The Beit Miriam End of the Year Closing Ceremony was held Sunday, May 5 at West End Synagogue. During the Awards’ Ceremony, Dolma Losel and Yosef Prebus (YoYo) were presented with the 2024 Simon and Alven Ghertner Award for Excellence in Hebrew. Pictured above-students who received attendance awards.
2024 Simon and Alven Ghertner Award Winners
Dolma Eve Losel, daughter of Tamara Ambar and Ngawang Losel and Yosef (YoYo) Gabriel Prebus, son of Audrey Carvajal and Sol Prebus were chosen as the 2024 co-recipients of the prestigious Simon and Alven Ghertner Award for Excellence in Hebrew, now in its 79th consecutive year. Scott Ghertner, great-grandson of Simon Ghertner and grandson of Alven Ghertner, presented the award. The award recognizes the importance of Hebrew reading proficiency for every generation of Jewish students. West End Synagogue Director of Lifelong Learning, Sharon Paz noted, “Among Jewish teens nations wide, so few excel in Hebrew to the extent that our students do. We are so fortunate to have young people, like Dolma and YoYo in our school and congregation who have ability and who, work hard to excel in Hebrew—both as a modern language and in prayer, reading Torah, Haftarah and leading services for us.”
Sharon Paz shared the following remarks from the presentation:
“Dolma has always been a serious student at Beit Miriam and enjoyed learning Hebrew. Maybe because her parents who met in Israel, speak the language. Throughout the years, Dolma excelled in Hebrew language. She is a perfectionist. She only wanted to read aloud if she could read every word perfectly. And she loved learning vocabulary words so that the stories made sense to her. I remember a couple of years when Dolma took her Hebrew book home so she could practice and be ready for class. When she began preparing to become Bat Mitzvah, she found her stride and blossomed. No longer anxious about being the first student to read or sing a prayer in class, she volunteered to be first. She was on top of her lessons and worked hard to learn the Torah service and Musaf, plus her Haftarah and Torah portions. Dolma has a positive attitude toward learning and is respectful to her teachers.”
“I remember the first day YoYo walked into Beit Miriam with a huge smile on his face. As the years have gone by, that smile is still there. YoYo struggled with Hebrew a bit through the years and, kept working at it. In fact, he has rarely missed a class or junior congregation since second grade. Once YoYo learned Torah trope with Cantor Sarah in 5th grade, he was on his way. In 6th grade he could sight read any portion we looked at. He worked hard to master his Torah and Haftarah portions, the Torah service and Musaf, and has almost mastered Shacharit. He can lead Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv and since becoming Bar Mitzvah earlier in the year helped his classmates master Ashrei and Musaf. I know he will use his davening skills at Camp Ramah Darom this summer.”
The Ghertner award places emphasis on the effort and skills mastered in preparation for becoming B’nai Mitzvah and takes into account Hebrew language skills. It comes with a gift from the Ghertner Family and, the honor of chanting the Haftarah on Rosh HaShanah.
Many thanks to Frank Ghertner and Dorothy Ghertner Miller who oversee this award on an annual basis. The closing Ceremony included a shout out to all the teachers, a video of the year’s programs—a salute to Israel’s 76th Birthday and ice cream sundaes for all the Beit Miriam families and faculty.
2024 Anna Isenstein Teacher Aide Award Winner
West End Synagogue’s Beit Miriam’s high school senior, Henry Nathaniel Sterling, son of Julie Rhoades and Gabriel Sterling was honored with the 2024 Anna Isenstein Teacher Aide Appreciation Award. The award, presented this year by Joel Isenstein, directs cash toward a college-bound teacher’s aide to assist in continuing their education. Linda Nathenson and Joel Isenstein established the Anna Isenstein Teacher Aide Fund in memory of their daughter, Anna Michelle Isenstein in 2003 to encourage students to guide younger students as teachers’ aides after completing their formal religious school education at the Synagogue. During Anna’s short life, they learned that sometimes the most help for a student comes directly from another student.
The teacher aides (madrichim) in the religious school classroom serve many roles. Not only do they assist the teacher in a variety of tasks, they also, serve as role models in the classroom. The award recognizes a unique aide who exhibits the attributes the teachers need the most and models the behavior parents respect the most, dependability, attentiveness, friendliness, and initiative. The annual award is $1000.00.
Joel Isenstein shared what teachers wrote about Henry: “This year’s aide was exceptional in many ways. Henry was consistently punctual, and typically arrived at Sunday School before the lead teacher. In addition to being outgoing and commanding the attention of 11 pre-k 4 students, he is patient, courteous, kind, firm and sets proper boundaries. The students respect him. He has a plethora of engaging activities, trust building exercises and games in his back pocket to manage the class while keeping the mood light and fun. Henry was the stable teacher in the classroom with a lead teacher change mid-year. He knew the children, their personalities, and the class routine. He helped the new lead teacher transition into the class seamlessly. And to top it all off, he earned his Eagle Scout badge this year.
Sharon Paz, Director of Lifelong learning added, “Henry did not miss one Sunday the entire year. He asked for a Sunday off so he could build a garden for Beit Miriam with his scout troop as his Eagle Schout project. But he was here, helping the school, also. During the transition between teachers Henry helped write the progress reports for each child as if he had been writing them as a pre-K teacher for years. We wish him “hatzlacha” at Virginia Military Institute in the fall. We will all miss him next year.”
Many thanks to Joel Isenstein and Linda Nathenson for creating this special recognition award and opportunity for our Teacher Aides.
MAZAL TOV TO THE BEIT MIRIAM GRADUATING CLASS OF 2024/5784
And to all our graduating high school and college seniors:
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GRADUATING CLASS OF 2024
Andrew Berkon Son of Julie and Brian Berkon , Grandson of Adele and Roy Berkson
Graduating Mt. Juliet High School
Attending Midway University
Isaac Wai-Yun Cheng Son of Jenny and Edward Cheng
Homeschooled &
2018 Beit Miriam Simon & Alven Ghertner Award for Excellence in Hebrew Recipient
Attending Swarthmore College
Spencer Gribben Son of Erin and Ben Gribben
Graduating Summit High School in Spring Hill
2020 Beit Miriam Simon & Alven Ghertner Award for Excellence in Hebrew Co-Recipient
Valedictorian of Summit High School Class of 2024
Attending Vanderbilt University
Bela Hodes Daughter of Amy Sulam & Peter Hodes
Graduating Ensworth
Attending Tulane University
Max Harrison Lapidus Son of Kim and Brian Lapidus
Graduating USN
2019 Beit Miriam Simon & Alven Ghertner Award for Excellence in Hebrew co-Recipient
Attending Tulane University
The Jewish Observer is published by The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville and made possible by funds raised in the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. Become a supporter today.
Sophie Stein Daughter of the late Bryan Stein and Danielle Stein
Graduating Hillsboro High School
Attending University of Tampa
Henry Nathaniel Sterling Son of Julie Rhoades and Gabriel Sterling
Graduating Brentwood High School
2023 Beit Miriam Sandi & Bernie Goldstein Outstanding
Community Service Award Recipient
2024 Beit Miriam Anna Isenstein Outstanding Teacher Aide
Award Recipient
Attending Virigina Military Institute
Josie Whelan Daughter of Rachel Sobel and David Whelan
Graduating USN
Attending Harvard University
Celia Kaita Wiston Daughter of Debby and Stuart Wiston
Graduating Hendersonville High School
2023 Beit Miriam Nathan Davis Outstanding Student Award
Recipient
Attending Indiana University
Davi Julia Wolf-Dubin Daughter of Abbie Wolf and Ari Dubin
Graduating Hume Fogg High School
2019 Beit Miriam Simon and Alven Ghertner Award for
Excellence in Hebrew co-Recipient
Attending Muhlenberg College
Gabi Lieberman Son of Rebecca Ackerman and Phil Lieberman
Grandson of Esther & Gordon Siebert
Graduating USN
Attending Binghamton University
2024 COLLEGE & GRADUATE SCHOOL GRADUATES
Anabella Barocas Daughter of Adina and Daniel Barocas
Graduating Wesleyan University
Aden Barton Son of Nancy Lipsitz and Kirk Barton
Graduating Harvard University
Working for the While House Council of
Economic Advisers
Jacob Bengelsdorf Son of Sarah and Steven Bengelsdorf
Graduating NYU
Jordan Cohen Daughter of Renee and Jonathan Cohen
Graduating Washington University School of Medicine
as a Dr. of Physical Therapy
Working at the VA in St. Louis as a Neurologic Physical Therapy Resident
Ellie Hornick Daughter of Sarah and Chad Hornick
Graduating Indiana University
Max Yazdian Son of Laura and Afshin Yazdian
Graduating Tulane University
Attending Tulane Graduate school for MBA in Data Analytics
Talia Stein Daughter of Leslie and Ira Stein
Graduating Villanova Law School
