September 23 Press Conference: “2021 – The Feuerstein Centennial!”
On September 23, the “Nicolae Iorga” Pedagogical High School in Botoșani hosted the press conference “2021 – The Feuerstein Centennial!” preceding the unveiling of monuments erected in his honor. The event marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Professor Reuven Feuerstein, a psychopedagogue originally from Botoșani.
On the same day, a personalized bust in honor of Professor Reuven Feuerstein was unveiled within the high school premises.
Preamble
This year, we celebrate 100 years since the birth of a Romanian who belongs to the whole world: Professor Reuven Feuerstein, the father of human potential and the theorist who demonstrated the Theory of Mediated Learning, born in Botoșani (August 21, 1921 – April 29, 2014, Jerusalem).
Why is he celebrated globally?
Through his greatest lifetime achievement, the Feuerstein Method, created over 50 years ago, Professor Reuven Feuerstein rehabilitated and saved children with disabilities and adults with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral challenges.
His work has been honored over the years with numerous awards and global recognition for his contributions to developing and encouraging human potential, as well as advancements in developmental and clinical psychology.
In 2014, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal.
In 1992, the state of Israel awarded him the Education Prize.
In 2009, Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj awarded him the title of Doctor Honoris Causa, in a ceremony held at Bar Ilan University.
In 2012, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Feuerstein Method in Romania
This method, which has transformed thousands of lives in over 80 countries, is represented in Romania by Associate Professor Dr. Otilia Todor and more than 500 Feuerstein mediators trained under her guidance. These mediators intervene in cases ranging from simple to highly complex.
In 2008, Otilia Todor founded the “Feuerstein – Open Your Mind!” Association in Brașov in honor of Professor Reuven Feuerstein.
The Feuerstein Centennial
On August 21, 2021, the 100th anniversary of Professor Feuerstein’s birth was celebrated. The “Feuerstein – Open Your Mind!” Association organized a series of events to honor his life and research activities.
The activities held in Romania throughout the year included:
- Hosting conferences and lectures for education and psychology specialists and for parents.
- Organizing mediated learning sessions using the Feuerstein Method in schools across 15 cities in Romania for approximately 1,500 children to enhance emotional balance and cognitive development.
The most emotional and significant moment for the Feuerstein community in Romania and worldwide was the unveiling of Professor R. Feuerstein’s bust at the “Nicolae Iorga” Pedagogical High School in Botoșani.
Special thanks were extended to the Botoșani City Hall, the Botoșani County School Inspectorate, and the leadership of the “Nicolae Iorga” Pedagogical High School, whose support made it possible to “close the historical circle and bring the Feuerstein Method back home, where my father was born and educated,” as noted by his son, Rabbi Rafael Feuerstein.
Special recognition was also given to:
- Prof. Maricica Haimovici and Prof. Univ. Dr. Lea Yosef from Israel
- Dr. Nistor Becia, a clinical psychologist from the UK
September 23 Event in Botoșani
The event in Botoșani was organized by the “Feuerstein – Open Your Mind!” Association from Brașov, in partnership with:
- The Feuerstein Institute in Israel
- ESD Psihoconsulting
- The Otilia Todor Center for Personal Development
- S.C. TEMAD S.A.
- Local institutions and educational bodies from Botoșani and Brașov, including:
- Botoșani City Hall
- Brașov and Botoșani County School Inspectorates
- Botoșani Teacher Training Center
- Botoșani County Resource and Educational Assistance Center
- “Nicolae Iorga” Pedagogical High School in Botoșani
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Brașov
- “Spiru Haret” University
- Feuerstein mediators in Romania
Participants
The event was attended by:
- Representatives of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA)
- Representatives of the Feuerstein Institute in Israel
- Members of the local community
- Psychologists and mediators from Romania and abroad
The Legacy of Professor Reuven Feuerstein
Professor Feuerstein is perhaps the most eminent Romanian-Jewish scientist of the 20th century. It is no surprise that he was nominated for the Nobel Prize. He was not only a researcher but also one of the few who can claim to have founded an entirely new scientific discipline. A man of faith, modesty, and profound love for people, especially children.
For more details about the Otilia Todor Center for Personal Development, visit www.otiliatodor.ro.
