Honoring Our Trailblazing Leader
DAMMARA MARKOWITZ
Scroll of Honor
Rabbi Susan Silverman and Yosef Abramowiz
Aviva Adamsky
Nicole and Raanan Agus
Nancy Alexander
Erin Andreotta
Shari Applebaum
Louise Chazen Banon and Sidney Banon
Julia Baum
Joule Bazemore
Ronnie Becher
Sivan Ben-Aderet
Carol Auerbach and Albert Berger
Jane and Steven Berkowitz
Denise Kohn and Adam Blank
Laurie Blitzer
Rachel Blumenfeld
George S. Blumenthal
Galit Lopatin Bordereau
Rebecca Stevens and Dan Broden
Jeremy Bruce
Michelle Bryar
Meryl Wiener and Barry Bryer
Mindy Budgor
Melissa and David Buckner
Jennifer Gross and Saul Burian
Sarah Canfield-Dafilou
Dr. Leah F Cassorla
Lauren and David Chazen
Ella and Noah Chinitz
Marvin Chinitz
Joyce and Fred Claar
Lois Kohn-Claar and Gary Claar
Darielle and Larry Cohen
Odelya Dabscheck and David Dabscheck
Shoshana Dachs
Ivy and Justin Dash
Rita and Fred Distenfeld
Dez Dominguez
Yemi Downs
Barbara and Robert Ehudin
Abby Eisenberg
The ElevatEd Leadership Team – Orna Siegel and Sasha Kopp Hass
Karen Everett
Lisa Exler
Merril Feinstein
Evan Feist
Mindy and Andrew Feldman
Malka Fleischman
Martine and Stanley Fleishman
Cantor Lauren Phillips Fogelman
Lauren Goldberg and Michael Foreman
Niki Forman
Joan and Andrew Frankle
Alanna Friedman
Dvora Gautieri
Alana and Adam Gelnick
Dale and Steven Gindi
Laurie and Stephen Girsky
Gizra
Amanda Gimble and Myron Glucksman
Cantor Margot Goldberg
Tamar and Eric Goldstein
Tara Slone-Goldstein and Wayne Goldstein
Cindy and Ben Golub
Sally Gottesman
Jennifer Stern Granowitz
Rebecca and Seth Greenberg
Shira Greenberger
Jane and Arthur Greyf
Lauren and Alan Halperin
Rabbi Eytan and Rebecca Hammerman
Harold Grinspoon Foundation
Sara and Scott Harris
Phyllis and Allan Hartstein
Karen and Mark Hauser
Dan Hazony
Haftam Heathwood
Marni Heller
Michelle Hershkowitz
Deborah and Benjamin Hochberg
Rena and Scott Hoffman
Lauren Hollander
Chaya and Chesky Holtzberg
Leah Horowitz
Kelvin Ji
Jessica Jobanek
Rebecca Kabat
Liz Freirich and Saul Kaiserman
Jolie and Jerome Kapelus
Daniel M. Karpf
Karen and Jay Kasner
Whitney Rose Kemp
Loretta Kendle
Renee and Arnold Kingsberg
Rachelle and Richard Kirschner
Esther and Moshe Klein
Arlene and Michael Kleinberg
Rosemarie and Mitchell Klipper
Judy Harris Kluger
Abby Knopp
Shira Kobren
Dani Kogan
Margie and Rob Kohn
Nancy Cohen and Jonathan Kopp
Patricia Kovnats
Mark and Jonathan Kravitz
Kayla Kreinik
Kimya and Steven Kreinik
Nancy and Gary Kreinik
Rabbi Gabriel Kretzmer-Seed
Shira Kroll
Hillary Kupferberg
Natalie Alterman and Mickey Lai Alterman
Atara Lakritz
Tziri Lamm
Aviva Lauer
Jonathan Law
Faith Leener
David Leit
Shmuel Lesher
Michal Levin
Meir Levine
Laurie Blitzer and Sam Levine
Jen Levine-Reilly
Regina Lewald-Fass
Ellen Reinheimer and Barry Lovell
Stefanie Losonci
Luria Academy of Brooklyn
Stephanie Luxenberg
Viktoriya Lymar-Anthony
Dammara and Samuel Markowitz
Orlea Marlin
Aliza Mazor
Liran Messinger
Esther Altaras Meyers
Penny Goldsmith and Robert Meyerson
Amy E. Millard
Kathy Chazen and Larry Miller
Jesse Mirotznik
Jami Moore
Lori and David Moore
Anya Morgulis
Linda Mirels and Gerard Mosse
Anya Morlan-Stysis
Arlene and Richard Morse
Chaim Motzen
Beth and Marc Nabi
Beth and Gabe Nechamkin
Alicia and Aaron Oberman
Jill and Craig Padover
Ayelet Pearl
Marla Peers
Stessa Peers
John Perna
Joshua Pernick
Debra Plafker
PJ Library
Beth Pepper
Tzachi Posner
Tina and Steven Price
Elyssa Moss Rabinowitz
Monique and Andrew Rechtschaffen
Sara Haber and Ilan Regenbaum
Arlene and Sandy Remz
Tamar Remz
Patricia Kovnats and Brian Richardson
Sharon Richter
Susan Rieger
Harriet Roffe
Shira Rosen
Joseph Rosenberg
Isaiah Rothstein
Debbie and Shimon Rubin
Sarah Ruderman
Géraldine and Stephen Rutenberg
Renée Sackey
Shelly Sadon
Shely Salemnia
The SAM School
Wendy and Neil Sandler
Issa Saunders
Pam Alcala and Matt Scheiner
Abigail Schlesinger
Ronnie Schlussel
Gaby Schoenfeld
Keren Schuller
Haley Schulman
Erica and Rob Schwartz
Danielle Segal
Marjorie and Mark Seidenfeld
Daniel Septimus
Moriyah Naama Shacham
Deborah Shapira
Stefani and Leonard Shavel
Dena Shayne
Lorraine and Bob Sherman
Rita Shumsky
Dr. Evita Sokol
Geula Solomon
Marjorie and Robert Solomon
Shirley and Allan Solomon
Lily Pepper Sommer
Tara Sporn
Benjamin Spratt
Karen Stein
Pam Frankel Stein
Amanda and Peter Stern
Susan and Jeffrey Stern
Betsy and Michael Stone
Sarah M. Sultan
Ruth and Andrew Suzman
Szulanski/Weiss Family
Elana and Brett Tanzman
Temple Beth Abraham
Sarene P. Shanus and Harold Treiber
Ana Turkienicz
Nicole Underwood
Amy Yenkin and Robert Usdan
Barbara and Alan Weichselbaum
Mira and Matan Weil
Jill and Bruce Weisfeld
Giselle and Alan Weissman
Pam and Bruce Wexler
Tikvah and Aryeh Wiener
Helene and Gary Wingens
Allison and Alexander Wohl
Diane and Howard Wohl
Julie Wolpov
Alex Wright
Reddi Yalamala
Geula Zamist
Maayan Zik
tribute wall
Dammara,
To a special soul who:
Leads with passion and humility
Builds community with intention
Learns with curiosity
Educates with meaning
Gives with gratitude
Lives with purpose
The Jewish community is blessed to benefit from your vision and commitment. I am blessed to call you a dear friend and partner in mission.
Mazel Tov on this much-deserved honor in celebration of all that you do for Jewish Education Project and for the Jewish people.
With admiration and love,
TAMAR REMZ
We are proud to support the work of The Jewish Education Project and we congratulate Dammara and each of the Young Pioneers Award Recipients.
Kol Ha'Kavod!
HELENE AND GARY WINGENS
We are pleased to be part of The Jewish Education Project - from SAJES and the NY Board of Jewish Education - to today's dynamic The Jewish Education Project. Congratulations to tonight's honoree Dammara Markowitz and to the Young Pioneers award recipients.
Diane and Howard Wohl
Proud to be a part of a community of Jewish educators. Education is the key to our future.
Stefanie Losonci
Mazel Tov to all of our amazing honorees! Your dedication to our community and to The Jewish Education Project is a light among us.
Dammara, thank you for being such an incredible board member and trail blazer! It has been such an honor serving with you.
Giselle and Alan Weissman
In honor of all the staff and lay leadership of The Jewish Education Project, who help assure that Jewish education remains vital and inspiring for Jewish youth and that it helps them to flourish and thrive in the complex world that surrounds them.
Bob AND Lorraine Sherman
Mazel tov Dammara! We are so inspired by your leadership.
Elana and Brett Tanzman
Mazel Tov to Dammara who is a true Woman of Valor, an inspiring leader, a wonderful teacher, and an amazing colleague. Dammara, the Jewish world is so blessed to be the recipient of all your incredible contributions. From Strength to Strength!
With love,
Laurie Blitzer
Dear Dammara,
Your dedication to Jewish education and the Jewish people inspires me every day.
These two verses in Eishet Chayil describe you beautifully:
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue”
”Her lamp is not extinguished at night”
Your lamp lights up the world every day and night, and may you continue to do so for a full 120 years b”H.
Your very fortunate husband,
sam markowitz
In recognition of the important work of the Board and staff of The Jewish Education Project, and a special shout out to our dear friends Louise and Sid Banon.
Debbie and Shimon Rubin
Temple Beth Abraham honors Stessa Peers, Young Pioneer Award Winner.
Temple Beth Abraham
Mazal Tov Dammara! So well deserved, I am constantly in awe of all that you do. I hope you enjoy the night!
Dvora Gautieri
Congratulations to Alana Rifkin Gelnick, Recipient of the 2024 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award.
As Associate Principal of SAR’s Early Learning Center, Alana has modeled incredible ingenuity, leadership and compassion. Our community has been the beneficiary of her extraordinary commitment to excellence, and superb care and attention she provides to children and their families. As a result, every child feels embraced so that they may achieve their greatest potential. We are proud of this well deserved award and salute her fellow honorees.
Rabbi Binyamin Krauss, Principal SAR Academy; Rabbi Tully Harcstark, Founding Principal, SAR High School; Dean, Machon Siach; Rabbi Jonathan Kroll, Principal, SAR High School; Jack C. Bendheim, President
Congratulations to all the honorees!
Rena and Scott Hoffman
We thank Dammara, Lois and all honorees for your incredible leadership and dedication. We are truly grateful for all you do on behalf of Jewish education and the Jewish world.
Jane and Steven Berkowitz
Dammara, you bring the same degree of innovation and commitment to your role as an educator as you do to your role as a Board member. It's totally impressive how you manage to make every meeting, even if it’s EDT in the evening, while you are in Israel … and even then, not only are you present but you are engaged. We salute the impact you continue to make on the field of Jewish education!
Lois Kohn-Claar & Gary Claar
Congratulations, Dammara, on such a well-deserved honor! Your service and commitment here in NY and in Israel is truly inspiring!
Lauren Goldberg
AND Michael ForemaN
To Lois, Karen and Martine…
Mazel Tov on a wonderful event and thank you for all that you do to educate and enrich Jewish Identity. Your work is vital today, tomorrow, and always.
WENDY AND NEIL SANDLER
Mazel tov to Dammara and to all the honorees this year!
Saul Kaiserman
and Elizabeth Freirich
Mazal tov to Dammara and the YPA recipients.
Thanks for all you have done and are doing! You are all role models for the Jewish community and beyond.
Ella and Noah Chinitz
Dear Dammara,
Your dedication to Jewish education is inspiring. Your knowledge and wisdom in this field is endless. Your support of Israel is moving.
I look forward to seeing your contributions in the future as a natural leader.
With much warmth,
Lauren and Alan Halperin
Mazel tov to all of the staff of The Jewish Education Project for all of your hard and important work!!
Denise Kohn and Adam Blank
One Generation Plants A Tree
Another Gets The Shade
Esther Altaras Meyers
In honor of Louise Chazen Banon and Sidney Banon, thank you for all of your hard work over the years!
Lauren and David Chazen
Mazel Tov to Dammara
Scott and Sara Harris
The light of learning shines from within you, Dammara, illuminating all it touches.
You continue to inspire and amaze us with your dedication to Judaism, Jewish Education and Am Yisroel.
Mazal Tov on this richly deserved honour.
With deep respect and so much love,
Mum and Brian
Congrats to Karen, Lois, and Martine on your tireless work.
Karen and Jay Kasner
Mazel Tov to Dammara Markowitz and the 2024 Young Pioneers Award Recipients!
We so appreciate all that you do!
Pam and Bruce Wexler
From one Young Pioneer to the new ones inspiring our profession.
Tziri Lamm
Proud to be partners with The Jewish Education Project in strengthening the Jewish future.
Gizra
Proud to see you Dammara continuing your great work and pursuing your passion in the field of Jewish education. Congrats to you!
Kelvin Ji
Dammara,
The Jewish Education Project could not have chosen a more worthy recipient of this award and recognition. We are in constant awe of your endless dedication to education, social justice, Israel, inclusion and the Jewish world in general. You care about things so deeply, and have a unique ability to take that deep dedication and care and translate it into actions. You always do so in a thought-out and sensitive way, which enables you to effect change and have real lasting impact. Many people feel strongly about things, and others are gifted with implementing strategies, but you exemplify a rare combination of both. We wish we were there in person, but we are celebrating with you from Israel. We feel so privileged call you and Sam close friends, and we look forward to continuing to witness your impact on the Jewish world.
With love and admiration,
Sara and Ilan Regenbaum
Mazel tov to Lois Kohn-Claar on her second year as President of The Jewish Education Project.
Margie and Rob Kohn
“The genius of a good leader is to leave behind a better world, a richer society, a more enriching school, a more compassionate community.”
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Dammara, we are privileged to honor you tonight. We applaud your dedication to The Jewish Education Project, both as a former Young Pioneer and now as an exemplary Board member. Whether in Israel or New York, we rely upon your insights and support to drive our work forward, as together we secure and strengthen the Jewish future!
Karen & DAVID Everett
The Jewish Life Department at UJA Federation of New York joins The Jewish Education Project in honoring Dammara Markowitz for her vision and leadership of Jewish life in NY and Israel. We are fortunate to share in your wisdom, dedication and partnership!
Geula Solomon, Chair
Hana Gruenberg,
Managing Director
Jewish Life Department
UJA Federation of New York
Mazel tov to Dammara for all the outstanding contributions she has made to The Jewish Education Project.
CAROL AUERBACH AND ALBERT BERGER
In honor of David Bryfman, who for 20 years has worked to bring Jewish education to the internet.
George Blumenthal
Mazal Tov to The Jewish Education Project for all you do and a special Mazal Tov to Dammara Markowitz for your devotion and for leading the way.
Meryl Wiener and Barry Bryer
To Shellie, Suri, Amy and Ivy – your inspiring work is uplifting the field of early childhood Jewish education. We are grateful to have such dedicated professionals working to support the Long Island community.
Thank you to The Jewish Education Project
The ElevatEd Leadership Team – Orna Siegel and Sasha Kopp Hass
Mazal Tov to the honorees and congratulations to The Jewish Education Project on the important work it continues to do at this critical time.
abby knopp
Dear Dammara,
We cannot think of anyone more deserving of recognition. You are the very definition of wholehearted leadership and dedication to Jewish education. We are blessed to have you in our lives. Mazal Tov!
Pam Alcala and Matt Scheiner
Shalom!
As you grow from strength to strength in your leadership, may HaShem continue to bless you with the wisdom, creativity, grit, and passion for a generation that so desperately needs you. Mazel tov on this distinguished honor!
Isaiah Rothstein
and Leah Gottfried
In celebration of Dammara's remarkable dedication to Jewish education and community, we honor her as a trailblazer, a beacon of diversity, and a tireless advocate for inclusivity. As a leader on multiple boards, including ours at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Dammara exemplifies commitment to shaping the future of Jewish education. Her innovations fuse tradition with modernity, captivating audiences worldwide. Tonight, we salute Dammara for her transformative impact and unwavering passion for strengthening Jewish life.
All your friends at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
In honor of Louise Banon.
Rita and Fred Distenfeld
Mazel Tov Dammara Markowitz!
Yasher Koach David Bryfman, Lois Kohn-Claar, Martine Fleishman, Karen Everett, Tamar Remz!
Thank you to The Jewish Education Project for the essential work you do for our Jewish Community.
With appreciation,
Tara Slone-Goldstein
Dearest Dammara,
It is difficult not to be in complete awe at what you are able to accomplish.
You exemplify leadership, innovation and commitment to social justice. You tirelessly dedicate yourself to advancing Jewish education, spearheading initiatives fostering community, inclusion, and connection within the Jewish world and beyond.
Most of the time I know you as my dear friend Dammara who lights up any social gathering, who is always up for a heart-to-heart, who is effortlessly able to make anyone feel comfortable and at ease in her presence. Together with Sam, and with infinite class, you graciously open your home and warmly welcome friends and family, bringing people together and fostering our community.
This evening, I am thrilled to get to know more of the Dammara who not only takes care to bring light to her friends, family and community - but to the entire Jewish nation and the world!
I am extremely honored to have you as my friend. Wishing you many more tremendous achievements ahead, along with an even bigger amount of pure fun, inner peace, relaxation and contentment.
Lots of love,
With admiration,