Press Releases

December 07, 2010

1st Annual Jewish Educator Awards Student Essay Contest

An exciting extension of the partnership between the Milken Family Foundation and the BJE launched this fall with 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.

Year One topics asked middle school students (grades 6-8) to discuss “Who Is Your Jewish Hero and Why?” High school students (grades 9-12) reflected on “What Does It Mean to be a Jewish Leader?”

Sincere appreciation goes to the judges for their thoughtful review and deliberation in selecting JEA Student Essay Contest finalists.

JEA Student Essay Contest Judges

Julie Gruenbaum Fax, Senior Writer, Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles/Tribe Media Corp
Eileen Horowitz, JEA 2004
Luisa Latham, JEA 1993

The two winning entries are:

Teach by Example
Ilan Atri
Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy

A Leader’s Compassion
Menny Chazanow
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad

Click here to read the 2010 winning essays.