Rabbi Charles E. Savenor

Rabbi Charles “Charlie” Savenor has served since 2022 as Executive Director of Civic Spirit, a national civic education organization that works to strengthen civic education through the lens of Jewish values in both Jewish day schools and other faith-based schools. In this role, he oversees all of Civic Spirit’s educational programming and operations.

Savenor has broadened Civic Spirit’s reach and brought Orthodox and Modern Orthodox Jewish day schools into dialogue with other Jewish and non-Jewish faith-based schools. At Civic Spirit Days, he leads daylong civic education  programming and civil dialogue training for students from a broad range of denominational schools to build relationships and practice problem solving.

Early in his tenure at Civic Spirit, Savenor expanded the organization’s student experiences and public programming focused on the organization’s three core pillars for generating long-lasting, effective, and meaningful civic learning. Using a foundation of Jewish values, these three pillars—democratic fluency, civic skills, and civic belonging—are integrated throughout Civic Spirit’s broad spectrum of programming for students and teachers in Jewish and other faith-based middle and high schools.

Savenor also oversees, facilitates, and serves as a mentor for Civic Spirit’s Educators Cohort Fellowship, an annual program that brings together educators from Jewish and other faith-based schools to learn how to integrate faith values and civic discourse into their classrooms, and leads Civic Spirit’s “We the People” online learning program. This annual virtual learning series weaves the rich history of Jews in America with Torah learning and current events.

“Charlie is perfectly aligned to lead an organization like Civic Spirit, embarking on a mission to mold character, good citizenship, and critical thinking through civic education of young Americans in day schools,” said Kathy Elias, a board member of Civic Spirit who nominated Savenor for the award.

“As he has done in so many settings, Charlie sets the educational vision and teaches alongside a team of educators at all workshops and conferences. He believes that the integration of Jewish teachings and values in civics education is essential to the betterment of both the Jewish community and American society.”

Upon receiving the news that he’d been selected for the Award, Savenor shared, “Torah has given my life purpose, passion, and hope. Building Jewish community through meaning and learning is truly all I have ever wanted to do.”

“When Joni called with this extraordinary news, I was overcome with gratitude, both for this recognition from The Covenant Foundation and for the inspiration and support I have received from my parents, teachers, mentors, and students. I cannot think of a more meaningful year than America’s 250th to receive this award, as it also affirms my work at Civic Spirit to address political polarization, social divides, and rising hatred through civic education.”