Amy Lederman

Ethics
Tucson, Arizona

Amy Hirshberg Lederman is an attorney, Jewish educator, syndicated columnist and freelance writer. She practiced real estate and business law for fourteen years and has served as the Assistant North American Director of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School and the Director of the Department of Jewish Education and Identity for the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona.

Amy founded the FMAMS of Tucson in 1995 when she was a student. She loves teaching Melton for two reasons: the curriculum and the professionals and teachers associated with it. She has been teaching the ethics course for four years.

Amy chose to teach in the Mini-School because Melton provides its students with a pathway into a very personal and meaningful Jewish experience - that of studying with and in a Jewish community. "I admire and respect Florence Melton", she says, "and people like Yonatan Mirvis and Betsy Katz who have spearheaded innovative and exceptional Jewish learning throughout the world."

She has become aware of the power of adult transformative learning through active engagement with texts and with each other in class. "I have watched my students initially struggle with concepts and then, over time, find personal ways to interpret and embrace meaningful Jewish wisdom and mitzvot."

"I try to connect personally to my students and let them know that I care about them," she says. "If I see or hear about someone who is having difficulty, I will make myself available to listen or talk or have lunch. I often invite my class to my home for a Chanukah brunch or end of year party."

Amy received her BA in psychology and Judaic Studies from Oberlin College, a Juris Doctor (Law Degree) from the University of Arizona, College of Law and a Masters in Jewish Education from Spertus College of Jewish Studies.

Amy has been married to Ray Lederman (a psychiatrist) for 22 years and has two children, Joshua ,19, and Lauren, 17. "I grew up in New Jersey", she says, "and after college, hitchhiked across the country and landed in Tucson, AZ where I have lived ever since. I loved Tucson because it reminded me of Israel - the air has that desert quality like Jerusalem and the mountains and desert colors reminded me of places I loved in Israel." During 1997-8 she participated in the Melton Centre's Senior Educator's Program at Hebrew University.

Amy has a syndicated column in a number of Jewish newspapers, and has published several short stories and recently published her first book "To Life! Jewish Reflections on Everyday Living."

Read more about Amy and her new book on her website at www.amyhirshberglederman.com

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