With a "Culture of Belonging" microgrant from Prizmah, the Seattle Jewish Community School launched a Seattle Sephardic Heritage Initiative in the fall of 2023, in partnership with the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle. At its inception, this program aimed to introduce 5th graders from both schools to the distinctive Sephardic roots of Seattle's Jewish community and to the ongoing influence of the Jewish culture of Rhodes and Turkey on their hometown. From the start, this initiative inspired an enthusiastic response from the Sephardic community, opening an array of opportunities, exceeding all initial aspirations. Discover the origins of the initiative and how it has flourished. Presentation followed by a Q&A session with host Josh Gold. Special guests Gabrielle Azose and David Zimand.
Gabrielle Azose is the director of curriculum & pedagogy at Seattle Jewish Community School, where she has worked in a variety of roles, including general studies and Jewish studies teacher.
David Zimand serves as head of school at the Seattle Jewish Community School, having previously worked in administrative roles at community day schools in Washington, DC, and Palo Alto, CA.