Coalition for Jewish Learning
2026 Salute to Jewish Educators
Annual celebration of Jewish Educators and Professionals in Milwaukee.
2026 Salute to Jewish Educators
EVENT DETAILS
Sunday, MARCH 15, 2026
1:00 – 3:00 PM Program
Daniel M. Soref Community Hall
Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC
6255 N. Santa Monica Blvd.
EVENT REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
Annual Teacher Recognition
Each year, CJL honors the dedicated teachers, principals, and education professionals who shape Jewish life and learning across our community.
2026 NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Teacher Impact Award
This award honors a teacher who has made a unique and meaningful impact in their school community. Unlike a “Best Teacher” award, this recognition celebrates a teacher’s exceptional contributions in areas such as mentoring, innovation, supporting others, or any other distinctive way they have gone above and beyond in their role.
School Support Award
This award is presented to a non-teacher—such as an administrator, staff member, volunteer, or aide—who has made a significant and positive contribution to the school community. It recognizes their exceptional dedication and the unique impact they have had in supporting and enriching the school experience.
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
The Levy Family CJL Jewish Educator of the Year
The Milwaukee Jewish community is blessed with superb Jewish educators and CJL wishes to highlight their contributions and thereby elevate the status of Jewish educators in Milwaukee. This award enables our community to show gratitude for all the time, effort and care our best educators give to their students.
The award recognizes nominees who:
- Have been engaged in Jewish education for a minimum of five years in Milwaukee.
- Demonstrate leadership within the field of Jewish education.
- Inspire students with a love for Jewish learning.
- Personify the Jewish ideals of love of learning and search for knowledge.
- Have contributed to the elevation of the status of Jewish educators within the Jewish community.
- Engaged in the delivery of Jewish content on an ongoing basis.
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Jerry Benjamin Inspiration Award for Informal Jewish Education
The award is in memory of Jerry Benjamin. Jerry, CJL Lifetime Impact Award winner and past president of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, was the cofounder of CAJE, the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education. He inspired thousands of Jewish educators through his work in Milwaukee and around the world. This award is a tribute to his passion about Jewish education.
Each year at the Educator Recognition Event CJL honors teachers from local schools. We recognize that important Jewish education also happens in INFORMAL settings and OUTSIDE the classroom.
Informal education includes camps, youth groups, art programs, environmental education, Jewish travel programs, and all other types of Jewish education happening outside of a classroom environment.
The Inspiration Award enables our community to recognize excellence and innovation in informal education.
The award recognizes nominees who:
- Are involved in informal (outside the classroom) Jewish education in Milwaukee.
- Demonstrate leadership within the field of informal Jewish education.
- Inspires participants to be their best Jewish selves.
- Personifies Jewish values in action.
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
The Gill Incentive For Teachers (GIFT)
The Gill Incentive For Teachers is an award designed to stimulate and encourage teachers to translate their unique educational ideas and initiatives into effective classroom projects. This award is for a project completed during the 2023-2024 school years in Milwaukee.
Proposals may focus on one of these areas:
- School/classroom culture
- Teaching/learning materials
- Enrichment activities, including special one-time class/school projects
- Creative lessons
Maximum award is $1,000, which may be divided among multiple winners.
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
VIEW PAST WINNERS
2025 Winners
Lifetime Impact Award
Merzy Eisenberg
Milwaukee Jewish Day School
CJL Levy Family Jewish Educator of the Year Award
Roger Carp
Congregation Shalom
Jerry Benjamin Inspiration Award for Informal Education
Levi Stein
Friendship Circle
Gill Incentive for Teachers (GIFT Award)
Anthony Nash
Gan Ami Mequon
Carrie Barbakoff
Congregation Emanuel-El Waukesha
Chai Award
Staci Maiman
Bader Hillel Academy
Amber Franklin
Congregation Shalom
Rabbi Hiller
Yeshiva Elementary School
Double Chai Award
Miriam Liff
Yeshiva Elementary School
Teacher Impact and School Support Award
Bader Hillel Academy
Rochel Wolvovsky, Teacher Impact Award
Eileen Ilk Higgins, School Support Award
Bader Hillel High
Jessica Allen, Teacher Impact Award
Rivi Hatt, School Support Award
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Tracy Borkin, Teacher Impact Award
Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun
Sara Martin-Henak, Teacher Impact Award
Max Bernstein, School Support Award
Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha
Rachel Gershon, Teacher Impact Award
Pete Koszarek, School Support Award
Congregation Shalom
Susie Rosengarten, Teacher Impact Award
Kevin O’Neill, Jackie O’Neill, and Jacob McElrone, School Support Award
Congregation Sinai Youth Education Program
Jennifer Moglowsky, Teacher Impact Award
Lela Bloomgarden, School Support Award
Gan Ami Early Childhood Education JCC
Elizabeth Kayser, Teacher Impact Award
Rachel Macagon, School Support Award
Gan Ami Mequon
Anthony Nash, Teacher Impact Award
Laura Aprill, School Support Award
Jewish Beginnings
Doba Friedman, Teacher Impact Award
Shoshi Keiser, School Support Award
Mequon Jewish Preschool
Jin Stockton, Teacher Impact Award
Benny Rokni, School Support Award
Milwaukee Community Hebrew School
Sara Zemel, Teacher Impact Award
Shawn Bojan, School Support Award
Milwaukee Jewish Day School
Jim Salinsky, Teacher Impact Award
Michal Deskalo, School Support Award
Pelz Hebrew School
Sarah Baram, Teacher Impact Award
Rivky Lazaroff, School Support Award
Torah Academy of Milwaukee
Yael Stein, Teacher Impact Award
Linda Chernin, School Support Award
Torah Tots Preschool
Danielle McDonald, Teacher Impact Award
Steven Guth, School Support Award
Yeshiva Elementary School
Tricia Lewinsky, Teacher Impact Award
Mrs. Grande, School Support Award
2024 Winners
Lifetime Impact Award
Cantor Karen Berman
Congregation Shalom
CJL Levy Family Jewish Educator of the Year Award
Chava Edelman
Milwaukee Community Hebrew School
Jerry Benjamin Inspiration Award for Informal Education
Rabbi Dov Ber Smith
Every Jew is Awesome
Gill Incentive for Teachers (GIFT Award)
Cindy Cooper
Congregation Sinai (Yahrzeit Lamps)
Yonina Schlussel, Mara Kleiman, Bobby Ehrlich
Milwaukee Jewish Day School (Empowering Successful Jewish Studies Culture)
Double Chai Award
Gilah Saltzman
Yeshiva Elementary School
Joyce Gutzke
Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun
Tziporah Altman-Shafer
Coalition for Jewish Learning
Teacher Impact and School Support Award
Bader Hillel Academy
Brittni Clark, Teacher Impact Award
Chaya Schechter, School Support Award
Bader Hillel High
Mitchell Lechter, School Support Award
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Jodie Honigman, Teacher Impact Award
Michael Johnson, School Support Award
Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun
Jess Plotkin-Sell, Teacher Impact Award
Audrie Berman, School Support Award
Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha
Andi Patz and Deb Hacker, School Support Award
Congregation Shalom
Nicole Boico, Teacher Impact Award
Mandy Wienke, School Support Award
Congregation Sinai Youth Education Program
Lori Fisher, Teacher Impact Award
Bennett Friedman, School Support Award
Gan Ami Early Childhood Education JCC
Jessie Piraino, Teacher Impact Award
Amy Pequignot, School Support Award
Gan Ami Mequon
Mariela Guerreo, Teacher Impact Award
Ryliee Boeck, School Support Award
Jewish Beginnings
Kerri Bergren, Teacher Impact Award
Rivka Abuya, School Support Award
Jewish Kids Club
Breiny Lipskier and Shaina Brownstein, Teacher Impact Award
Aliya Porrus-Diamond, School Support Award
Milwaukee Jewish Day School
Linsey Kimmel, Teacher Impact Award
Susan Gray, School Support Award
Mequon Jewish Preschool
Cassie Tompkins, Teacher Impact Award
Janice Levy, School Support Award
Milwaukee Community Hebrew School
Tova Tornek, Teacher Impact Award
Chaya Schechter, School Support Award
Pelz Hebrew School
Esther Groner, Teacher Impact Award
Torah Academy of Milwaukee
Gitty Kramer, Teacher Impact Award
Nechama Sklar, School Support Award
Yeshiva Elementary School
Sandra Boersma, Teacher Impact Award
Zachary Williams, School Support Award
BINAH Cohort
Nicole Boico
Shelly Eiland
Karen Faust
Cindi Hammel
Mandy Singh
2023 Winners
Lifetime Impact Award
Dr. Sherry Blumberg
CJL Levy Family Jewish Educator of the Year Award
Marilyn Franklin
Congregation Shalom
Jerry Benjamin Inspiration Award for Informal Education
Toni Davison Levenberg
Steve and Shari Sadek Family Camp Interlaken JCC
Gill Incentive for Teachers (GIFT Award)
Towards Inclusion- Jewish Disability Awareness Month:
Stephanie Brauner
Bader Hillel Academy
Leah Stein
Friendship Circle
Jewish Studies elective class on Israel’s declaration of Independence:
Moria Lehman
Milwaukee Jewish Day School
Teacher Impact Award and School Support Award
Bader Hillel Academy
Judy Pierson, Teacher Impact Award
Lesley Boaz-Sharon, School Support Award
Bader Hillel High
Rabbi Dovid Rechavel, Teacher Impact Award
Mitchell Lechter, School Support Award
Chabad Hebrew School of Glendale & River Hills
Leah Berendt, Teacher Impact Award
Congregation Beth El, Sheboygan
Craig Buechel, School Support Award
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid School of Jewish Studies
Jacob Rosenberg, Teacher Impact Award
Terri Gingold, School Support Award
Congregation Emanu El B’ne Jeshurun
Beth Clement, Teacher Impact Award
Michael Saldana, School Support Award
Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha
Cantor Martin Levson, Teacher Impact Award
Elizabeth Hamlin, School Support Award
Congregation Shalom
Erica Fishbach, Teacher Impact Award
Justin Altman, School Support Award
Congregation Sinai
Cindy Cooper, Teacher Impact Award
Jeri Danz, School Support Award
Gan Ami Early Childhood Education Program
Rachel Wittliff, Teacher Impact Award
Cindy Gorman, Teacher Impact Award
Jewish Beginnings Lubavitch Preschool
Pam Goldner, Teacher Impact Award
Janine Bridgford, School Support Award
Mequon Jewish Preschool
Courtney Dandy, Teacher Impact Award
Janet Levy, School Support Award
Queenie Weesen, School Support Award
Milwaukee Community Hebrew School
Sarah Miriam Fuchs, Teacher Impact Award
Shoshana Levy, School Support Award
Milwaukee Jewish Day School
Karin Damico, Teacher Impact Award
Doug Haaning, School Support Award
Pelz Hebrew School
Chana Feller, Teacher Impact Award
Chaya Goldstein, School Support Award
Torah Academy of Milwaukee
Shulamis Halpern, Teacher Impact Award
Beth Meister, School Support Award
Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study
Amelia Schmidt l’z, School Support Award
Yeshiva Elementary School
Emily Lohr, Teacher Impact Award
Gilah Saltzman, Teacher Impact Award
Esther Bulgatz, School Support Award
Chai Award
Lora Vexler
Stephanie Brauner
Debbie Intravaia
Double Chai Award
Susie Rosengarten
BINAH Cohort
Carrie Barbakoff
Dena Krinsky
Michelle Petrova
Heather Spencer
Jennifer Walker
2020 Winners
Lifetime Impact Award
Steve Baruch
Former director of the Coalition for Jewish Learning
Levy Family CJL Jewish Educator of the Year Award
Yael Gal-Ben Yitschak
Nicolet High School and UWM
The Jerry Benjamin Inspiration Award for Informal Jewish Education
Debbie Intravaia
Beth El Sheboygan and Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Lisa Hiller and Sarah Frank
Torah Academy of Milwaukee
Gill Incentive for Teachers (GIFT Award)
Jodie Honigman
Milwaukee Jewish Day School
Sherry Miller and Tamara Miller
Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun
Teacher Impact Award and School Support Award
Bader Hillel Academy
Batya Landes, Teacher Impact Award
Juliya Lotman, School Support Award
Bader Hillel High
Rabbi Yehoshua Landes, Teacher Impact Award
Pessel Jacobs, School Support Award
Congregation Beth El, Sheboygan
Maria Bruss, Teacher Impact Award
Britany Buechel, School Support Award
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid School of Jewish Studies
Diane Boland, Teacher Impact Award
Erika Billings, School Support Award
Congregation Emanu El B’ne Jeshurun
Jennifer Saber, Teacher Impact Award
M’Johno Foster, School Support Award
Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha
Marie Loeffler, Teacher Impact Award
Zackary Jauquet, School Support Award
Congregation Shalom
Roger Carp, Teacher Impact Award
Linda Berlin, School Support Award
Congregation Sinai
Lisa Vondra, Teacher Impact Award
Natalie Black, School Support Award
Gan Ami Early Childhood Education Program
Haley Butler, Teacher Impact Award
Lauren Pollack, Teacher Impact Award
Jody Margolis, School Support Award
Jewish Beginnings Lubavitch Preschool
Suzanne Beck, Teacher Impact Award
Sarah Jensen, School Support Award
Mequon Jewish Preschool
Hindy Spalter, Teacher Impact Award
Jacquelyn Bluma, School Support Award
Milwaukee Community Hebrew School
Dina Rechavel, Teacher Impact Award
Avigial Saacks, School Support Award
Milwaukee Jewish Day School
Dacy Jirovetz, Teacher Impact Award
David Atias, School Support Award
Pelz Hebrew School
Mushkie Rapoport, Teacher Impact Award
Moussie Feller, School Support Award
Torah Academy of Milwaukee
Michele Merens, Teacher Impact Award
Elisheva Appel, School Support Award
Yeshiva Elementary School
Cori Aronow, Teacher Impact Award
Rabbi Hersh Hiller, School Support Award
Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study
Earl Lebokken, Teacher Impact Award
Denise Metzger, School Support Award
Chai Award
Hagit Aslack
Kati Ellis
Rachel Macagon
Beth Meister
Sandy Ruesink
Double Chai Award
Batya Landes
BINAH Graduates
Roger Carp
Debbie Intravaia
Molly Beth Kranitz
Marie Loeffler
Richard Paler
Beth Rapoport
Lexie Sittsamer
Karen Torem
Lisa Vondra
2019 Winners
Lifetime Impact Award
Rabbi Nachman Levine
Bader Hillel Academy
Grinspoon CJL Jewish Educator of the Year Award
Debbie Silberman
Gan Ami Early Childhood Center
Inspiration Award for Informal Education
Rachael Badt
BBYO – Wisconsin Region
Rabbi Emanuel & Deborah Lifshutz Mitzvah Award
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid and Tikkun Ha-Ir team of educators:
Jen Saber
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Sami Stein Avner
Tikkun Ha-Ir
Cindy Cooper
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Heidi Gould
Jewish Community Food Pantry
Robyn Miller
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Yael Stein
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Helene Weisz
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Gill Incentive for Teachers (GIFT Award)
The Mequon Jewish Preschool Team:
Rivkie Spalter
Rabbi Sholom Ber Munitz
Kreinie Tiefenbrun
Dr. Naama Zoran (consultant)
Teacher Impact Award and School Support Award
Bader Hillel Academy
Randi Kramer, Teacher Impact AwardOra (Laura) Gross, School Support Award
Bader Hillel High
Brian Geary, Teacher Impact Award
Tova Noll, School Support Award
Congregation Beth El, Sheboygan
Marc Revenson, School Support Award
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid School of Jewish Studies
Tarin Gordon, Teacher Impact Award
Erika Billings, School Support Award
Congregation Emanu El B’ne Jeshurun
Beth Rapaport, Teacher Impact Award
Tiffani Zahradnik, School Support Award
Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha
Ann Meyers, Teacher Impact Award
Joe Dailey, School Support Award
Congregation Shalom
Amber Franklin, Teacher Impact Award
Ari Glasstein, School Support Award
Congregation Sinai
Shlomit Germanski, Teacher Impact Award
Josh Parkes, School Support Award
Gan Ami Early Childhood Education Program
Jenny Paredes, Teacher Impact Award
Ronna Ruffin, Teacher Impact Award
Susie Hayes, School Support Award
Jewish Beginnings Lubavitch Preschool
Kaitlyn Clemens, Teacher Impact Award
Gladys Shukur, School Support Award
Mequon Jewish Preschool
Marybeth Studelska, Teacher Impact Award
Andi Rabenn, School Support Award
Milwaukee Community Hebrew School
Sara Abrams, Teacher Impact Award
Harry and Sadie Edelstein, School Support Award
Milwaukee Jewish Day School
Mara Kleiman, Teacher Impact Award
Tommy Rice, School Support Award
Pelz Hebrew School
Miriam Spalter, Teacher Impact Award
Saraleah Lakritz, School Support Award
Torah Academy of Milwaukee
Eva Zussman, Teacher Impact Award
Robi Borsuk, School Support Award
Yeshiva Elementary School
Emily Lohr, Teacher Impact Award
Kathy Phenis, School Support Award
Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study
Amelia Schmidt, School Support Award
Chai Award
Irina Brekman
Shlomit Germanski
Mari-Claire Zimmerman
2018 Winners
Lifetime Impact Award
Jerry Benjamin
CJL Grinspoon Jewish Educator of the Year
Ellie Gettinger
Jewish Museum Milwaukee
Inspiration Award for Informal Education
Rabbi Avremi Schapiro
Camp Gan Israel, CTeen Milwaukee
Rabbi Emanuel & Deborah Lifshutz Mitzvah Award
Rona Wolfe
Milwaukee Jewish Day School
Gill Incentive for Teachers (GIFT Award)
Leah Emmer and Chaya Mann
Bader Hillel Academy
Gill Incentive for Teachers (GIFT Award)
Yael Stein
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid
Teacher Impact Award and School Support Award
Bader Hillel Academy
Jacqueline Cabessa Redlich, Teacher Impact Award
Jennifer Amram, School Support Award
Bader Hillel High
Rebecca Berger, Teacher Impact Award
Dr. Shimon Salama, School Support Award
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid School of Jewish Studies
Sara Martin, Teacher Impact Award
Marlynn Brick, School Support Award
Congregation Emanu El B’ne Jeshurun
Susan Edelstein, Teacher Impact Award
Jody Lansing, School Support Award
Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha
Ilene Jauquet, Teacher Impact Award
Andi Patz, Tabb Patz and Loren Schmidt, School Support Award
Congregation Shalom
Terry Salpeter, Teacher Impact Award
Sophie Gilbert, School Support Award
Congregation Sinai
Marilyn Kraar, Teacher Impact Award
Velia Tarnoff, School Support Award
Gan Ami Early Childhood Education Program
Rachelle Schneider and Mandy Singh, Teacher Impact Award
Diana Turner, School Support Award
JCC Kids Center
Judi Viljoen, Teacher Impact Award
Jewish Beginnings Lubavitch Preschool
Marnie Atias, Teacher Impact Award
Amanda Wiedholz, School Support Award
Mequon Jewish Preschool
Ann Becker, Teacher Impact Award
Janelle Shalelashvili, School Support Award
Milwaukee Community Hebrew School
Leah Harlig, Teacher Impact Award
Rochel Leah Stein, School Support Award
Milwaukee Jewish Day School
Noah Kaufman, Teacher Impact Award
Florence Steinberger, School Support Award
Pelz Hebrew School
Liora Bushee, Teacher Impact Award
Dobie Rapoport and Shira Weinstein, School Support Award
Torah Academy of Milwaukee
Eva Zussman, Teacher Impact Award
Linda Chernin, School Support Award
Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study (WITS)
Rabbi Yitzchak Shapiro, Teacher Impact Award
Mrs. Denise Metzger, School Support Award
Yeshiva Elementary School
Sandra Boersma and Nicole Anderson, Teacher Impact Award
Beth Meister, School Support Award
Chai Award
Deborah Braatz
Double Chai Award
Lori Katz