Judy Rosenberg, on the faculty of the FMAMS for Educators in Chicago, just turned 40, and in honor of her big birthday, her husband, Philip Rosenberg, established the Judy Rosenberg Israel Education Fund. The fund is earmarked to help the Chicago FMAMS for Educators send faculty or students on the FMAMS Faculty Seminar or Israel Seminar for the next 10 years.

Judy Rosenberg teaches her Yom HaAtzmaut class on a giant map of Israel to give students a better sense of territory and borders.

Philip set up the scholarship fund as a way of honoring Judy, who teaches both the Rhythms of Jewish Living and the Ethics of Jewish Living courses. He sees on a weekly basis how teaching at the Mini-School has enriched her life. "My lessons are regularly the basis of family dinner conversations and it often seems that our whole family is taking the Melton course," says Judy. "My association with Melton has benefited my family greatly."

Others have already added to his gift. Judy participated in the Faculty Seminar in December 2000, and was greatly impacted by the experience. "I was like a child in a candy store, studying with brilliant scholars in the most magnificent city in the world," says Judy. "I returned to my classroom thoroughly energized and empowered by my newly acquired knowledge. I am so grateful that I was afforded the opportunity to participate in the seminar. Its impact on me was significant both personally and professionally." Phil's generous gift was a result of that experience and his wife's deep connection to Israel.

It is Judy and Philip's hope that this scholarship will help enable other educators to have this same kind of profound experience.