The Association of Reform Jewish Educators is honored to announce the creation of the Rabbi Jan D. Katzew Mentorship Program, celebrating an educator whose vision, wisdom, and generosity have shaped generations of Reform Jewish educators.
Rabbi Jan D. Katzew, PhD served as the Director of Lifelong Jewish Learning at the URJ and as an Associate Professor of Education and Jewish Thought at HUC-JIR. Throughout his remarkable career, Jan has been a passionate champion of Jewish learning and of the educators who make that learning possible. As a teacher and leader in Reform Jewish education and a mentor to countless professionals across our field, he has helped elevate the voice and impact of Jewish educators in the Reform movement and beyond.
Those who have worked with Jan know that his greatest influence has come not only through the initiatives he led or the programs he developed, but also through the people he nurtured along the way. Over decades, he invested deeply in relationships with educators— encouraging them to ask bold questions, share their wisdom, and grow into the leaders our communities need, sometimes believing in them more than they believed in themselves.
Jan shared his deep connection to mentorship, believing a mentor is someone whose Torah lives on in his or her mentees. For Jan, education has always been collaborative work—built through partnerships, shared learning, and a deep belief that the collective wisdom of educators strengthens the entire community. He has often spoken about the importance of surrounding oneself with talented colleagues and learning from one another, recognizing that the strength of our field comes from the diverse gifts each educator brings. His dedication and commitment to raising funds for mentorship within ARJE reflect these values.
In his remarks to those assembled, Jan reminded us that leadership is not about individual accomplishment, but about investing in others. Mentorship, in Jan’s vision, is both a professional commitment and a sacred responsibility. It is the act of recognizing potential in others and helping them discover their own voices as teachers, innovators, and leaders.
The Jan D. Katzew Mentorship Program carries forward that legacy. Through meaningful relationships between experienced educators and those ARJE members desiring mentorship, the program will cultivate leadership, strengthen our profession, and ensure that the wisdom of one generation is shared with the next.
A prototype of this program began in the Fall of 2024. We will begin a new cohort with an in-person launch in November 2026. By naming this program in his honor, ARJE celebrates not only Jan’s extraordinary contributions to Jewish education, but also the values he has modeled throughout his career: humility, collaboration, curiosity, and an unwavering belief in people.
Indicate your interest in becoming a mentor or receiving a mentor.
Help us reach our goal of raising $150,000 by adding your donations to the over $75,000 raised in Jan’s honor.