The Jewish Funders Network (JFN) is honored to announce Dr. Sivan Zakai, Sara S. Lee Associate Professor of Jewish Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, as the recipient of the 2024 Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award (ERA). This prestigious award recognizes the significant contributions of Dr. Zakai's groundbreaking study, the “Children's Learning about Israel Project.”
The Ilia Salita ERA, established by Genesis Philanthropy Group (GPG) in memory of their late CEO and President Ilia Salita z”l, awards $15,000 annually to an innovative, accessible research project thatdirectly bears on modern Jewish life and the Jewish communal space.
The award was presented at the JFN International Conference in Tel Aviv, where Dr. Zakai accepted in absentia. Dr. Zakai's study offers critical insights into how young Jewish children in the United States perceive and understand Israel, filling a significant gap in current knowledge. Her longitudinal research, which focuses on children from kindergarten through middle school, has been pivotal in shaping educational approaches and understanding the evolving perceptions of Israel among American Jewish youth.
Dr. Zakai's project stood out among a pool of highly competitive applicants for its practical implications, exceptional research methodology, and vital subject matter. Her book, entitled My Second-Favorite Country: How American Jewish Children Think about Israel, was published by NYU Press and has been acclaimed for its insightful analysis and profound impact on both Jewish education policy and practice.
Professor Jon A. Levisohn, the Director of the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University, lauded the project: “Prior to this project, lots of educators and policymakers had opinions about what children have the capacity to know and think about Israel... Dr. Zakai’s project subjected those assumptions to critical examination, and developed a foundation for the development of better and stronger educational interventions."
In addition to the monetary award, Dr. Zakai discussed her study on a JFN-hosted webinar, especially meant for funders and Jewish professionals.
For more information about the Ilia Salita Excellence in Research Award and the Jewish Funders Network, please visit www.jfunders.org.
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