BT receives Good Neighbor Week award from Baltimore County

Beth Tfiloh was one of five schools in Baltimore County, and the only nonpublic school, to receive the 2009 Good Neighbor Week award presented today in Towson by Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith.

According to the Baltimore County news release, "The event honored individuals and organizations nominated for their volunteer service and for serving as 'bridge builders' among people of different races and religions. Now in its fourteenth year, Good Neighbor Week is dedicated to promoting harmony and good deeds among neighbors."

At the award ceremonies, County Executive Smith said, "We are all enriched by the compassion and commitment of this year's Good Neighbor Week award winners."

Mrs. Nina Wand, Lower School Principal, nominated Beth Tfiloh's 4th grade teaching team for the award last fall. She described the "B'tzelem Elokim" (the spirit of G-d that is in everyone) curriculum which has been incorporated into the exchange program between Beth Tfiloh and St. Paul's School as the basis for the award.

In her letter of nomination, Mrs. Wand described details of the Beth Tfiloh-St. Paul's exchange program as follows:

"This year we joined St. Paul’s for a Martin Luther King Day celebration, where a group from the Smithsonian re-enacted scenes about different African Americans in history. Our music teacher, who wrote a song in Hebrew and English about Martin Luther King, taught the song to everyone at the assembly.

 

"This is a very worthwhile program that promotes understanding between our two communities and fits the mission of Good Neighbor Week as we seek to improve our appreciation of our cultural and religious diversity."

Beth Tfiloh teachers, Mrs. Joyce Grand and Mrs. Sheila Lichter, were present at the award luncheon to accept the award on behalf of Beth Tfiloh. Members of the 4th Grade teaching team include Mrs. Sheila Lichter, Mrs. Robin Neumann, Mrs. Rona Zukerberg, Mrs. Shoshana Porter, Mrs. Yehudis Krigsman, Mrs. Bracha Frankel, Mrs. Vered Mei-tel and Mr. Brian Singer (Music Specialist).