Larry Katz to receive lifetime achievement award from JEA

The Jewish Educators Assembly (JEA), an arm of the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism (USCJ), is excited to announce that Dr. Lawrence Katz will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunday, March 10, 2024 in Atlanta, GA. Katz has been an active member of the JEA since 1978 and has earned an honorary Doctor of Pedagogy from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Katz continues to serve on the JEA board, offering his advice and wisdom, gained from a lifetime of serving the Jewish people.

Lawrence (Larry) Katz recently retired from the position of director of Jewish life and learning for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. He served 26 years with the Alliance and one of its predecessor agencies, the Bureau of Jewish Education. Among his duties, he provided professional development opportunities and educational resources for Jewish educators and directed the Israel Desk, including supervision of the shaliach/Israeli emissary. He also administered a foundation to provide scholarships for day school students.

Previously, Katz served Jewish schools and central agencies for Jewish education in Hamilton, Ontario; Dallas; Cincinnati; Vineland, NJ; Reading, PA; and Cleveland. He earned a BA at Columbia College and an MA and a Doctor of Pedagogy, honoris causa, from the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Katz is a past president of the Jewish Educators Assembly, and he served for several years each on the boards of United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism and the Rhode Island affiliate of ASCD, a professional educators’ organization, as well as a Jewish federation and JCC. He currently serves on boards within the Jewish community, ranging from supporting Jewish scouting to a historical society, promoting business and academic ties between Israel and Rhode Island and developing a Jewish Museum. He recently was recognized by the Consulate of Israel to New England for his involvement in programs about Israel.

Katz is a recipient of the Charles Samdperil Award from Jewish Community Day School and the Amudim Award from Providence Hebrew Day School.

Katz lives in Providence with his wife, Marilyn Spitalny Katz. They have two sons, Daniel and Jacob, both of whom live in Virginia.