Press Releases
Honored and Humbled: $18,000 Jewish Educator Awards Take Four Los Angeles Educators by Surprise
Milken Family Foundation celebrates 35 years spotlighting exceptional BJE-affiliated Jewish day school educators
September 30, 2025
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — At riveting school assemblies across Los Angeles County, four exceptional Jewish day school educators were surprised with the news that they had earned the prestigious Jewish Educator Award — an honor that carries an unrestricted $18,000 cash prize. The initiative was created by Lowell Milken and established in 1990 as a partnership between the Milken Family Foundation and Builders of Jewish Education (BJE). Today, there are 157 Jewish Educator Award recipients spanning the length of the initiative.
Milken Family Foundation Executive Vice President Richard Sandler, joined by BJE Chief Executive Officer Dr. Miriam Heller Stern, announced the recipients in front of their colleagues and students.
"I am pleased to congratulate the 2025 Jewish Educator Award recipients, whose talent, dedication and heart have positively impacted their classrooms, schools and communities," said Sandler. "Developing our community's future leaders starts with outstanding educators like Nili Isenberg, Jared Stein, Hadassah Weiner and Rabbi Reuven Youkhehpaz. Every day they prepare the future leaders of our community by teaching them Torah so they will know who they are, where they come from and why it matters."
The 2025 Jewish Educator Award recipients are:
- Nili Isenberg, Middle School Judaic Studies Teacher, Pressman Academy, Los Angeles
- Jared Stein, Director of Instrumental Music, de Toledo High School, West Hills
- Hadassah Weiner, Girls Elementary Principal, Yeshiva Rav Isacsohn Toras Emes Academy, Los Angeles
- Rabbi Reuven Youkhehpaz, Fifth Grade Rebbe - Boys, Yeshiva Aharon Yaakov/Ohr Eliyahu, Los Angeles
Recipient bios are available below this release.
"My great wish for my students is to be a positive role model for them," said Nili Isenberg, who inspires students and teachers alike with her knowledge and passion for Jewish history and culture. "I want to show them the joy and the meaning of Judaism in their lives. There are so many diverse ways to be a part of this beautiful community."
"I'm so grateful to be part of this vision — past, present and future," said Jared Stein, as he reflected on his work at de Toledo and as a member of its vibrant community. "When I see people that I have taught here or been a mentor to, who are now grown-ups out in the world and doing amazing things, I know that what I do here on this bima, or with the students of Shirei Yedidot, or in the performances, is not always for 'right now.' It's when the light reaches us at a later time."
"I have a very focused passion: that every single student under my care should realize their great potential," said Hadassah Weiner, whose initiative, "RAISE the Bar," elevates others through acts of compassion and inclusion. "Every student should realize how valuable they are in Hashem's eyes, in our eyes, and in their own eyes, and they should realize that about everyone around them."
"My aspiration is for my students to have the desire to learn," said Rabbi Reuven Youkhehpaz after receiving his Jewish Educator Award. "It's not only about the information or imparting knowledge to them. If they want to learn, grow, and love learning, that is the biggest accomplishment I can make in the classroom."
The Jewish Educator Awards recognize exceptional teachers, administrators and other K-12 education professionals in the greater Los Angeles area who continue to demonstrate a positive impact on BJE-affiliated day schools. The initiative provides public recognition and financial rewards honoring professionals' proven commitment to education. A confidential committee of educators, professionals and lay leaders among the Jewish community select Award recipients annually according to the following criteria:
- Exceptional educational talent and promise, as demonstrated by innovative practices in the classroom, school and community.
- Evidence of originality, dedication and capacity for leadership and self-direction.
- Commitment to influencing policies that affect children, their families and schools.
- Strong long-range potential for even greater contribution to children, the profession and society.
- Distinguished achievement in developing innovative educational curricula, programs and/or teaching methods.
- Outstanding ability to empower students' character and self-confidence.
- Skillful ability to develop Jewish children’s understanding of the connections between their religion and activities both inside and outside of the classroom.
- Commitment to continuing Judaic and/or secular study necessary for professional development.
- Personal involvement in responding to the needs of the Jewish and secular communities.
- Criteria for administrators also include outstanding ability to attract, support and motivate committed education professionals.
Community leaders and family members of the 2025 Jewish Educator Award recipients will come together for an Awards luncheon on Thursday, December 11. The inclusive event brings together leaders across L.A.'s Jewish community, from the most secular to the most Orthodox.
For photos and videos from the events and information about the Jewish Educator Awards, visit www.JewishEducatorAwards.org.
See more from the Jewish Educator Awards on social media:
Facebook (MFF.org) | X (Milken) | YouTube (JewishEducatorAwards) | Instagram (MilkenFamilyFdn) | LinkedIn (MilkenFamilyFdn).
2025 Milken Jewish Educator Award Recipient Bios
Nili Isenberg, Pressman Academy
Middle school Judaic studies teacher Mrs. Nili Isenberg of Pressman Academy brings her deep knowledge of history, culture and heritage to her scholars every day. Outside of her engaging classroom, Mrs. Isenberg's leadership in Judaic studies department meetings; contributions to building rich, schoolwide Judaic studies curriculum; creation and spearheading of the FestiNaKH and Moot Beit Din programs; and mentorship to new teachers have made her a mainstay at Pressman.
Mrs. Isenberg's seventh grade Mishna class learns about Jewish law (halachot) relating to major life cycle events like sitting shiva, the laws of marriage, and the rules of a bris. She brings in guest speakers of diverse backgrounds, personal experiences and traditions to show students the many facets of Jewish observance. Mrs. Isenberg's meaningful unit on the Shoah immerses eighth graders in field trips, Holocaust survivor stories, and a Yom HaShoah Tekes (ceremony) they produce for third through seventh graders. She also leads students in planting daffodils through The Daffodil Project, which aspires to build a worldwide living memorial for the children lost during the Holocaust.
Jared Stein, de Toledo High School
de Toledo High School is blessed with a welcoming Jewish music program shaped by Mr. Jared Stein, who celebrates his 18th year as director of instrumental music. Sharing his passion for music, Mr. Stein has grown the program while sparking a joy for music in scores of students.
At de Toledo, he inspires others to embrace performance opportunities through ensembles he created, such as the Sephardic and Mizrahi Ensemble, and Shirei Yedidot — open to students and faculty. He has conducted the school's musical pit band, composed liturgy for the Havdalah ceremony, and wrote the school's alma mater. Mr. Stein infuses spirit and energy into preparing the next generation of Jewish leaders, whether by taking Jazz Band students on a biennial trip to New Orleans, teaching creativity and craft in a music production class, or helping the Music Appreciation Club plan a schoolwide rock concert at Shabbaton ("Jagfest").
Outside of de Toledo, Mr. Stein composes and performs Jewish music, has recorded an album with his wife Jamie, leads the Nashuva Band, and works as a cantorial soloist and as a song leader throughout Los Angeles. He served as music director at Camp Alonim for eight years before becoming deeply involved at the Brandeis Camp Institute at American Jewish University, where he teaches Jews from around the world.
Hadassah Weiner, Yeshiva Rav Isacsohn Toras Emes Academy
Between being the daughter of a rabbi and the wife to a rabbi, it's easy to understand Mrs. Dassi Weiner's inspiration to join the education profession. As a native Angeleno, Mrs. Weiner holds a special passion for growing the minds of students and educators in the community that raised her.
Mrs. Weiner serves as the elementary girls principal at Yeshiva Rav Isacsohn Toras Emes Academy, where she has contributed her talent, experience, and innovation for about a decade. She leads her department with pride, taking the time to channel her energy and simcha (joy) into each classroom. Mrs. Weiner created what is now a nationally growing character development program called "RAISE the Bar," which includes hands-on activities, videos and curricular materials that can be embedded in the school day. RAISE stands for: Respect And Include Students Everywhere. She shares her experiences broadly as a Torah Umesorah (National Society for Hebrew Day Schools) presenter and has delivered in-service workshops around the country. Additionally, Mrs. Weiner participates in many chesed (kindness) projects in her North Hollywood community.
Rabbi Reuven Youkhehpaz, Yeshiva Aharon Yaakov/Ohr Eliyahu
Rabbi Reuven Youkhehpaz, fifth grade boys rebbe at Yeshiva Aharon Yaakov/Ohr Eliyahu for the past 16 years, possesses an energy and a positivity that know no bounds. His enthusiasm for educational excellence is palpable in the school community, where he infuses dynamic activities into his Gemara lessons, works with parents to support students' academic and personal growth, and meets with administrators to advance pedagogy and his own journey as a lifelong learner.
Rabbi Youkhehpaz's classroom is a hub of excitement as students engage in group discussions about Jewish texts. Each lesson is a master in academic rigor, integrating learning, ethical principles and analytical skills. Rabbi Youkhehpaz aptly differentiates instruction and study plans to meet the needs of each student, while promoting critical thinking and a love of Torah. Beyond the classroom, he is a role model to students and colleagues alike. Highly visible in weekly staff meetings, Rabbi Youkhehpaz offers valuable insights into effective instructional practices that improve the craft of others and enrich the educational environment of the school at large. His compassion serves as a guiding force for students, colleagues and the community.