Bryna Zehngut Mitzvot Award Nomination

A True Woman of Torah Exemplifying Strength, Courage, Righteousness, Wisdom, and Soul

The Bryna Zehngut Mitzvot award, created to honor Bryna Zehngut, of blessed memory, recognizes an outstanding Jewish young woman in our community. 

The recipient should be a high school junior or senior who has been a role model of Jewish values and shown leadership through her community organizational or volunteer activities. She will receive a $613 gift — based on the Jewish tradition of 613 mitzvot — which can be utilized towards participation on a trip to Israel, a Jewish leadership/educational program, or donated in the recipient’s name to a Jewish non-profit organization of her choice.  

The Bryna Zehngut Mitzvot award is given out each year at JPSA’s Connections event, which is scheduled for March 2, 2025. The recipient must be able to attend the event and will be asked to make brief acceptance remarks. 

Please note: Nominations cannot be submitted by a family member but can be self-submitted. You may submit multiple nominations. 

Nominations may also be submitted by emailing the required information to JPSA’s Women’s Philanthropy Manager Ital Ironstone, or by mailing/delivering the same information to Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona, 3718 East River Road, Suite 100, Tucson, AZ 85718, Attn: Ital Ironstone.    

Nominations cannot be submitted by a family member but can be self-submitted.

NOMINEES MUST BE PREPARED TO:

• Provide a list of volunteer involvement within the Jewish and broader community. 
• Be interviewed by members from JPSA’s Women’s Philanthropy leadership. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Nominee must be a Jewish female who is currently a junior or senior in high school. 
• Nominee must be involved in Jewish community service or Jewish leadership in an ongoing capacity. (This may include both paid and volunteer positions.) 
• Nominee must attend JPSA’s Connections Event on March 2, 2025, where they will make an acceptance speech. 

NOMINATION AWARD PROCESS AND TIMELINE:

• Nominees may self-nominate or be nominated by a community member or community institution. 
• Juniors who are nominated but do not receive the award may resubmit their nominations during their next year in high school. 

• TIMELINE: 
  • November 15, 2024 – Nomination submission deadline 
  • December 2, 2024 – Nominee notification and request for nominee application materials 
  • December 20, 2024 – Nominee material submission deadline 
  • January 6-10, 2025 – Nominee review and semifinalist selection 
  • January 20-24, 2025 – Semifinalist interviews 
  • February 3, 2025 – Awardee notification 
  • March 2, 2025 – Award Presentation/Acceptance at Connections event.