Metuka Benjamin graduated from the Columbia University-Jewish Theological Seminary combined program, where she received an M.A. in Education. When Stephen S. Wise Temple conceived its educational mission in 1964, she became Director of Education and has served in this capacity since that time. Through the years, Mrs. Benjamin has experienced the excitement and challenges accompanying the founding of each of the four Temple schools: Early Childhood Education Center, Elementary School, Religious School and Milken Community High School.
As Director of Education, Mrs. Benjamin serves on the Temple Executive Board and the Temple Financial Oversight Committee, and represents the schools in the larger community. This includes overseeing management of each school’s program, including budgets and community relations. All four heads of schools report directly to her.
In addition to her school responsibilities, Mrs. Benjamin is a member of the Jewish Federation’s Partnership 2000 Education Steering Committee and oversees the Milken Community High School/Shevach Moffet School (Los Angeles/Tel Aviv) student exchange program. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Beit Milken, Jerusalem, and is International President of Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Israel. She is a Board Member of CaPCure and the Israeli Air Force.
Mrs. Benjamin was named Teacher of the Year by the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Los Angeles and was a recipient of the Milken Family Foundation Educator Award as well as the Dr. Jaimie Constantiner Award in Jewish Education fromTel Aviv University. On May 20, 2007 Mrs. Benjamin received a Doctor of Humane Letters – Honoris Causa from the American Jewish University, and currently serves on the Advisory Committee of the University.
On May 11, 2005 Mrs. Benjamin along with Charles Bronfman were the first Jews from the Diaspora to stand alongside 10 Israelis and light the ceremonial torch on Independence Day. This great honor was bestowed upon Mrs. Benjamin as a gesture toward recognizing the partnership between Israel and the Diaspora in Jewish life, a cause to which Mrs. Benjamin has greatly contributed.
According to Mrs. Benjamin, her years as Director of Education at Stephen S. Wise Temple have been the most challenging and rewarding years of her life. She respects the wisdom of the extraordinary educational staff and is “committed, through shared decision-making, to providing an environment in which they can create and excel to their maximum.” She encourages risk-taking and innovation, which has resulted in many exciting and successful programs for the students.
Metuka Benjamin continues: “My commitment has always been to provide our graduates with learning that will root them in their heritage and provide them with the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in our changing world. Our children are our future. Their elders have dreamed the dreams and provided the grounding, but the children will fulfill their own visions for a strong, secure, and meaningful future.”