NEW YORK - November 13, 2006 - Staci Cohen, assistant director of the Religious School for Noar Learning at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood, OH, has been named November's "Youth Worker of the Month" by the Union for Reform Judaism.
"I am honored to be honored," said Cohen. "It was a wonderful surprise."
For the past seven years, Cohen has worked in various capacities within her congregation, fostering a healthy and holy environment for teens and pre-teens. "My goal is to create a safe and comfortable space for young people to explore their Jewish identity," she said.
Melissa Goldman, assistant director of NFTY, the Union's youth affiliate, said, "Staci's passion for Jewish learning and flair for creativity have enhanced her inherent ability to find the balance between leading and guiding. Her work exemplifies what so many of us want to see in our teens - their own searching and empowerment, which leads them to choose to live intentionally Jewish lives."
The "Youth Worker of the Month" recognizes the talent, dedication, and commitment of outstanding youth workers. Each "Youth Worker of the Month" recipient is nominated by a supervisor or peer and is featured for a month on www.RJyouthworker.org. The recipient also receives a book complements of the URJ Press and a gift certificate to Barnes & Noble.
Additionally award winners will be recognized during the URJ Youth Worker's Conference from February 16-20, 2007 in Philadelphia, PA. The YWC draws more than 200 of North America's best youth workers together every other year. Focusing on informal education in the synagogue, the YWC will center on the teaching of ethics and morality to a modern teenager.
Recognizing the differences in the role of a youth worker from congregation to congregation, the Union for Reform Judaism has created RJyouthworker as an interactive website to provide resources and support for Reform Jewish youth workers around the world. With message boards, programs and professional development opportunities, RJyouthworker is designed to address the needs of the diverse field of Jewish youth workers in the Reform Movement.
For more information, please go to
www.RJyouthworker.org.