Recent RHSOE Events
Sara S. Lee Seminar
Imagine for a moment...the Bima as a stage, the Torah as the script, and the entire congregation as the players in next week's Shabbat service. If it sounds like something that's never been tried before, think again! It's actually a centuries-old tradition dating all the way to first public Torah service recounted in the book of Ezra. At the Sara S. Lee Seminar on September 12-13, 2010, Amichai Lau-Lavie brought this to life with his demonstration of Storahtelling for students, alumni, and faculty.
Over the intense 24-hour seminar, Lau-Lavie played the role of the Maven, the revitalized professional storyteller, who has the responsibility of bringing the Torah reading to life in the synagogue. During the "Biblical cocktail hour." we each entered the world of the Bible, playing the roles of different biblical figures as we met one another in an imaginative cocktail hour.
Beyond the demonstrations, Lau-Lavie also opened up the floor for inquiry into his method. As a new Rhea Hirsch student, it was great to be surrounded by faculty and alumni demonstrating the high level of inquiry expected at the school. Some participants wondered about applications in religious schools. Others appreciated that the method valued both the Hebrew along with the translation as told by the Maven. We also noticed that the Storahtelling method could be used in services as an alternative to the Dvar Torah or sermon.
Having the opportunity to meet a Jewish Educator on the cutting edge provided a stimulating beginning to this year.
Aron Klein, a rabbinic-education student, grew up in East Brunswick, NJ. He graduated from Brandeis University in 2005, and is married to 4th year rabbinical student Keren Klein. His RHSOE internship is at Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles, where he works with Avram Mandell ('01).
Visit the Storahtelling website
Read the HUC News item about the Sara Lee Seminar
RHSOE Alumni Association Luncheon
On October 18, 2010, the RHSOE Alumni Association hosted its annual lunchtime gathering for students. Local alumni talked about the ways in which the Alumni Association is important to them, and students shared what they hope to gain from the Alumni Association after graduation.
Joining the current students were Madelyn Mishkin Katz ('84), Tami Weisman ('10), Bob Tornberg ('75), Eve Fein ('87), Karen Strok ('00), Debi Rowe ('80), Michael Zeldin ('77), Sara Lee ('77), and Lynn Flanzbaum ('05).
RHSOE Alum-In-Residence
Students and faculty were treated to a 48- hour visit from this year's Alum-in-Residence, Lisa Langer ('94) who is a URJ Education Specialist with a particular focus on family education. While on campus from November 7-9, Lisa met informally with students, taught classes, read Torah, and shared a D'var Torah.
In reflecting on parashat Vayetze, Lisa explored the ways Jacob is a model of patience, concluding that "in a world of instant gratification at a time when speed often seems to matter most of all, it is important to recognize and learn from those who are willing and able to work and to wait."
The Alum-in-Residence Program was created in 1998 and is funded by the RHSOE Alumni Association every other autumn. Past distinguished alumni who have served in this role are: Jane West Walsh ('85), Nachama Skolnik Moskowitz ('77), Bob Tornberg ('75), Julie Vanek ('88), Mindy Davids ('90), and Cindy Reich ('84).
RHSOE Alumni are NATE Leaders
Congratulations to the following RHSOE Alumni who have been nominated to 2-year terms on the executive committee of NATE effective July, 2011:
Lisa Lieberman Barzilai ('87), President
Debbie Niederman ('93), First Vice President
Katherine Schwartz ('94), Vice-President
Laura Novak Winer ('94), Vice-President
Mindy Davids ('90), Past President
Congratulations to the following RHSOE Alumni who have been nominated to their first 3-year term on the NATE board for the effective July, 2011 through June 2014:
Mara Braunfeld ('06)
Jocee Hudson ('05)
Joshua Mason-Barkin ('07)
Julia Witkow ('07)
The following RHSOE Alumni are continuing on the NATE board for 3-year terms expiring in 2012 and 2013:
Sharon Amster-Brown ('00)
Melissa Buyer ('00)
Debra Cotzin Kellner ('04)
Stacy Escovitz Rigler ('01)
Joy Wasserman ('81)
Beth Young ('02)
Serving as NATE Team Leaders:
Melanie Cole-Goldberg ('87) - Membership Team
Sharon Amster-Brown ('00) and Katherine Schwartz ('94) -- Professional Development Team
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Sustaining Alumni Education
In each e-Tikshoret our Sustaining Alumni Education Working Group offers links to articles or learning opportunities of interest. If you have an article you wish to share, please let Debbie Niederman know at dniederman@huc.edu
Comforting Those Who Need Comforting
Q and A with Rabbi Harold Kushner
By Elliot Fein ('87)
When Harold Kushner's beloved son, Aaron, died of a deadly debilitating disease, he was forced to travel on a gut-wrenching journey. The old words he used to use as a congregational rabbi to comfort others were no longer adequate. In fact, when he said these same words to himself they had the opposite effect of what they were intended to do. Rather than provide comfort, the old words intensified his emotional pain.
In finding new ways to deal with adversity and tragedy, Kushner popularized ideas in his classic work When Bad Things Happen to Good People that caused anger to some readers while comforting most. The notion that the world is not a perfect place, that God plays a limited role in it, and that bad things inevitably happens to everyone on a random basis goes against the religious belief of many people (of various faiths) who need a more traditional conception of the Divine.
2011 marks the thirtieth anniversary of When Bad Things Happen to Good People was first published. In my career as a Jewish Educator, I have probably recommended this book more than any other. I had the opportunity recently to meet with its author and discuss with him the impact his literary work continues to have on readers today. I thought Tikshoret readers would enjoy reflecting on what Rabbi Kushner shared.
Click here to read the entire summary of Elliot's meeting with Rabbi Kushner.
Launching Virtual Book Group
WE HEARD YOU! Thanks to all who made the suggestion! We are trilled to announce the creation of the first RHSOE Virtual Book Group.
Do you want to read and reflect on important new books in our field? Do you miss discussing such books with RHSOE colleagues? If so, read on!
You are invited to read A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink and join a live (and lively) RHSOE alumni discussion group facilitated by alum experts Julie Lambert ('97) and Eve Fine ('87) on Jan. 20th and Feb. 9th from 1-2 pm (eastern.)
Click here for more information.
For more information or to register, contact Brad Cohen, 410-764-2197, ext. 290 or by email at bcohen@bhcong.org
Save the Date:
RHSOE Alumni Day of Learning
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
LA campus
or
Connect electronically from the NYC campus.
Details coming soon!
Zichronam Livracha
Sallye Schuster, grandmother of Jordi Schuster Battis ('09) died on October 28. May her memory be for a blessing.
J.R. Cox, grandfather of RHSOE Administrative Assistant Joy Merriman and former RHSOE Administrative Assistant John Merriman, died on November 17 at age 95. Our thoughts are with Joy, John, and their family.
Mazal Tov!
The Jewish Women's Archive proudly announced the launch of the civil rights module of Living the Legacy: A Jewish Social Justice Education Project., written by Judith Rosenbaum, Ph.d. and Emily Scheinberg (both of the JWA) and Julia Phillips Berger ('00). You can explore the new curriculum here: http://jwa.org/teach/livingthelegacy.
Bryan ('97) and Rabbi Allison Conyer (NY '98) are excited to share the birth of Adina Rachelle Henteloff Conyer, on Sept 29, 2010, Hoshana Raba 5771.
Emily Feigenson ('82) and Dennis Perluss proudly celebrated as their daughter Netanya Perluss became a Bat Mitzvah on October 2.
Bruce (CN '81) and Barbara ('79) Kadden celebrated the marriage of their daughter, Alana Sharon to Jacob Ballon, on October 10.
Abby and Avram Mandell ('01) are thrilled to announce the birth of their daughter, Shai Brooklyn, on October 18.
Rena Polonsky ('08) happily shared the news of her engagement to Scott Rifkin, who works in finance. They will be married on June 12, 2011.
Use the HUC-JIR Online Alumni Directory
Looking for an old friend or lost classmate? You can find any HUC alum in the online directory. Simply go to www.huc.edu/alumni/private/. The directory is password-protected. For the username and password, please contact Debbie Niederman at dniederman@huc.edu.
Once there, please make sure that your own information is correct. Have you moved, changed jobs, married, or had children? Your entry might be outdated. Please send any updates or corrections to Joy Merriman at joymerriman@huc.edu.
RHSOE Alumni Assoc. Executive Council
Cindy Reich, Chair
Ellen Lefkowitz, Vice Chair
Julia Berger, Past Chair
Lisa Langer, HUC-JIR Council of Alumni Assoc. Rep.
Rachel Margolis, HUC-JIR Council of Alumni Assoc. Rep.
Tamara Lawson Schuster, Communications Chair
Julie Vanek, HUC-JIR Board of Governors Rep.
Deborah Niederman, Coordinator of Alumni Affairs
Joy Wasserman, National Director of Alumni Affairs
Michael Zeldin, RHSOE Director, ex-officio
Lynn Flanzbaum, e-Tikshoret editor
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