Highlights from
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion's
Graduation/Ordination/Investiture Ceremonies

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion ordained 31 rabbis (12 men, 19 women) in Cincinnati, New York, and, for the first time, in Los Angeles. The College-Institute invested 9 cantors (1 man, 8 women) in New York.

In addition, 37 rabbinical students received the degree of Master of Arts in Hebrew Literature/Letters and 9 students received the Master of Sacred Music degree. Seventeen students received graduate degrees – 6 Doctor of Philosophy, 4 Doctor of Ministry, 5 Master of Philosophy in Hebraic and Cognate Studies, and 2 Master of Arts. Twelve students received the degree of Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service, and one student received a Certificate in Jewish Communal Service. Eight students received education degrees – 1 Joint Masters of Arts in Jewish Communal Service and Jewish Education, 3 Master of Arts in Jewish Education, and 4 Master of Arts in Religious Education.

Cincinnati

• Thomas L. Friedman was awarded the 2002 Bernard Heller Prize for his accurate coverage of the cataclysmic events in the Middle East through his three-time (1983, 1988, and 2002) Pulitzer Prize-winning international reporting and commentary as a correspondent for the New York Times and his National Book Award-winning book, From Beirut to Jerusalem.
  The Dr. Bernard Heller Prize is an international award presented annually to an individual or organization whose, work, writings, or research reflects the values and commitment to the betterment of humanity.
• The Doctor of Human Letters, honoris causa, was presented to Dr. Bernard Reisman, Founding Director of the Brandeis Adult Learning Institute, the Hornstein Program in Jewish Communal Service, and the Fisher/Bernstein Institute for Leadership in Jewish Philanthropy at Brandeis University; Dr. Eric Friedland, Sanders Professor Emeritus of Judaic Studies at the University of Dayton, the United Theological Seminary, Antioch College, and Wright State University; and Ruth Gay, researcher and author, whose works include The Jews of Germany: A Historical Portrait and Unfinished People: Jewish Immigrants to the United States: 1880-1914.
• Dr. Bernard Reisman, Founding Director of the Brandeis Adult Learning Institute, the Hornstein Program in Jewish Communal Service, and the Fisher/Bernstein Institute for Leadership in Jewish Philanthropy at Brandeis University, presented the Graduation Address. To read his address, go to http://www.huc.edu/faculty/faculty/pubs/reisman.shtml
• Anita Diamant, author (books include The Red Tent and Good Harbor), presented the Ordination Address.

Los Angeles

• The Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, was presented to Rabbi Stanley F. Chyet, Ph.D., Professor of American Jewish History, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles, CA; Dr. Paula E. Hyman, Lucy G. Moses Professor of Modern Jewish History, Yale University, New Haven, CT; Aaron Jonathan Lansky, D.L., President, National Yiddish Book Center, Amherst, MA; and Raquel H. Newman, Ed.D., President, RHN Associates, San Francisco, CA.
• Dr. Paula E. Hyman, Lucy G. Moses Professor of Modern Jewish History, Yale University, presented the Graduation Address. To read her address, go to http://www.huc.edu/faculty/faculty/pubs/hyman.shtml
• Rabbi David Ellenson, President, HUC-JIR, presented the Ordination Address.

New York

• Watch New York's Graduation online at http://www.huc.edu/newspubs/pressroom/2002/nylive.shtml
• Father Mychal Judge, posthumously, and The City of New York Fire Department were awarded the 2002 Roger E. Joseph Prize. Judge, a Franciscan priest and New York Fire Department chaplain, died ministering to New York fire fighters on September 11th. He will be remembered for his courage in carrying out his Manhattan ministry in a manner unprecedented in its breadth and diversity. Daniel A. Nigro, Chief of Department, and Father Christopher Keenan, Chaplain, The City of New York Fire Department, accepted the award. To read their acceptance speeches, go to http://www.huc.edu/faculty/faculty/pubs/nigro.shtml and http://www.huc.edu/faculty/faculty/pubs/keenan.shtml
  The Roger E. Joseph Prize, HUC-JIR's highest award, is an international award presented annually to an individual or organization which, by virtue of religious and moral commitment, has made a distinctive contribution to humanity.
• The Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, was presented to Dr. Rose Dobrof, Founding Director of the Brookdale Center of Gerontology of the Brookdale Center on Aging of Hunter College; Rabbi Emanuel Rackman, Ph.D., Chancellor, Bar-Ilan University; Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, Ph.D., Chancellor, Jewish Theological Seminary of America; and Stephen Solender, President Emeritus of the United Jewish Communities.
• Dr. Ismar Schorsch, Chancellor, Jewish Theological Seminary, presented the Graduation Address. To read his address, go to http://www.huc.edu/faculty/faculty/pubs/schorsch.shtml
• Rabbi David Ellenson, President, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, presented the Ordination Address.