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Jewish Heritage Committee Awards Dinner 2024

Tikkun olam — Hebrew for “repairing the world” — was the theme for the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Awards dinner for a second straight year. The event, which was held at Russo’s on the Bay in Queens on Dec. 5, was “joyous and festive, with the spirit of unionism and repair of the world infused throughout,” said Jason Goldberg, the committee chair.

Three UFT members pose for a photo with the woman in the center holding an award she received at the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee's Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024

Teacher of the Year honoree Mara Baboff (center) of the John F. Kennedy Jr. School accepts her award from UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg and UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman at the committee’s awards dinner on Dec. 5 at Russo’s on the Bay in Queens.

Erica Berger
A group of attendees at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner gather for a selife on the dance floor.

Teacher of the Year Mara Baboff (center) and friends set up to take a selfie.

Erica Berger
The attendees at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner applaud an award winner.

Dinner attendees cheer as Mara Baboff is announced as the Teacher of the Year award winner.

Erica Berger
A group of attendees pose for a group photo at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Posing for a group shot are (from left) UFT Teacher Center staffer Mindy Rosier, teacher Erin Betito of PS 224 in Queens, retiree Amy Bernstein, Teacher of the Year honoree Mara Baboff and teacher Sara Gottlieb of PS 165 in Queens.

Erica Berger
Members in attendance stand for the pledge of allegiance at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Observing the Pledge of Allegiance are (from left) retired special education teacher Kerry Yefet, Chapter Leader Ariana Hutchinson of PS 123 in Brooklyn and Chapter Leader Debra Elhadri of PS 75 in Brooklyn.

Erica Berger
A student stands in front of his parents as he is announced as Student of the Year at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Student Yonathan Bar of the Bronx HS of Science stands in front of his parents before accepting the Student of the Year award from the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee.

Erica Berger
UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg (left) and UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman present the Student of the Year Award to Yonathan Bar of the Bronx HS of Science at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg (left) and UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman present the Student of the Year Award to Yonathan Bar of the Bronx HS of Science.

Erica Berger
UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell (left) and UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg share a laugh during the presentation of the Tikkun Olam Award.

UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell (left) and UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg share a laugh during the presentation of the Tikkun Olam Award.

Erica Berger
UFT President Michael Mulgrew (left) receives the committee’s Tikkun Olam Award from UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew (left) receives the committee’s Tikkun Olam Award from UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell.

Erica Berger
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, poses for a photo with Jason Goldberg and UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the committee’s Public Service Award honoree, is flanked by UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg and UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman.

Erica Berger
A rabbi offers a blessing during the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum offers a blessing during the celebratory event held at Russo’s on the Bay in Queens.

Erica Berger
Honorees and special guests in attendance take a group photo at the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Getting together for a group shot are (from left) Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, AFT President Randi Weingarten, Teacher of the Year honoree Mara Baboff, awardees UFT President Michael Mulgrew (Tikkun Olam Award) and Melinda Katz (Public Service Award), parent Avi Bar, Student of the Year Yonathan Bar, parent Lilath Bar, UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman and UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg.

Erica Berger
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Three UFT members pose for a photo with the woman in the center holding an award she received at the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee's Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024

Teacher of the Year honoree Mara Baboff (center) of the John F. Kennedy Jr. School accepts her award from UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg and UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman at the committee’s awards dinner on Dec. 5 at Russo’s on the Bay in Queens.

Erica Berger
A group of attendees at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner gather for a selife on the dance floor.

Teacher of the Year Mara Baboff (center) and friends set up to take a selfie.

Erica Berger
The attendees at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner applaud an award winner.

Dinner attendees cheer as Mara Baboff is announced as the Teacher of the Year award winner.

Erica Berger
A group of attendees pose for a group photo at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Posing for a group shot are (from left) UFT Teacher Center staffer Mindy Rosier, teacher Erin Betito of PS 224 in Queens, retiree Amy Bernstein, Teacher of the Year honoree Mara Baboff and teacher Sara Gottlieb of PS 165 in Queens.

Erica Berger
Members in attendance stand for the pledge of allegiance at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Observing the Pledge of Allegiance are (from left) retired special education teacher Kerry Yefet, Chapter Leader Ariana Hutchinson of PS 123 in Brooklyn and Chapter Leader Debra Elhadri of PS 75 in Brooklyn.

Erica Berger
A student stands in front of his parents as he is announced as Student of the Year at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Student Yonathan Bar of the Bronx HS of Science stands in front of his parents before accepting the Student of the Year award from the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee.

Erica Berger
UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg (left) and UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman present the Student of the Year Award to Yonathan Bar of the Bronx HS of Science at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg (left) and UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman present the Student of the Year Award to Yonathan Bar of the Bronx HS of Science.

Erica Berger
UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell (left) and UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg share a laugh during the presentation of the Tikkun Olam Award.

UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell (left) and UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg share a laugh during the presentation of the Tikkun Olam Award.

Erica Berger
UFT President Michael Mulgrew (left) receives the committee’s Tikkun Olam Award from UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew (left) receives the committee’s Tikkun Olam Award from UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell.

Erica Berger
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, poses for a photo with Jason Goldberg and UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman at the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the committee’s Public Service Award honoree, is flanked by UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg and UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman.

Erica Berger
A rabbi offers a blessing during the 2024 UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum offers a blessing during the celebratory event held at Russo’s on the Bay in Queens.

Erica Berger
Honorees and special guests in attendance take a group photo at the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Tikkun Olam Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2024.

Getting together for a group shot are (from left) Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, AFT President Randi Weingarten, Teacher of the Year honoree Mara Baboff, awardees UFT President Michael Mulgrew (Tikkun Olam Award) and Melinda Katz (Public Service Award), parent Avi Bar, Student of the Year Yonathan Bar, parent Lilath Bar, UFT Educational Liaison Laurie Lubman and UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Jason Goldberg.

Erica Berger