"A new generation is growing up in a secular world that too often values youth over maturity, impulse over contemplation, and glorification of violence over reasoned debate. Such an environment makes the goals of a Jewish day school education more vital than ever to reinforce and perpetuate the intellectual, spiritual and ethical values of the Jewish people. Talented educators are at the frontlines of this effort."

Lowell Milken
Co-Founder, Milken Family Foundation

The Milken Family Foundation, in cooperation with BJE, established the Jewish Educator Awards program in 1990 as an adjunct to the Foundation's Milken National Educator Awards program.

Each year, the program gives public recognition and financial awards to four teachers, administrators and other education professionals who have made significant contributions to excellence in education in day schools affiliated with BJE.

These educators reflect the highest ideals of Jewish and secular education, fostering the lifelong pursuit of knowledge and nurturing a value system that can guide students through adulthood.

Recipients also demonstrate an outstanding ability to develop Jewish children's understanding of the connections between their religion, their classroom activities and their life outside of school.

An exciting extension of the partnership between the Milken Family Foundation and the BJE is the Jewish Educator Awards Student Essay Contest. Participation is open to middle and high school students at BJE-affiliated schools. As with the Jewish Educator Awards, recognition of excellence is an important part of the competition, which presents an unrestricted gift of $1,800 to the schools of the prize-winning essayists. In addition, each of the two student winners will have the opportunity to designate a $500 contribution to the charity of his or her choice. Topics and judges are announced each fall. Read last year's winning essays.

2011 Recipients' Photos

2011 Recipients' Videos