Todah Morah/Moreh! (Thank You, Teacher), an initiative of the Jewish Education Association of MetroWest (JEA) launched last spring, teaches children the mitzva of gratitude, honors MetroWest educators, and nurtures creativity in the classroom.
 
The program gives families an opportunity to send tribute cards with personal messages to teachers and other school staff. Over 166 families honored 150 educators from 28 preschools, religious schools, and day schools throughout MetroWest. About $2,500 was raised which, thanks to the generosity of Adele and Gene Hoffman, will be matched by a yearly grant from the Florence and Barney Hoffman Memorial Fund. The funds will be used to provide mini-grants for MetroWest teachers to carry out innovative classroom projects.

A few of the tributes JEA received:

• "She is a dedicated and wonderful teacher. If it weren't for her, I would not be able to attend Religious School. You see, I have a learning disability..."
• "He has a wonderful way of relating to young children."
• "She was the first teacher that I ever had and after six years I still think she is terrific!"
• "We wanted to thank her for doing the most noble of all deeds, educating our child with much love."

Todah Morah was conceived by JEA board members Daena Silverman and Suzanne Weinick and volunteer Lili Rosenstreich and modeled on the "Honor Your Teacher" program of the Maplewood-South Orange Education Foundation.

This project is just one way in which JEA works for quality Jewish education in the MetroWest community. The JEA recruits and trains teachers and provides ongoing consultative services to day schools and synagogue religious schools. In collaboration with synagogues and schools, it provides programs and services that include Central Hebrew High School and B'tzelem: a Hebrew school for learning disabled youngsters. In partnership with the JCC, it offers the Melton Adult Mini-School and the MetroWest Center for Adult Jewish Learning. It also operates the Waldor Memorial Library and Merkaz: The Community Resource Center.

For more information on Todah Morah, contact Treasure Cohen at (973) 929-2962. For other programs, contact Linda Jum at (973) 929-2965.