World ORT, the global Jewish education organization serving approximately 80,000 students across more than 30 countries, today announced the establishment of the Mikhail Libkin Memorial Award for ORT History and Jewish Heritage. The award honors the memory of Mikhail (Misha) Libkin, the National Director and alumnus of ORT Russia, whose sudden passing has left a profound loss across the World ORT family.
Misha was a devoted champion of ORT’s mission and a passionate custodian of Jewish history and heritage. Throughout his career, he worked to make ORT’s story vivid and meaningful, connecting students and communities to the deeper roots of the organization and the wider tapestry of Jewish life. This award is established in that spirit.
“Misha believed that history was not something to be stored away. It was something to be shared, felt, and passed forward. This award invites students across our network to carry that belief into their own creative work,” said Dov Ben-Shimon, CEO, World ORT.
About the Award
The Mikhail Libkin Memorial Award invites students across the World ORT network to explore ORT’s global impact and the broader story of Jewish life, research key moments, people, and milestones in ORT and Jewish history, and bring them to life through compelling, original creative work.
The award is open to ORT students of all ages, individually or in small groups. Submissions may take any creative form, including documentary-style films, visual art, poetry, music, theatre, digital storytelling, podcasts, graphic novels, oral history interviews, and more. All entries will be evaluated on historical understanding, creativity and originality, communication and clarity, technical quality, and the depth of reflection they bring to ORT and Jewish heritage.
Submissions will open before Rosh Hashanah 5787 (September 2026). Winners will be announced around Chanukkah.
Endorsed by World ORT’s Executive Committee
The award has been formally endorsed by World ORT’s Executive Committee. Further details on the submission process, judging criteria, and how to enter will be shared with schools and network leaders in the coming months.
For more information about this award or other World ORT educational initiatives, please contact Sheryl Gold via email: [email protected]
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About World ORT
Founded in 1880, World ORT is one of the world’s most far reaching Jewish educational networks, serving 80,000 students and 200,000 beneficiaries annually across more than 30 countries on five continents, with headquarters in New York and offices in London and Israel. Learn more online at www.ort.org
How can errors in maths lead to fatal design failures? Why is weight one of the most vital aspects of a Formula 1 car? Can you tell if your honey is pure by adding it to water? And is there really a way to biologically modify humans to create superhumans?
From translating theories about DNA and the benefits of using biomaterials to sharing how to make a pinhole camera and understanding what silence really is, students at ORT schools globally have impressed judges in this year’s World ORT STEM Communication Award with their straightforward explanation of complex scientific information.
The students, who have a passion for science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) and could enter individually or as a pair, were judged on their engagement, quality of information, topic selection and creativity.
There were dozens of entries in two categories, 14- to 16-year-olds and 17- to 19-year-olds. Entries came from ORT schools in countries including Argentina, Brazil, France, Bulgaria, Mexico, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Panama, Peru, and Ukraine. The winning students came from four countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria and Kyrgyzstan.
Entrants had to film themselves, in a five to ten-minute video, conveying their understanding of a STEM concept or their ability to clearly explain, to a non-specialist audience, a complex current issue related to this field.
Sofia in her video STEM is the Blueprint explains how STEM calculations are crucial for product design
As well as providing the opportunity for students to develop experience of deeper scientific research, the World ORT STEM Communication Award nurtures the development of softer skills, such as teamwork, problem-solving, creative thinking and public speaking among its students.
Pupils from ORT Argentina were awarded first, second and third place in the 17-19 age category as well as being the runners-up.
In first place was Sofía, with the video titled STEM is the Blueprint, while in second place came Alon with his video You Know Aerodynamics? Every Pilot Learned This Wrong.
Sofía said: “I chose the topic because next year I want to study architecture and in our daily life we overlook many things or feel comfortable about things we don’t even analyze – like the height of a chair, table, bed, and so on.
“I developed several skills beyond the topic of the video, which is a communication competition. It was a lot of work; I had to do a lot of editing, and writing a script in English was also a challenge, so winning was a great reward for all the effort behind it and for working on a topic I like so much.
“It’s great ORT does this – motivating us to develop our interests and allowing us to continue exploring something we like so much outside the classroom.”
In third place were Solana and Violeta, the duo behind the video titled The curiosity killed the cat… or not?, while runner-up Ignacio submitted Are we consuming experiences… or consuming addictions?
Alon won second place in the 17-19 age category with his video You Know Aerodynamics? Every Pilot Learned This Wrong
Pupils from ORT Argentina also won first and second place in the 14-16 age category; Julia and Sofía with their video, Every Screw Counts: Anatomy Of An F1 Car, and Luana and Maga with Biomaterials, respectively.
Sofía said: “We chose this topic mainly because we both really liked motorsports and aerodynamics. For me, this wasn’t a school project – it was more for fun because I didn’t feel the pressure for it to turn out perfectly; it was something to enjoy.”
Julia said: “It’s very common for ORT to do this [encourage students to participate in activities like this], and it was great to have the opportunity to combine our tracks and talk about topics we like.”
In joint second place was Emanuela from Dimcho Debelianov ORT Jewish School in Bulgaria, with her video, Honey: A Blend of Nature and Science.
In joint third place were four sets of students from ORT Argentina: Ada with her video Decode Life: CRISPR, DNA and the Next Scientific Revolution, Flor and Mathias with The Universe Fits in a Box, Ruby and Sophie with The Science of Silence and Dora from Escola ORT Brazil with Let’s Make A Pinhole Camera.
Students from ORT Argentina and Pri Etz Chaim Semi-Private Jewish School in Kyrgyzstan were runners-up: Julieta with her video Are you really hungry or you just want to eat? and Egor with Optical Remote Control System for Machinery, respectively.
A total of $1,500 prize money was awarded to entrants.
Julia and Sofía came first in the 14-16 age category with their video, Every Screw Counts: Anatomy Of An F1 Car
World ORT’s Head of Education, Daniel Tysman, said: “These awards challenge ORT students to dig deeper, to find new and creative ways to communicate their own understanding of STEM topics to others.
“We received many high-quality entries, from students with remarkable communication skills, who inspired us and, we hope, will encourage other students to showcase their talents to a global audience by entering this competition next year.”
Click here for a list of winners and links to their videos.
A smart glove and walking stick equipped with sensors to assist visually-impaired people, the hosting of a regular staff and teacher appreciation event and the preservation of the memory of the Holocaust are among the projects for which ORT students have been recognized in their efforts to improve the world.
Seven projects that were deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to Tikkun Olam – our shared responsibility to heal, repair and transform the world – have won the World ORT Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award out of a record 18 entries.
Ten entries were submitted by students from Escola ORT in Brazil; two by students from Scuola della Comunità Ebraica di Milano in Italy; two by students from Moscow ORT School #1540 in Russia; and one from students in each of ORT “Mishpahteinu” School in Kazan, Russia; ORT “Gesher” School in Samara, Russia; Colegio Olamí ORT in Mexico; and Colegio Isaac Rabin in Panama.
In a competition first, all four entries from Russia won the award.
Smart Glove and Smart Walking Stick, conceived by students from Escola ORT, is a glove equipped with ultrasonic and color sensors, activated by voice command, to assist visually-impaired people to navigate indoors. A smart walking stick was also envisioned, equipped with proximity sensors to assist visually-impaired individuals in open urban environments.
The students said: “One of our team members was inspired by a conversation with his father, a coach for Paralympic athletes. His father described the daily challenges faced by the visually-impaired, sparking a deep desire to create a practical solution that could improve their quality of life.”
Toys from the Heart was conceived by Vika, a 10th grade student at Moscow ORT School #1540, who works with children in an orphanage. Many of them struggle with emotional expression, so Vika invites them to draw characters and describe their traits. She then crochets toys based on their drawings, helping them to express their feelings in a safe and creative way.
“When I see a child smile after receiving a toy, I realize we haven’t just created a toy – we have helped them feel important and heard,” explained Vika.
The Memory Through Fates project by students at ORT “Mishpahteinu” School aims to preserve the memory of the Holocaust not only through storytelling but also deeper historical analysis and reflection via archives and the taking of testimonies.
A speaker for the Memory Through Fates project
Student Elizaveta said: “My family met Rakhil Peretsevna Arleevskaya, who told us how her father, Perets Arleevskiy, saved his family along with 66 orphans in July 1941.
“We couldn’t find any information about him at Yad Vashem and we realized there were many such stories that could be forgotten. So we decided to create a project that would help preserve memories and explore the fates of people affected by the Holocaust.
“The project has allowed participants to see the human stories behind the numbers.”
The Toda Le’Kulam (Thank You Everyone) project by students from Colegio Olamí ORT, Mexico, gives thanks to school staff in various departments in recognition of their hard work and contribution.
Once a month, on Friday afternoons, elementary students, along with a teacher and student leaders, prepare and cook a lunch, have a Kabbalat Shabbat and social activities with staff groups.
“Our role is to plan the meals and activities, prepare, cook, share and clean after the event,” the students said.
Students make food for teachers in the Toda Le’Kulam project
Students from Moscow ORT School #1540 were behind the Culinary Connection project, which brings together generations through cooking traditional Jewish dishes. Students host workshops with elderly people from chesed organizations and deliver meals to those who are housebound.
“Many elderly people face social isolation, especially those who live alone or have mobility issues. In large cities like Moscow, this issue is particularly noticeable as older individuals often find themselves cut off from society and lose connections with others,” students explained.
“The students realized how important it is to build connections between generations and how this helps to combat loneliness. What began as a simple cooking activity has grown into a meaningful experience for everyone involved – a chance to talk, share stories, and truly understand each other.”
Eva, a student at Colegio Isaac Rabin in Panama, conceived the Recycling Talks project, for which she donated four recycling bins (organic, plastic, glass, and paper) to a school in the coastal town of Veracruz, where ocean pollution is a significant threat.
“I explained to preschool and first graders how to use the bins and why recycling matters, especially near the sea. I wanted to help protect our beaches and marine life. The children were so engaged, and teachers said they would keep using the bins, so the impact keeps going.”
Colegio Isaac Rabin student Eva discusses the benefits of recycling with children
Students from ORT “Gesher” School participated in the Volunteer Squad project, supporting the preservation of Jewish culture and traditions.
They organized national holidays in their school, participated in ORT programs, and helped in chesed centres. “We maintain connections between generations. We consider it important to preserve national customs, culture, languages, and traditions of our peoples,” they explained. “We pass on our knowledge to younger children and promote our idea to the masses.”
Some of the students credited the ORT network with being able to participate in the projects.
“Being part of the ORT network was essential to everything we achieved,” said the students behind the Smart Gloveand Smart Walking Stick project. “ORT provided us with tools, structure, support, and guidance that made the project possible and enjoyable. The learning environment and teacher guidance helped us apply our knowledge in a practical and concrete way.”
Jim Lodge, CEO of World ORT, said: “We were thrilled with the excellence and breadth of entries to this year’s World ORT Gina and Joseph Harmatz Award.
“They showcase the concern and desire of our students to improve the lives of others in a practical way. We are incredibly proud of our students, who truly embody the values ORT holds dear.”
Prizes are awarded in memory of the late Gina and Joseph Harmatz, who played crucial roles in ORT’s history.
Joseph Harmatz was Director-General and CEO of World ORT in the 1980s and 1990s. Formerly a partisan, he was regarded as a hero of Lithuania’s Jewish resistance against the Nazis, while Gina Harmatz escaped Nazi persecution in western Europe in the 1930s and 1940s before settling in Israel. She was well-known for her graciousness and the importance she placed on family relationships along with concern for the welfare of others.
To view videos of the students’ projects, click here
Avi Meir, Principal and General Director of Colegio Olamí ORT in Mexico City, has been announced as the 2025 recipient of the Robert Singer Award for Outstanding ORT Professionals.
The annual award recognizes ORT professionals around the world whose efforts and achievements advance beneficiaries locally and support the global ORT network.
Mr. Meir said: “I see this award as an inspiration to continue striving, learning, dreaming, and investing in those who hold the future in their hands – knowing that the impact of education grows as young people grow, and that the most important thing we can do is to provide them with the tools to truly thrive in life.
“It is not just a personal moment, but also a recognition of the collective efforts of our team, our partners, and our community, all of whom believe in creating meaningful educational opportunities and building a better future through learning, empowerment, and innovation.”
He became a Hebrew and Bible Teacher at Colegio Israelita de México (CIM) in 2007 and was a member of the committee that integrated CIM into the World ORT Network. He developed technical diploma programs for high school students in collaboration with ORT Mexico.
After being an emissary (Sheliach) at CIM, Mr. Meir became its Elementary Director. He then spent four years in the role of Middle School Principal, High School Principal, and Deputy General Director, becoming its General Director in 2014. In 2022, he played a key role in the merger of Colegio Hebreo Sefaradí and Colegio Israelita de México ORT (CIM-ORT).
Through this merger, Colegio Olamí ORT positioned itself as a leading educational institution in the Jewish community in Mexico, committed to academic excellence and the formation of critical and creative students.
Mr. Meir has undertaken special projects on behalf of the ORT network, including a humanitarian mission to ORT Cuba and student exchange programs throughout the ORT network to countries including Russia, Israel, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Argentina, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Robert Singer, former CEO and Chair of the Board of Trustees, World ORT; Chairman of both the Center for Jewish Impact and Alumot Or, and President of SASA Setton, for whom the award is named, said: “It is a true privilege to see this award presented to Avi Meir, an exceptional educator and visionary leader who has dedicated his career to shaping future generations through knowledge, values, and compassion.
Robert Singer, former CEO and Chair of the Board of Trustees, World ORT
“Avi exemplifies the essence of ORT’s mission by empowering students through high-quality education that combines academic excellence with a strong sense of Jewish identity and community responsibility.
“Under Avi’s professional leadership, Colegio Olamí ORT has created a model of innovation, inclusion, and inspiration. He has built an environment where every student is encouraged to learn, grow, and believe in their own abilities.”
Mr. Singer said that Mr. Meir’s “professionalism, creativity, and unwavering dedication” were a source of pride for the entire ORT network and a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of education.
“High-level Jewish education has always been, and continues to be, the cornerstone of strong and resilient communities, especially in challenging times. Avi’s remarkable work embodies this enduring truth and serves as an inspiration to educators and leaders across the Jewish world.”
Receiving the Robert Singer Award was of great personal and professional significance to Mr. Meir, who was born in Tel Aviv, Israel.
“The award is a reminder of the importance of the educational work we do every day – with students, teachers, and communities – and of the fact that every small effort can make a lasting impact,” he explained.
In 2023, Mr. Meir introduced a month-long program at Colegio Olamí ORT for 25 Israeli high school students who were evacuated from their communities near Gaza following the October 7 attacks. The program, for students aged 12 to 16, provided the teenagers with opportunities for learning and socializing, in both formal classes as well as extracurricular activities and trips.
That same year, he was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Ministry of Education in Mexico, through the Kinneret Institute, in recognition of his remarkable career and contributions to the field of education.
Mr. Meir has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with a focus on Biblical History from Tel Aviv University and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Derby University (Israel). He holds a second Master’s degree in Jewish Studies from the Hebrew University, Mexico.
Previous winners of the Robert Singer Award include Ariella Rosenberg, CEO of ORT SA in Johannesburg, Dr. Jorge Grünberg, Rector of the Universidad ORT Uruguay; Vladimir Kritsman, Principal of the Jewish school ORT “Pri Etz Haim” in Kyrgyzstan; and staff from ORT Ukraine.
There are thousands of miles between the communities of Springfield and the award-winning World ORT students visiting them from southern Israel, but the kinship between the two communities is a strong and historic one.
The visiting Israeli students are an all-girl robotics team from Dimona, a traditionally overlooked city in Israel. But PowerPuff Team #900, students from the YOUniversity Center in Dimona, an extracurricular STEM enrichment program run by World ORT Kadima Mada, World ORT’s operating arm in Israel, showed the world what expert training can do.
The 9th-graders took part in the prestigious international FIRST LEGO League at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Worcester, Massachusetts, from June 12 to 14, 2026. The girls, who won the national finals in Israel, competed against more than 100 teams from all over the world and took first place in the Innovation award.
Participating and winning at such a high level is a huge achievement. Dimona is a small desert city of roughly 35,000 residents in Israel’s Negev region that has traditionally been underserved educationally and socioeconomically. Thanks to a partnership between World ORT Kadima Mada and the Municipality of Dimona, roughly one in four children in Dimona now participate in robotics groups that run from kindergarten through high school.
Suze Goldman with the PowerPuff #900 team at Springfield Jewish Community Center
But equally important as winning an international accolade is being held in a collective embrace by the Jewish community abroad. Ahead of the competition, supporters from Springfield Jewish Community Centre (JCC) and the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts welcomed the girls and enjoyed a meal together. This was followed by a Q&A session organized by Alex Bebeshko, World ORT’s Development Director, Northeast Region, and moderated by Anna Stein, World ORT’s Director of Strategic Engagement and Special Projects.
Springfield and Longmeadow have a long history and involvement with ORT. The region’s Women’s American ORT chapter was a vibrant one for many decades and the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts has consistently been a great supporter of ORT.
And in 2014, Heritage Academy Day School in Longmeadow, which placed a strong emphasis on technology, partnered with World ORT to become the first pilot school in the United States to implement its outstanding technological program. World ORT Kadima Mada provided cutting-edge technological tools and pedagogical training to enrich the teaching and learning environment within the classroom.
Suze Goldman, World ORT Board Member and former President of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts and former Executive Board Member of the Springfield JCC, said: “As members of the Jewish community, we have a connection to our Jewish families around the world. Our history instructs us that community is powerful and significant and necessary. When people were in need in Europe after the war, the Jewish community was there to help them. Whether we live in Vilnius, in Israel, or in Mexico City, we are extended family.”
There are other connections too. The Federation’s Anna P. Housen Fund for Israel, Fred & Ruth Weiss Fund for Israel, and the Sylvia Zucker Children’s Fund has made a joint gift of $10,000 to support World ORT Kadima Mada’s YOUniversity in Dimona for the upcoming school year, ensuring students such as the PowerPuff team can have similar experiences.
Springfield and the Pioneer Valley has a community of Holocaust survivors; ORT played a significant role in educating survivors and refugees in the Displaced Persons’ (DP) Camps in Europe after the Second World War. A number of the children born and educated by ORT in the DP camps live in Pioneer Valley.
“When there is distress to Jews around the world, our community is there. People are suffering now, and World ORT is helping them, for example in Ukraine and in Israel,” Suze explains.
“World ORT operates in more than 30 countries and connects people. People don’t want to feel like an island. There’s strength in being part of a network, part of a community. With World ORT, there’s a feeling of being a part of something bigger than oneself, and that matters.”
In Israel, World ORT aims to reduce socioeconomic gaps in underserved communities through STEM education, leadership, and innovation. Dimona is now a nationally recognized robotics hub, and investment in education in this region is helping to improve the opportunities for its students.
Robotics team PowerPuff #900 won the national FIRST LEGO League award in Israel in April
Adi Cohen, the YOUniversity Center of Excellence Manager for the Dimona and Be’ersheva regions, said: “This team has proven, once again, that girls can lead, create, innovate, and succeed at the highest levels in science and technology. Their hard work, dedication, curiosity, and determination paid off.
“These young girls are champions, and they are a powerful example for other students, especially young girls, who dream of taking part in the world of robotics, engineering, and innovation. I am extremely proud of them, of their journey, and of everything they represent.”
The girls told the Springfield audience: “Robotics for all of us is much more than just a team. It’s like a family. We learn, grow, argue but, most importantly, we love unconditionally. Every one of us brings a different color, a different strength, a different story and together we become something powerful.”
ORT works to impart Jewish values such as tikkun olam to all students, and the PowerPuff Team #900 were mentored by RoboActive #2096, the team that won a special award at the First International Robotics Championship in Houston, Texas, last month.
Cohen said, “Behind this success stands a dedicated group of mentors, who accompanied the team throughout the entire journey and were an inseparable part of this achievement.”
She expressed particular thanks to Etty Itzhak, head mentor for all the robotics programming in Dimona, and Shiraz, mentor of the PowerPuff team who is also an alumna of Roboactive and a WOKM instructor, for their “commitment, guidance, professionalism, and belief in the girls every step of the way.”
Moshe Leiba, World ORT Kadima Mada’s Deputy Directory General and Chief Pedagogy and R&D Officer, said: “These remarkable young women are proof that talent is universal, even when opportunities are not. Through dedication, expert mentoring, and access to high-quality STEM education, they transformed curiosity into innovation and brought pride to their community, to Israel, and to the entire ORT network.”
The PowerPuff #900 team visit was generously supported by the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts and Springfield Jewish Community Center.
To learn more about supporting transformational educational opportunities like this one, please contact Chief Development Officer Allison Baumwald at [email protected].
