Rabbi Jerome R. Malino Honored at the Dedication of The Jerome R. Malino Faculty Development Fund at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) has established the Rabbi Jerome R. Malino Faculty Development Fund in honor of Rabbi Jerome R. Malino. The fund has been created by a generous gift from Naomi Kanter, her husband of blessed memory, Burt Kanter and the Kanter Family. Dr. David Ellenson, President of HUC-JIR, dedicated the fund during a day of recognition at HUC-JIR in New York on Monday, January 28, 2002.

"We are proud to honor our distinguished colleague who has guided students, congregants, and the Jewish community for nearly six decades," stated Dr. Ellenson. "The Rabbi Jerome R. Malino Faculty Development Fund will allow the College-Institute to continue to attract, support, and retain distinguished scholars in a competitive academic environment. The fund will be used to augment the professional and scholarly growth of its faculty by attracting and supporting visiting scholars and faculty, providing research and travel support for faculty members, offering a biannual retreat for faculty from HUC-JIR's four centers of learning in Cincinnati, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and New York, improving technology and distance education opportunities, and offering professional development programs."

An adjunct faculty member in homiletics at HUC-JIR for many years, Rabbi Malino continues to teach an advanced homiletics class, conducts independent study courses, and regularly attends senior sermons to share his insight and expertise with HUC-JIR students. Rabbi Malino graduated from the College of the City of New York in 1931 and was ordained by the Jewish Institute of Religion in 1935. He received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Alfred University in 1958 and a Doctor of Divinity Degree from HUC-JIR in 1960.

Rabbi Malino has served the congregation of the United Jewish Center of Danbury, CT for over 65 years, becoming Rabbi Emeritus in 1981. The former President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the recipient of numerous awards for service and scholarship, Rabbi Malino has served the Danbury community and the state of Connecticut in educational, ministerial, and humanitarian capacities.

The continuity of Rabbi Malino's devotion to Jewish scholarship and leadership was evident by the many family members in attendance who are active members of their Jewish communities: son Rabbi Jonathan Malino, a rabbi and Professor of Philosophy at Guilford College, daughter Fran Malino, Chair of Jewish Studies at Wellesley College, and granddaughters Rabbi Tamar Malino and Rabbi Elizabeth Goldstein. Members of the family and students at the College-Institute led morning services in the Minnie Petrie Synagogue. Tributes to Rabbi Malino at the luncheon following services were presented by former congregant Harriet Blum; former student Helene Ferris, Rabbi of Temple Israel of Northern Westchester; and Rabbi Robert Levine, former Assistant Rabbi with Rabbi Malino in Danbury and current Senior Rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Sholom, Manhattan.