HEBREW UNION COLLEGE-JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION
ORDAINS TWO NEW ISRAELI RABBIS AND AWARDS HONORARY DOCTORAL DEGREES AT ACADEMIC CONVOCATION,
JERUSALEM, OCTOBER 19, 2001
Newly ordained Israeli rabbis, Gregory Kotler and Mira Raz received their ordination from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Insititute of Religion on October 19, 2001 from Dr. David Ellenson, President of HUC-JIR at a convocation held at the HUC-JIR campus in Jerusalem. The two new rabbis will be serving the Progressive Jewish Movement in Israel and abroad.
Gregory Kotler was born in the Ukraine and immigrated to Israel in 1991. Rabbi Kotler previously worked as Project Director of the New Israel Fund and will be serving in the Moscow Headquarters of the World Union of Progressive Judaism and as Director of the Institute for Modern Jewish Studies there.
Mira Raz, who joins the growing number of Israeli women qualifying for the Rabbinate, was born in Tel Aviv. Rabbi Raz has taught Bible and Rabbinics for many years and is the spiritual leader of the growing Progressive congregation in Netanya.
Honorary Doctorates were awarded to Professor Bezalel Narkiss and Professor Alice Shalvi. As founder of the Center for Jewish Art of the Hebrew University, Professor Narkiss was awarded the honorary doctorate in recognition of his work on the research, development and preservation of Jewish Art, worldwide.
Professor Shalvi is Acting President of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and was awarded her honorary degree for her life long commitment to Jewish learning and to the advancement of egalitarianism.
The College also awarded three honorary doctorates to alumni of the institution. Rabbi Joel Oseran received a Doctor of Divinity. Dr. Steven G. Donshik and Ms. Terry Cohen Hendin received their Honorary Doctorates of Jewish Communal Service.
Newly ordained Israeli rabbis, Gregory Kotler and Mira Raz received their ordination from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Insititute of Religion on October 19, 2001 from Dr. David Ellenson, President of HUC-JIR at a convocation held at the HUC-JIR campus in Jerusalem. The two new rabbis will be serving the Progressive Jewish Movement in Israel and abroad.
Mira Raz, who joins the growing number of Israeli women qualifying for the Rabbinate, was born in Tel Aviv. Rabbi Raz has taught Bible and Rabbinics for many years and is the spiritual leader of the growing Progressive congregation in Netanya.
Honorary Doctorates were awarded to Professor Bezalel Narkiss and Professor Alice Shalvi. As founder of the Center for Jewish Art of the Hebrew University, Professor Narkiss was awarded the honorary doctorate in recognition of his work on the research, development and preservation of Jewish Art, worldwide.
Professor Shalvi is Acting President of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and was awarded her honorary degree for her life long commitment to Jewish learning and to the advancement of egalitarianism.