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Courage to
Create a Judaism of Meaning – By Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D., President, HUC-JIR
People today, no less than in the past, wish to perceive a sacred vitality at the core of their lives. Living within
a pluralistic framework that underscores the importance of individual choice, Jews still can and will seek out Judaism for
the wisdom, identity, and community our tradition affords if our religion speaks to them in meaningful cadences. The legacy
Isaac Mayer Wise bestowed remains enduring, and the future of Judaism
in the U.S. depends, to a large degree, upon the ability of the Reform Movement and HUC-JIR to provide leadership that
will maintain and revitalize Jewish community, worship, study, association, and action in light of the conditions and values
that shape our people today.
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HUC-JIR Publishes Chronicle with a Focus on Leadership; Available
for Download
The Chronicle features articles on new leadership and social responsibility programs at HUC-JIR; Students at
HUC-JIR/Jerusalem; Dr. Martin Cohen and innovations in Sephardic studies; Young alumni reaching out to a new generation
of Jews; the 40th anniversary of the struggle for Soviet Jewry; the latest HUC-JIR faculty publications; and
graduation, ordination, and investiture highlights.
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Reform
Commentary Spotlights Women
"The Torah: A Women's Commentary," published by the Union for Reform Judaism Press, will be introduced at this week's
biennial convention of the Reform movement. The book, which is a complete critical analysis of the Torah, is the result
of 14 years of discussion and planning that has been overseen by the Women of Reform Judaism, the women's affiliate of the
Reform movement.
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Dr. Stephen Passamaneck Honored by Jewish Law Association
The Jewish Law Association, in cooperation with HUC-JIR, honored Dr. Stephen Passamaneck on Wednesday, December 12, 2007,
at the HUC-JIR/LA campus. Dr. Passamaneck's connection to the College-Institute covers more than a half century of studying
and teaching and he was honored for his dedicated service and contributions to his discipline.
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JDC
Announces 2007-08 Ralph I. Goldman Fellow: Joy Sisisky, HUC-JIR Alum
Ms. Sisisky earned a double masters degree in Jewish Communal Service and Public Administration at the joint program
of HUC-JIR/LA and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. "I look forward doing something professionally
that also satisfies me personally. It's a once-in a lifetime opportunity," Sisisky said.
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Upcoming Events at HUC-JIR
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A Modern Hebrew
'Prophet' Remembered – The New York Sun
The conference was co-sponsored by the flagship seminaries of the Reform and Conservative movements, Hebrew
Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and Jewish Theological Seminary, respectively. Educators at the helm of
these institutions also spoke about Rabbi Heschel, who had worked at both schools.
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HUC-JIR Sponsored Conference Asks: 'Where Are The Abraham Heschels Of Today?' – Jewish Week
The heads of the seminaries for both the Reform and Conservative movements, Rabbi David Ellenson and Arnold Eisen
respectively, spoke for their institutions, where Rabbi Heschel spent most his professional life.
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Remembering Mayor La Guardia's Legacy – New York Times
Dr. Rochelle G. Saidel, a scholar and author of "Fiorello's Sister: Gemma La Guardia Gluck's Story," has curated an
exhibition on La Guardia's sister's Holocaust experiences at HUC-JIR/NY. The exhibition is on view until January 27, 2008.
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Reform Study Finds Disconnect Between Leaders and Members – JTA
The two-year study, to be released at the Reform Movement 's biennial, suggests that synagogue leaders better focus
more on building warm, welcoming communities if they want to have and hold their members.
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Young Jews Creating Their Own Community – Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle
Last week Steven M. Cohen, a professor at HUC-JIR/NY, was in Pittsburgh to present some of his findings about emerging
forms of Jewish identity to the United Jewish Federation's board of delegates.
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Time to Act on Continuity Studies – The Jewish Week
Anyone who has been reading about the state of American Jewish life lately – the numerous studies showing that younger
people feel increasingly distant from Israel, synagogues, federations, organizations and a sense of peoplehood – should
recognize the name Steven M. Cohen. While he readily agrees that the way younger people today identify Jewishly –
on a personal rather than a collective level – represents a danger to communal continuity, he also points out that
there are hopeful trends as well.
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Spotlight on HUC-JIR's Programs and
Research Resources
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HUC-JIR/NYSOE Director Jo Kay Teaches Students in FSU
Jo Kay, Director of the New York School of Education at HUC-JIR, was part of a team of five teachers, three from the
U.S. and two from the FSU, who taught workshops on how to involve families in living Jewish lives.
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Howard Shore at HUC-JIR/NY School of Sacred Music for
Master Series
Renowned film composer Howard Shore spoke with Cantor Bruce Ruben, Director of the School of Sacred Music, about his
career and his approach to composition. Students heard about his Oscars, Grammys, and Golden Globes for his work on the
trilogy "The Lord of the Rings," and about his early work as a co-creator of Saturday Night Live.
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Famous Rabbi Sat for '88 Interview on Jewish Life in Wheeling
Rabbi Jacob Rader Marcus, arguably the pioneer of American Jewish historical research and founder of the American
Jewish Archives, came of age not far from Pittsburgh, in the city of Wheeling, W.Va. He sat for an interview in his
study at HUC-JIR/Cincinnati, reflected on the social divides in Wheeling at the time. He spoke about the Reform
community there, to which he belonged, and gave a glimpse into the presence - or lack of - anti-Semitism.
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HUC-JIR/LA Students Get Israel Update with Dr. Dave Mendelsson
at HUC-JIR/Jerusalem
Students at HUC-JIR/LA, led by second year rabbinical student Samantha Orshan, initiated an Israel update via
videoconference with Jerusalem and their former Israel Studies teacher, Dr. Dave Mendelsson, from the HUC-JIR/Jerusalem faculty.
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Founded in 1875, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the nation's oldest institution of
higher Jewish education and the academic, spiritual, and professional development center of Reform Judaism.
HUC-JIR educates men and women for service to American and world Jewry as rabbis, cantors, educators, and
communal service professionals and offers graduate and post-graduate degree programs for scholars of all faiths.
With campuses in Cincinnati, Los Angeles, New York, and Jerusalem, HUC-JIR's scholarly resources comprise
renowned library, archive, and museum collections, the American Jewish Archives, biblical archaeology
excavations, research centers and institutes, and academic publications. HUC-JIR invites the community to an array
of cultural and educational programs that illuminate Jewish history, culture, and contemporary creativity, and
foster interfaith and multi-ethnic understanding.
Visit us at
www.huc.edu.
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