JProStl, a professional association that provides training, resources and networking opportunities for staff at 50 not-for-profit Jewish organizations throughout St. Louis, will hold its ninth annual Recognition Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 at the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. The theme of the lunch, “Celebrating Community—Honoring Professionals,” will pay tribute to nine honorees receiving Peer Recognition Awards. Honorees were chosen by a committee of JProStl leadership and former award recipients representing colleagues from across the community. 

This year’s honorees include: 

Visionary Award: Cheryl Maayan, head of school, Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. After starting her career in Boston, Maayan was a teacher and then the head of school of Saul Mirowitz Day School-Reform Jewish Academy (one of two “legacy schools” that were merged to form Mirowitz) for 10 years before she took on the daunting task of leading the newly merged school. Maayan has been recognized nationally and locally with the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education and locally with the Stuart I. Raskas Outstanding Day School Teacher Award. 

Career Achievement Award: Rabbi Menachem Greenblatt, rabbi of Agudas Israel of St. Louis and dean of the St. Louis Kollel. Greenblatt has led the congregation’s growth from 20 members to more than 160 families.  He was instrumental in establishing Torah Prep School and Esther Miller Bais Yaakov High School for girls and has been a pivotal partner in H.F. Epstein Hebrew Academy, Aish HaTorah and Ohr Pesia. He is a rabbinic adviser to the Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis and provides guidance to rabbis, educators, and communal leaders throughout the St. Louis Jewish community.  

Emerging Leader Award: Mindi Mintz, Judaic studies principal at Torah Prep Girls’ Division. She previously taught at Esther Miller Bais Yaakov.  Mintz collaborates with the faculty members to teach and inspire Jewish children in the ways of the Torah and coordinates extracurricular activities. She is an active at-large member of the JPro board.

Kindness (Chesed) Award: Chana Novack, co-director, Chabad on Campus at Washington University. Novack is the driving force behind Shabbat at Chabad, where 100 to 150 students gather each week to celebrate Shabbat dinner in a lively and inclusive space. She also facilitates and instructs the Sinai Scholars Society at Washington University, an international fellowship for students that combines the study of classic Jewish texts, social programming and national networking opportunities. Along with Ohr Atid, Novack pioneered a Sunday school program called COAST for special needs children with volunteer Washington University students, which was recognized by the Jewish Light as an “Unsung Hero” in the community. Novack has also accompanied 10 Taglit-Birthright trips to Israel with the Mayanot program in Jerusalem.

Pillar Award: Steve Rosenzweig, COO/CFO, Jewish Community Center. Rosenzweig has played an integral role in realigning the financial health of the J through sophisticated reporting and accuracy, including establishing the J’s complex 30-year financial model.  As COO, he works with each department to evaluate processes and strengthen programs and services for thousands of members and guests.  In addition, he has volunteered his time to consult for other Jewish agencies, including Epstein Hebrew Academy, the Jewish Light and B’nai Amoona, to help improve their financial reporting systems.  

Educator Award: Leslie Wolf, director, Deutsch Early Childhood Center, Temple Israel. In addition to growing the Deutsch Early Childhood Center, Wolf started Jewish Parents as Teachers (JPAT), a community-wide program for St. Louis Jewish families with children ages birth to 5 years.  JPAT provides the same quality education as the nationally recognized Parents as Teachers program, addressing children’s development and early educational needs.  

Dedication Award (for support staff): Claire Wolff, office manager, Aish HaTorah, and Gloria Schwartz, administrative assistant to the clergy, Congregation Shaare Emeth. Wolff is responsible for all administrative duties and also assists with program coordination at Aish. Schwartz has worked at Shaare Emeth for 36 years, under the direction of two senior rabbis, eight executive directors, three cantors, 10 assistant rabbis and 17 presidents.  Both Wolff and Schwartz are being recognized for being thorough, patient, caring and dedicated to their organizations’ missions.

Mentor Award: Rabbi James Stone Goodman, for his work through Congregation Neve Shalom focused with JAMI (Jewish Attention to Mental Illness), Shalvah and Jewish Prison Outreach. Goodman founded the One Life–Whole World Project to reach the underserved through an addictions outreach, a prison project and mental illness support. Goodman is also a writer and musician who integrates story, poetry and music in an incantational performance art form. 

The luncheon is free of charge for staff who work at least 15 hours per week annually at a Jewish organization and $25 for guests. To register for the luncheon and to donate to professional development in honor of the recipients, go to www.millstonestl.org/jpro14. For more information, contact Marci Mayer Eisen at 314-442-3810 or [email protected].

JPro programs are made possible by the Lubin-Green Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. JProStl is affiliated with the Millstone Institute for Jewish Leadership, an initiative of Jewish Federation.