Rhea Hirsch School of Education Alumni Association Kallah

The Rhea Hirsch School of Education Alumni Association gathered for their sixth Kallah on February 10-12, 2012, at Brandeis Bardin Camp in Simi Valley, CA. The Kallah consisted of a Shabbat experience of study, sharing and community building.

Dr. Leah Hochman, Director of the Jerome H. Louchheim School of Judaic Studies and Assistant Professor of Jewish Thought at the Jack H. Skirball Campus in Los Angeles, served as the Scholar-in-Residence. The topic of study was "Developing a Personal Theology."

Rhea Hirsch School of Education alumni participated in the leadership of the kallah; sharing stories of excellence, helping fellow alumni deal with challenges on the job, and leading worship. Current students were also invited to share Shabbat and lead morning worship.

Ellen Lefkowitz (HUC-JIR/LA '99) was installed as the new Chair of the Alumni Association and we thanked Cindy Reich (HUC-JIR/LA '84) for passing the torch.

As always, there was a tremendous feeling of camaraderie as we celebrated together and took pride in the many accomplishments of our fellow alumni.

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 leadership development center of Reform Judaism. HUC-JIR educates men and women for service to 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 history, identity, art, and archaeology, and fostering interfaith and multiethnic understanding.