Barbara Binder Kadden

Obituary Barbara Binder Kadden, a nationally known Jewish educator, master teacher and quilter passed away October 9, one day after her 64th birthday and 27 months after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Barbara was born October 8, 1954 to Alan and Shirley Binder and grew up in Smithtown, New York before moving as a teenager with her siblings to northern Arizona to live with an uncle and aunt after the deaths of her parents. Barbara graduated from University of Arizona with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education. She completed masters' degrees in Jewish Education and Jewish Communal Service at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. Barbara held a variety of positions in Jewish education, including Resource Center Director, Educator of Temple Beth El in Aptos, CA, Regional Educator for the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) and Director of the Jewish Education Council in Seattle. Throughout her career she especially enjoyed teaching children and adults and tutoring B'nai Mitzvah students. Her artistic talents were most prominently displayed in her art quilts. She was most proud of her quilted Scroll of Esther. Barbara was generous with her time, donating many quilts to charitable auctions. She also created and donated chairs to the Northwest Furniture Bank. She was past president of the Gig Harbor Quilters. Barbara was the co-author of many Jewish education books including Teaching Torah, Teaching Mitzvot, Teaching Tefilah, Teaching Jewish Life Cycle, and the Parent Education module for the URJ curriculum. She also wrote The Jewish Parent Page and Family Shabbat Table Talk. Despite her many professional accomplishments, Barbara most enjoyed her role as wife of 40 years to Bruce Kadden, mother to Alana (Jacob) Ballon and Micah Kadden (Avital Barnea), and savta (grandmother) to Matan and Liav. Barbara was predeceased by her parents. In addition to her husband, children and grandchildren, she is survived by her brothers Larry (Beverly) Binder and Richard (Sharon) Binder, her sister Debbie Evenchik, her cousin Jesse (Jan) Klein, her in-laws Paul and Shirley Kadden and many nieces and nephews. Graveside funeral service will be Friday, October 12 at 10 a.m. at Home of Peace Cemetery, 5421 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood followed by the meal of condolence at Temple Beth El, 5975 S. 12th Street in Tacoma. Donations may be made to the Barbara Binder Kadden Artist-in-Residence Fund of Temple Beth El. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home