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Max Fisher was instrumental in establishing the Pincus Fund, and has served as its chairman since the Fund's inception in 1977. To recognize Mr. Fisher's outstanding contributions to Jewish education, the Pincus Fund Board has established a prize in his honor. The Max M. Fisher Prize for Jewish Education in the Diaspora is awarded annually to an individual who has significantly advanced the cause of Jewish education in his community. The award ceremony takes place in Jerusalem.
At the first Max M. Fisher Prize ceremony, in June, 1999, Mr. Fisher noted that "Jewish education has always been a high priority for those concerned with Jewish continuity. It is essential, now more than ever, that the Fund continue its work of linking world Jewry to Israel, by imparting to future generations the value and traditions of our unique history and destiny, and by helping to send out the light of Jewish culture and heritage into the next century."
Max M. Fisher Prize for 1999
Max M. Fisher Prize for 2000
Max M. Fisher Prize for 2001
Max M. Fisher Prize for 2002
Max M. Fisher Prize for 2003
Max M. Fisher Prize for 2004
MAX M. FISHER PRIZE FOR 1999
The first recipient of the Max Fisher Prize was Rabbi Aaron Monsonego, Chief Rabbi of Morocco. Rabbi Monsonego has served as director of the Otzar HaTorah network of Jewish schools in Morocco. Before the emigration of much of the Moroccan Jewish community, this network had an enrollment of 10,000 students. Rabbi Monsonego also established teacher-training programs, in coordination with the Jewish Agency and with the support of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Many teachers from these programs have traveled to Israel for in-service training.
MAX M. FISHER PRIZE FOR 2000
In June, 2000, the Max M. Fisher Prize was awarded to two educators in France, Rabbi Shimon Marciano, principal of the Otzar HaTorah school in Creteuil; and Mme. Rachel Cohen, headmistress of the Alliance school in Pavillons-sous-Bois.
Rabbi Marciano opened Otzar HaTorah with nine students. Today the school's enrollment numbers 1,400, and encompasses kindergarten through grade 12. The school maintains a high standard in both general studies and Jewish Studies. A visit to Israel is part of the curriculum, and many graduates make aliyah. A thriving Jewish community has developed around the school, in Creteuil.
Mme. Cohen has served for 21 years as headmistress of the College et Lycee de l'Alliance, located in an outlying suburb of Paris. To encourage families to live closer to the school, she transformed the school into an "open house" which functions as a community center after school hours (Pincus Fund Project No. 399). The program of community activities includes study circles for adults and children, study tours to other Jewish communities in Europe, and celebrations of Jewish and Israeli festivals.
MAX M. FISHER PRIZE FOR 2001
The Max M. Fisher Prize for the year 2001 was awarded to Philip Skelker, Head Teacher of Immanuel College, London, a modern Orthodox independent Jewish secondary school. Mr. Skelker's career has focused on the development of a curriculum which integrates Jewish and secular learning, the centrality of the State of Israel to contemporary Jewry, and equal access to Jewish scholarship for both boys and girls. During the course of his career, he has served as Headmaster of King David High School, Liverpool, and of Carmel College, in Oxfordshire; and as Chairperson of the Association of Head Teachers of Jewish Schools. Before assuming his position at Immanuel College, Mr. Skelker was responsible for developing educational leadership through the United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA).
MAX M. FISHER PRIZE FOR 2002
The Max M. Fisher Prize for 2002, was awarded to Ms. Eugenia Lvova, of St. Petersburg, Russia, and Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky, of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. In 1991, Ms. Lvova was instrumental in founding the "Adain Lo" Jewish Family Center, in St. Petersburg, which provides educational and cultural programs to unaffiliated Jews. "Adain Lo" was a pioneering, grass roots initiative which brought together 20 families for a Sunday school program. Today, its programs are attended by more than 2,000 participants. Ms. Lvova currently is serving her third term as President of the "Adain Lo".
With Pincus Fund support, "Adain Lo" has established five Jewish kindergartens. The Fund also supports an "Adain Lo" project providing Jewish Studies to students and teachers in six elite State schools in St. Petersburg.
Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky received rabbinical ordination in 1989 and moved to Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, in 1990. Since his arrival, he has played a leading role in establishing numerous institutions which have contributed to the revival of Jewish life in Ukraine. Foremost among these institutions is Bet Chana, a State recognized teacher training seminary for women, which trains teachers for Jewish day schools throughout the FSU.
Rabbi Kaminetzky was instrumental in establishing the "Or Avner" school, which has a current enrollment of 700 students. He also helped establish a vibrant kindergarten, now providing Jewish and secular preschool education to over 80 children; a religious supplementary school for children; a Yeshiva for adults; an old age home built from local resources and housing 92 residents; a Kollel; and classes for senior citizens. A new kindergarten program for 180 children will open shortly.
MAX M. FISHER PRIZE FOR 2003
The Max M. Fisher Prize for 2003 was awarded to Ms. Rebeca Anijovich of Argentina, and Dr. Raquel E. Katzkowicz de Ejgenberg, of Montevideo, Uruguay. These educators have made significant contributions to both Jewish and secular education in Latin America.
Ms. Anijovich began her career as a Jewish day school teacher, and director of youth activities in a large community center. She helped found "Amos", a Jewish art-oriented high school, where she served as Headmistress from 1983-1990. Throughout most of her career, Ms. Anijovich has been involved in teacher training and supervision. Since 1996, she has served as Headmistress of the Hora'a Mutemet (Educational Excellence) Project in Latin America, overseeing program development in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. This project involves Jewish day schools in implementing an innovative approach to teaching, which places the student at the center of the educational process and accommodates diversity in students' abilities, learning styles, and interests. The project is supported by the JAFI Education Department and the AJJDC, and is under the supervision of Matach (Center for Educational Technology), Tel Aviv. It also has received support from the Pincus Fund.
From 1998-2000, Ms. Anijovich served as Headmistress of the Education Department of the Children's Museum in Buenos Aires. Since 2001, she has served as Advisor to the Continuing Education and Counseling Department of the Bet Hamechanech Hayehudi, supervising the teachers' and directors' training programs within the Jewish school network. She is the Director of the Higher Education Department at Palermo University, with responsibility for the Master in Higher Education, and for teachers' training at the university.
Dr. Katzkowicz de Ejgenberg began her work in education as a chemistry teacher, and has had an active career in teaching, educational research, and administration. She currently serves as Principal of the Instituto Ariel Hebreo Uruguayo, a Jewish day school with an enrollment of 500 students, from preschool through high school. 40 per cent of the school's curriculum is devoted to Jewish Studies. The school is part of the network of Jewish schools throughout Latin America implementing Hora'a Mutemet. The school also has become a partner with UNESCO as a Center for Excellence and Innovation in Promulgating the UNESCO Ideals via Local Projects.
Dr. Katzkowicz de Ejgenberg has noted that the Instituto Ariel Hebreo Uruguayo aspires to teach its students to create a synthesis of the various worlds in which they live: home, school, and the wider community. This task involves combining tradition, modernity, individuality, and community. She takes pride in the fact that many of her former students are now living and working in Israel, and others are active in Uruguayan community institutions, and send their children to Jewish schools.
MAX M. FISHER PRIZE FOR 2004
In June, 2004, the Max M. Fisher Prize for Jewish Education in the Diaspora was awarded to Dr. Anna Szeszler of Budapest, Hungary. Anna Szeszler began her career as a teacher in the elementary school attached to the Teachers' Training College in Budapest. She later served on the faculty of the Teachers' Training College. In 1990, Dr. Szeszler became principal of the elementary department of the Lauder Yavne Jewish Community School in Budapest. In 1995, she assumed the post of principal of the entire school. 680 children, from pre-school through high school, currently attend the school, where they study a curriculum including both general and Jewish Studies. The school is internationally recognized for its special practice-oriented programs, and unique evaluation methods. It plays a vital role in the revival of the Jewish community in Hungary.
Since 1999, Dr. Szeszler has served as chair of the European Council of Jewish Communities Education Committee. She has been a member of the Curriculum Developing Committee of the Hungarian Ministry of Education and Culture, as well as the Hungarian representative to the UNICEF pedagogical council. In 2000, Dr. Szeszler was the professional director of the Arachim I Conference (European Council of Jewish Communities) for European Jewish teachers. In 2002, she served as the professional program organizer for the Arachim II Conference in London, for European leaders of Jewish Studies and Jewish schools.
The Max M. Fisher Prize for 2004 was also awarded to two Jewish educators who live and work in an Arab country. Due to security concerns, they have requested that their identities remain confidential.
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