Remembering Nechama Tzaban: A Giant of the Feuerstein World
A tribute from the community she shaped, inspired, and loved
Written by Ruthie Cohen
February 25th, 2026
The world of cognitive education lost one of its most luminous voices with the passing of Nechama Tzaban — a woman whose name may not be widely known beyond the circles she touched, but whose impact on thousands of learners and educators across the globe is immeasurable.
Nechama was one of the most senior and distinguished students of the legendary Prof. Reuven Feuerstein, the world-renowned Israeli psychologist and educational theorist who dedicated his life to proving that human intelligence is not fixed — that every person, regardless of background or ability, has the capacity to grow, to change, and to learn. That belief did not just inform Nechama’s work. It was her. It ran through her veins.
A Force of Nature
To those who knew her, Nechama Tzaban was not simply a teacher or a trainer. She was a force. In the words of Rabbi Dr. Rafi Feuerstein, who delivered her eulogy at her graveside, Nechama was nothing short of extraordinary:
“A volcano of critical thinking, stormy emotions, opinionatedness and rare human warmth — abundant charisma that few are ever blessed with, dedication and sometimes excessive determination, humor and rolling laughter alongside seriousness and gravity.”
She was, as he put it, “a thing and its opposite” — simultaneously fiery and tender, exacting and generous, relentless and warm. And yet none of these contradictions were at war within her. They were held together by something larger: an enormous heart, and a love of people that was, by any measure, rare.
“That impossible storm — in my eyes, that was the secret of the world-embracing magic that you were.”
The Method That Moved Her
Nechama devoted her professional life to the work of the Feuerstein Institute in Jerusalem, and in particular to its flagship intervention programme: Instrumental Enrichment (IE). Built on Prof. Feuerstein’s theory of Mediated Learning Experience (MLE), this is a structured cognitive programme grounded in the conviction that meaningful, guided interaction between a learner and a skilled mediator can unlock potential that direct instruction alone cannot reach.
As a trainer and facilitator, Nechama carried this programme to educators, therapists, and institutions across Israel and around the world. She was not merely delivering content — she was transmitting a philosophy, a way of seeing people, a commitment to the radical idea that every human being can change.
As Rabbi Dr. Rafi Feuerstein noted, Prof. Feuerstein himself saw in her exactly what she was: “an outstanding teacher, and someone profoundly devoted to the belief in the human capacity for change and to the methods he developed.”
A Teacher Who Never Cut Corners
Her colleague and dear friend Lea Yosef shared a deeply moving farewell that speaks to the kind of teacher Nechama truly was. She recalled days spent learning together, led by Nechama with unwavering consistency and depth:
“Before her eyes stood one clear goal: how to convey Prof. Feuerstein’s theory in the correct, precise, and faithful way — to its source. Without compromises. Without cutting corners. She always had something to say, always added another layer, sharpened a thought, deepened an understanding.”
Nechama was particularly beloved in Spanish-speaking countries, where the two colleagues worked closely together. “There, she was truly a queen,” Lea wrote. “I was amazed to see how people approached her, how they listened to her, and how much respect and admiration they held for her.”
Lea concluded simply: “A wise and inspiring woman. To this day I mention her in my lectures — as a professional and human role model. I will remember you forever, in my heart and in my work.”
A Legacy That Will Not Fade
Nechama Tzaban leaves behind a legacy written not in books or papers alone, but in the minds and methods of every educator she trained, every student she challenged, and every colleague she inspired. To the many who called her a mentor, a partner, a friend – her passing leaves a silence that cannot easily be filled. But the belief she carried so fiercely – that the human being can always grow, always change, always become more – that belief lives on in everyone she touched.
יהי זכרה ברוך
May her memory be a blessing.
Did you know Nechama, learn from her, or work alongside her? We warmly invite you to share your memories, reflections, or a few words about what she meant to you in the comments below. Every story and tribute helps keep her legacy alive.
Tributes shared by members of the Feuerstein Institute community, February 2026. Eulogy delivered by Rabbi Dr. Rafi Feuerstein. Farewell words by Lea Yosef.
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