Kol hakavod to Mandy Herlich and Laura Naide for planning and executing a wonderful ARJE Annual Gathering in Washington, D.C. on January 13–16. Joan Carr, Terry Kaye, and Vicki Weber embraced the warm collegiality of the Gathering, and were thrilled to share in the learning and to meet up with so many educator partners.

Mazal tov to the 2019 Distinguished Educator Honorees, Saul Kaiserman, RJE and Rabbi Stacy Rigler, RJE, who were honored at the gathering. In awarding the Distinguished Educator awards, Rabbi Rena Rifkin and Missy Bell highlighted Saul’s gift for mentoring and cultivating educators. Marisa Kaiser affectionately referred to Rabbi Stacy Rigler as ‘my Jewish educator person’—the one she always turns to.

Saul Kaiserman is Director of Lifelong Learning at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York. An innovative educational leader, he has taught, led worship and performed internationally for more than 30 years.

Rabbi Stacy Rigler has served as Rabbi Educator at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. In her more than 15 years there, she has worked to create innovative models for Jewish education, introducing the JQuest program and collaborating with two Conservative synagogues to form JQuest B’Yachad.