Voice of the Jewish News: Inspiring times for Jewish education

The Jewish Schools Awards, organised by this newspaper and
Partnerships for Jewish Schools, inevitably shines the brightest
spotlight on the winners. But, at its heart, this now annual event is
a celebration, not a competition – a celebration of the exemplary standards set by academically excellent schools, scoring consistently high exam marks that surpass the national average time and again.

This remarkable quality of choice is due in no small measure to just one man – Benjamin Perl – the recipient of our Lifetime Achievement Award, who has been the driving force behind the establishment of no fewer than 20 Jewish schools.

We have honoured our worthy winners’ achievements in detail elsewhere in this week’s issue, but each merits repeat mention here: Miriam Saffer from The Independent Jewish Day School; Joanna Moses from JCoSS; Pnina Ravid from Akiva School; Sivan Simons from JFS; Madeleine Bendell from North West London Jewish Day School; Simon Bull from Hasmonean High School for Boys; Alex Kingston from Wolfson Hillel Jewish Primary School and Elaine Robinson from JCoSS.

Our message to the irrepressible Mr Perl and the caring,
dedicated teachers at Jewish schools up and down the country is clear: thanks for all you do to shape the next generation. In your hands we assuredly place our future.