Building Community and Embracing Differences at Kallah
September 11, 2024
HUC-JIR students in New York and Los Angeles once again kicked off the academic year with Kallah, a cherished student-organized annual retreat that brings together students, faculty, and staff in a spirit of learning, reflection, and connection. Rooted in the ancient tradition of Jewish scholars gathering for study and dialogue, today’s Kallah continues to foster unity, growth, and academic excellence within the HUC-JIR community.
This year’s theme was, “Davar Acher: Building Community Across Difference,” highlighting the importance of embracing diverse perspectives and fostering meaningful dialogue. President Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D., emphasized this theme in his remarks, saying, “Eilu v’eilu d’varim Elohim chayim—these and those are the words of the everliving God. It’s not easy to disagree about issues we feel passionately about, and where the stakes are high. But as rabbis and cantors, as leaders of the Jewish people, you will be called on not only to create healthy and respectful communities of discourse. You will be called on to make decisions. And when decisions need to be made, sometimes one side must prevail.”
In New York, students gathered at the scenic Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in the Southern Berkshires. Over the three days, the New York campus community participated in activities that blended spirituality with playfulness, including singing around a bonfire and playing with goats, and engaging in thoughtful discussions led by Kallah co-chairs fifth-year rabbinical student James Feder, fifth-year rabbinical student Hannah Ellenson, and fourth-year cantorial student Leslie Goldberg.
NY Kallah also featured Capstone Café, where final-year students presented their thesis and capstone projects, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the diverse academic pursuits within their community. Amidst moments of prayer, song, and farm-to-table meals, the NY Kallah was a time to reset, renew, and celebrate the bonds that make their academic journey so special.
Students felt that there was no issue more pressing than learning how to build and sustain communities across differences. Participants explored the theme of Davar Acher by learning effective communication strategies through the Resetting the Table workshop, where they gained skills to engage in courageous conversations across differences. Students broke out into groups of three, finding partners who held different views, to discuss their stances on Israel and Jewish identity. By the end of this heartfelt session, people were hugging one another, holding hands, and exchanging smiles.
There’s still much work to be done; this was just a start of a process. But already, I believe that we are a stronger HUC-JIR community, and we got there not by pretending we’re the same, or by self-censorship and silence, but through honest dialogue, by speaking directly to our differences. — James Feder
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Kallah brought its own unique flavor to the start of the school year, centered on the theme of “Coming Together Across Difference.” Participants engaged in various electives that encouraged creativity, dialogue, and personal reflection. From a community art project led by fourth-year rabbinical student Rebeca Orantes to studying Mishnaic stories of dispute with Rabbi Dvora Weisberg, Ph.D., Rabbi Aaron D. Panken Professor of Rabbinics; HUC-JIR Rabbinical School Director, students were invited to explore and celebrate the richness of Jewish tradition and its lessons on unity and resilience. Other activities included workshops on navigating differences through storytelling with Rabbi Laura Novak Winer, Ed.D. ’95, MAJE ’94, Director of the Master of Educational Leadership, Rabbi Michele Lenke, DMin, National Rabbinic Fieldwork Coordinator, Leona Aronoff Rabbinic Mentoring Director, Instructor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, and Ken Rosen, Director of Student Life and Campus Culture, and a mini-masterclass in Jewish chant and meditation with second-year rabbinical student Eric Sbar, inspired by Rabbi Shefa Gold. The LA Kallah also featured a lively “Josh Garroway Power Hour,” where Rabbi Josh Garroway, Ph.D., Interim Dean, Sol and Arlene Bronstein Professor of Judaeo-Christian Studies, shared his passion for reciting beautiful literature, bringing joy and a touch of performance art to the retreat.
After coming out of a challenging year, marked by loss and war, the opportunity to connect with other rabbinical students in person was imperative, says fourth-year rabbinical student Julie Fishbach ’26, LA Kallah lead. Instead of focusing on cohort, program, or even political affiliation, Kallah is a time for students and faculty to connect organically with each other before diving into heavier topics later in the year.
There’s a wide range of political beliefs at HUC-JIR and a wide range of views in the Jewish world. My hope is that as we grow into colleagues, we have a strong foundation of community to fall back on, so that when we do encounter challenges in our work, we can rely on each other and refer congregants to each other, knowing that by bridging our differences we’re able to better serve the Jewish people. — Julie Fishbach
What makes Kallah truly special is its ability to blend tradition with contemporary needs, creating a space for students to reconnect with themselves, each other, and their academic pursuits after a summer apart. The grounding and reflective elements of learning together in nature allow for a unique bonding experience that goes beyond the classroom. As future leaders of the Jewish community, HUC-JIR students are reminded through Kallah that the diversity of thought and the willingness to engage with differing opinions are strengths that enrich their shared journey. Whether gathered around a bonfire in New York or creating art in Los Angeles, Kallah continues to inspire a culture of partnership, trust, and joy, setting the tone for a year of learning and growth.
With gratitude to our generous partners for their vision and leadership in investing in transformational educational experiences at HUC-JIR:
- LA Kallah: Jay Geller, Esq. and Lowell Gallagher through the Geller-Gallagher endowment and support funds
- NY Kallah: Erica and Kevin Penn
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