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Jonah: School Humanitarian of the Year
As I picked up my son today after school ended, he told me he’d won an award. He presented me the certificate and I figured it was something like a dime-a-dozen Best Attendance award (forgive my cynicism, Jonah). But when I read it my attitude changed instantly. Jonah, who attends first grade, had been named the Seymour Kaplan Humanitarian of the Year for his class:
For exemplary efforts to improve the quality of school and community life by continually demonstrating those humanitarian attributes which were reflected in the life of Seymour Kaplan.
My wife and I have always known Jonah is an extraordinarily empathic soul. He seems attuned to the moods of others and sensitive to emotional nuance. If someone is feeling down he knows it. If he or someone in his class has been treated unfairly, he feels it and tries to do something about it. He seems like the spirit of his class.
Jonah isn’t drawn to the loud, flashy or popular kids. He’s drawn to the boys and girls like him who are warm, thoughtful and have an emotional core (forgive me for using stuff that borders on jargon–but if you know Jonah you’ll know what I mean).
Students in each class vote on who should receive this award. Then the teachers go over the vote and make a final decision. His teacher said the choice wasn’t even close in Jonah’s case–he was it.
Can I say how proud I am of my son? Or, as the grandmother of an old ex-girlfriend used to say so memorably: “I’m shlepping nachas.” She also used to say: “I’m a nervous rag [wreck].” But don’t get me started on her wonderfully mangled English.
By the way, who was this guy, Seymour Kaplan? This question sent me to Google where, of course, I discovered some fascinating things about the man. He was the Seattle Anti-Defamation League director in the 1960s and was known as both a civil rights and Democratic party activist during the same era. He was a member of the Washington State Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. In 1972, Mr. Kaplan received the Washington State Man of the Year Award. Alas, the ADL doesn’t hire people of Mr. Kaplan’s political interests these days as the group has long since ceased its interest in civil rights, except as it pertains to Jews.
This is the first serious award Jonah has won. If you do a web search there are adults who not only list receiving the Kaplan Award, but some who say it was an important moment in their lives.
If you read his widow, Sara Kaplan’s bio you’ll be amazed at what a couple they must’ve been.
LeaNder said:
Congratulations Richard. This means you must be doing something extremely right.
What is nachas?
LeaNder said:
“I’m a nervous rag [wreck].”
Maybe the connection via the German word Nervenbuendel does help?
I love etymology but unfortunately the online dictionary via google books does not give me the page. I have a theory though that comes close to your wreck.
Rags were bundled (Buendel). Just as a nervous wreck feels like something that should be discarded, figuratively. It could of course allude to the medical “bundle of nerves”, if it is a younger coinage, which I doubt.
http://tinyurl.com/5bjgq7
Maybe your granny carried along a meaning, she felt was more precise than “bag of nerves”, feeling more like a bundle of rags.
You will please forgive me this. But I love tales about family. They influence us more over the generations than we are prepared to admit.
Daga1 said:
Congrat Richard
A Chip of the old Block huh ?
We dont have those silly awards in Norway,its kind of inconsistent with our egalitarian creed. But if we had, this would be the one I want for my children.
An ani-ADL reward ? thats “gefundenes fressen”
:-))
Dan Sniderman said:
Mazel Tov - that is so wonderful! I love hearing news of your delightful children!
Violet said:
Congrats, Richard. That chuffed parental feeling is something money can’t buy :)
Richard Silverstein said:
@Violet: Love that word “chuffed.” We don’t have anything like it in U.S. English.
Kristie said:
I have to love that this blog showed up on my web search for Seymour Kaplan.. as my 3rd grade son brought home the same nomination letter.. today - the day AFTER the award ceremony (which , of course, as a result I missed). We are also so proud of his compassion, humbleness and all around good nature that I cannot express my dismay of celebrating this moment publicly with him. We can only console ourselves in that he thought it was so ordinary that it was not “that big of a deal” and that is truly what makes it extraordinary!
David Kaplan said:
Sey Kaplan (OBM) was my Dad. Merle Cohn, Bob Miller and Art Siegal are the three B’nai B’rith brothers who created this award and saw to it it was endowed to go on in perpetuity. My Mom, currently a resident at Kline Galland, was the political activist. Dad tried to stay non-partisan. Amongst his close friends were Dan Evans and Henry Jackson. Dad believed prejuduce was learned and worked to bring diversity training (though they called it something else back then) into Seattle Schools. He and Attorney Lem Howell led the fight to integrate the carpenters union. Lem’s daughter is also a winner of the award. He died way too young — at 60 in 1974 and I’ve alwys been grateful to Blanche Wolman and the others who drove the WA State Man of the Year event and to Merle, Art and Bob for creating this wonderful award in his memory.
Richard Silverstein said:
@David Kaplan: I was hoping that a member of your family would see this post & reply. All I can say is that though I never met your dad, I’ve met so many wonderful Jewish dads like him through the yrs. & I can imagine he was a real mensch.
THanks for the history of the award & your dad’s good deeds in the Seattle community.
Miriam Kaplan Barnett said:
Dear Richard,
I am Seymour Kaplan’s daughter. My 25 year old daughter googled my dad’s name recently and found your posting. I see my brother David replied as well. I was 18 years old when my dad died (and turned 53 today!)and it brings me great joy that his name lives on in this award. I followed in his footsteps, leading nonprofit organizations for the last 23 years. I currently live in Gig Harbor and work in downtown Tacoma as the Executive Director of the YWCA Pierce County. Our focus is on domestic violence and racial justice. I am grateful to my father for the values he instilled in us that all people should be treated with equal respect and dignity. It sounds like you instilled the same values with your child.
It is a joy to connect to you via email. Please let your son know that it means a lot to us to know our dad’s legend lives on in young people like Jonah.
Miriam Barnett
Richard Silverstein said:
@Miriam Kaplan Barnett: Thank you for your lovely comment and for the wonderful humanitarian tradition represented by your dad, may his memory be for a blessing. I hope my son will have an opportunity to meet your mom some day.