HUC-JIR Presents Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, to Eric R. Slaton
Rabbi David Ellenson, President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, awarded Rabbi Eric R. Slaton with the Doctor of Divinity at Graduation Ceremonies in Cincinnati on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at Isaac M. Wise Temple (8329 Ridge Road, Cincinnati). Rabbi Slaton was honored for 25 years of scholarly distinction as an alumnus of HUC-JIR.
Rabbi Slaton was born in Minneapolis and is the son of Dr. Paul Slaton and Dr. Suzanne Brandon. Rabbi Slaton graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1979, before attending HUC-JIR. After his first year of study at HUC-JIR in Jerusalem, Rabbi Slaton remained for an additional year of studies at the Pardes Institute. Upon returning to Cincinnati to complete his degree, Rabbi Slaton served Congregation B’nai Tzedek as student Rabbi. He first received a Masters and in 1985 was ordained a Rabbi at HUC-JIR/Cincinnati.
Upon ordination, Rabbi Slaton served Temple Beth Israel in Plattsburgh, NY, and was a chaplain at the Plattsburgh Air Force Base and Dannemora Correctional facility.
After serving in Plattsburgh for three years, Rabbi Slaton came to Lexington, KY, where he served as Rabbi of Ohavay Zion Synagogue, a Conservative congregation. He also served as a chaplain at the Federal Correctional Facilities in Lexington and in Manchester, KY. He taught beginning and intermediary Hebrew at the University of Kentucky and Introduction to Religion at Transylvania University.
In 1999, Rabbi Slaton and his family moved to Hamilton, OH, where he served as Rabbi of Beth Israel Synagogue. He served on the boards of the Red Cross of Hamilton, the Red Cross of Butler County, the Hamilton Rotary Club, and currently sits on the boards of the United Way of Butler County and the advisory board of Hospice of Hamilton.
Rabbi Slaton is married to Kimberly Slaton, who is employed by the Jewish Vocational Services of Cincinnati. They have three sons.
Please click here to view the national invitation for event details.
Founded in 1875, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is North America's leading institution of higher Jewish education and the academic, spiritual, and professional leadership development center of Reform Judaism. HUC-JIR educates men and women for service to North American and world Jewry as rabbis, cantors, educators, and nonprofit management professionals, and offers graduate programs to scholars and clergy of all faiths. With centers of learning in Cincinnati, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and New York, HUC-JIR's scholarly resources comprise the renowned Klau Library, The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, research institutes and centers, and academic publications. In partnership with the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, HUC-JIR sustains the Reform Movement's congregations and professional and lay leaders. HUC-JIR's campuses invite the community to cultural and educational programs illuminating Jewish heritage and fostering interfaith and multiethnic understanding. www.huc.edu
