This event to honor Sharon and Andy Hirshik and Ken Wald and Robin West is also a fundraiser for the Jewish Council's educational programs, locally and globally. We are proud to offer PJ Library, PJ Our Way and the Youth Experience Scholarship Fund to our Jewish families in North Central Florida. This event will also benefit our Israel based programs at The Beit Ruth Village in Afula and The Jaffa Institute in Tel Aviv/Jaffa. 

Celebration for Education Sponsors

Platinum - $1,000

Sharon & Andy Hirshik  

Dawn Burgess-Krop and Dr. Harry Krop

 Dr. Steven Slutsky

Gold - $750 

Silver - $500

Russell Hirshik & Virginia Brissette Hirshik

Eric Hirshik & Tina Levan

Dr. Gilda Josephson & Jeff Weingarten

Dr. Ken Wald & Dr. Robin West 

 Solar Impact 

Bronze - $250 

 Barry Dockswell & Marcia Tessler 

Joanne Hirschtritt Licht & Dr. Jonathan Licht

Dr. David & Harriett Pawliger 

The Beit Ruth Educational & Therapeutic Village is a long-term therapeutic residence and school with a mission to ensure that vulnerable and at-risk girls are given the opportunity to thrive emotionally, socially and academically, thereby breaking the cycle of violence for themselves and future generations of children in Israel.

In a safe, structured and loving home environment, Beit Ruth provides the academic and therapeutic resources necessary to enable at-risk girls to re-enter society as caring, educated, independent and empowered young women. Their goal is to equip each girl with the necessary life, education, social and emotional skills in order for them to leave the Village as healthy, happy, educated and empowered young women.

To learn more about The Beith Ruth Village, click on their logo at left. 

The Jaffa Institute’s Mission is to provide educational, recreational, and social enrichment programs which enhance the self-esteem of each child in their care, thereby enabling them to succeed academically and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty found in the communities of Jaffa, South Tel Aviv, and Bat Yam. 

Holistic in approach and responsive to the diverse needs of their community, The Jaffa Institute operates over 30 different programs, including crisis residences for at-risk youth, educational enrichment centers, food security initiatives, support to elderly individuals and Holocaust survivors, and women’s empowerment programs. Each year, the Jaffa Institute provides service and relief to over 4,000 citizens. In 2001, the Institute was awarded the President’s Prize for Most Outstanding Voluntary Organization.

To learn more about The Jaffa Institute, click on their logo at left. 

PJ Library is a Jewish family engagement program implemented on a local level throughout North America. We send free, award-winning books that celebrate Jewish values and culture to families with children 6 months through 8 years old. Kids ages 9-11 can join PJ Our Way™ to choose their own free chapter books! Locally, PJ Library is sponsored by a partnership between the B'nai Israel Community Day School and the Jewish Council. PJ Library provides Jewish content books and music for more than 250 children in North Central Florida.

To learn more about PJ Library and PJ Our Way, click on their logo at left. 

The Jewish Council is proud to award Youth Experience Scholarships to individuals between the ages of 10 to 21 who reside in North Central Florida. Applicants are encouraged to apply for scholarships to attend qualified not-for-profit Jewish Youth Experience programs. Some of the criteria used in selecting scholarship recipients would include: demonstrated interest, achievement, and leadership in Jewish education (Religious School, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Jewish Youth Groups, Mitzvah Projects, etc.

To learn more about the Youth Experience Scholarship fund, click on the JCNCF logo at left.