focus allows teachers to deepen student understanding and make Tanach study more relevant and impactful. Their insights are featured in a "Jewish Education Leadership" journal article by The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education . Jewish Day School Standards and Benchmarks, a program of the Davidson School at The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) and a Mayberg Foundation partner, supports schools in creating standards-based learning. This approach helps schools clarify their vision, align teaching goals, and engage students more deeply with foundational texts.?

Our partner, master educator, author and Orayta Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi David Aaron David, is joining The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education Lookstein Center team for a master class on a topic that is core to our mission and values: Welcoming God Into our Classrooms. ?? Educators working in Jewish educational settings can participate in a five-part lecture series, taking place March 17th-31st. ?? Jewish studies staff, principals, and heads of school currently working in Jewish day schools are invited to a full day in-person retreat in Greenwich, Connecticut on Sunday, April 27th or on Monday, April 28th. The retreat offers a smaller group setting with inspiring lectures, intimate conversation, and greater opportunity for questions, discussions, and connection. See the link below for complete details and to register.

We are proud to share that Jewish Education Innovation Challenge Managing Director Sharon Freundel's article about making Midrash learning a more engaging and meaningful experience for middle school students has been published in The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education's journal, "Jewish Educational Leadership." We are grateful to Sharon for her continued leadership in the field of Jewish education and her passion for catalyzing radical improvement in the Jewish day schools.

We are so grateful to all of our partners who provide high quality professional development to our Jewish day school educators, ensuring the highest level of excellence and the most meaningful and impactful Jewish experience for our students.

At the Prizmah Conference, Mayberg Foundation Trustee Manette Mayberg and Executive Director Todd J. Sukol enjoyed sessions led by some of our valued partners, such as:? ?? Hadar's Pedagogy of Partnership (PoP): Dr. Orit Kent and Allison Cook shared PoP’s philosophy on chavruta learning, and Dr. Kent facilitated a powerful discussion with students about how the PoP model has shaped their Judaic studies experience.? ?? Lifnai V’Lifnim: Rabbi Yehuda Chanales led an interactive session exploring ways to engage both the hearts and minds of students in Tanach study.?