News Bulletin

Programs

In celebration of the College-Institute's 125th anniversary, distinguished HUC-JIR faculty, alumni, and administrators were guest speakers and scholars-in-residence at HUC-JIR Shabbat programs in more than 350 Reform congregations across North America.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos with guest violinist Gil Shaham, performed two concerts dedicated to HUC-JIR's 125th anniversary, made possible by a generous gift from Bartlett & Company. It featured the premiere of 'The Smile,' by composer Joel Hoffman, commissioned in honor of Rabbi Frederick C. Schwartz.

'Kol Sasson V'Kol Simchah, The Voice of Joy and the Voice of Gladness' at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York featured HUC-JIR cantorial students and faculty members in an eclectic program of Jewish music celebrating HUC-JIR's 125th anniversary, supported by generous donations from alumni and friends.

The Contemporary Study of Halakha: Methods and Meaning, the first international conference to bring together Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform, and secular approaches to the study of halakha and its sources, was held at HUC-JIR/NY in March. The conference, chaired by Dr. Michael Chernick and Rabbi Aaron Panken, was made possible, in part, by generous support from The Gimprich Family Foundation and the Dr. Samuel Atlas Memorial Lecture and Symposium, which was established at HUC-JIR by the Dr. Bernard Heller Foundation.

Professor Amnon Rubinstein, MK, spoke about 'Basic Laws and the Israeli Constitution' at the annual S. Zalman Abramov Lecture on Religion, Pluralism and Democracy in Israel held at HUC-JIR/Jerusalem. High Court Justices Meir Shamgar and Yitzhak Zamir and former Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollel attended.

The Jerusalem School held an evening of poetry, song, speeches, and art in February in memory of Dr. Michael L. Klein, Dean of the Jerusalem School from 1981-1998, and Effie Wise Ochs Professor of Biblical Literature.

The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education in Cincinnati presented Holocaust Awareness Weeks called 'Life After the Holocaust' for 2 weeks in April, which included lectures, workshops, films, and the exhibition Rebirth After the Holocaust: the Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons Camp, 1945-1950 at the Cincinnati Museum Center.

Dr. Marcia Falk, Rabbi Sally J. Priesand Visiting Professor of Jewish Women's Studies at HUC- JIR/Cincinnati, delivered the inaugural Blanche and Irving Laurie Lecture in Jewish Women's Studies at HUC-JIR/NY in April.

Development

Lee Kalsman (2nd from left) and Peachy (far left) and Mark Levy (right), on behalf of the Kalsman Trust, committed to establish and endow the Kalsman Institute on Judaism and Health at HUC-JIR/LA. The Kalsman Institute, which will serve as an intellectual center of the healing movement, will 'work towards integrating health and healing with religious themes and serve as a 'think tank' and center for theological and philosophical discourse on Judaism and health,' said Dr. William Cutter, Director of the Institute and Professor of Education and Hebrew Language and Literature, HUC-JIR/LA (2nd from right).

The Metropolitan Washington Associates' 125th Anniversary Celebration honored distinguished senior congregational Washington area rabbis. Funds raised at the event will benefit the Metropolitan Washington scholarships for rabbinical, cantorial, and education students.

Agnes and Rabbi Erwin Herman established a Virtual Resource Center at HUC-JIR/LA dedicated to the memory of their beloved son Jeff Herman, as part of the Sexual Orientation Issues in Congregations and Community Initiative (SOICC).

The Edith Roberts Faculty Center opened at the New York School as a result of a bequest by Mrs. Edith Roberts to the College-Institute and was designated by Dr. Paul M. Steinberg at her request.

The Leo and Julia Forchheimer Foundation of New York has awarded a $1 million grant to HUC-JIR for scholarships and tuition assistance, thanks to the generous support of New York Overseer Rudolph and Hilda Forchheimer.

The Dorot Foundation of Rhode Island has awarded a $75,000 grant to establish a Visiting Scholars Program for the 2001-2002 academic year.

Recent grants to HUC-JIR from the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati include a $75,000 award for community outreach programs.

Suzanne T. and Irving D. Karpas, Jr. have established a student computer center at the New York School.