Hebrew Union College Announces 2025 / 5785 Graduation and Ordination Ceremonies
March 19, 2025
(New York, March 19) – Hebrew Union College, North America’s premier institution of Jewish higher education, proudly announces the Graduation and Ordination Ceremonies for the Class of 2025/5785. This extraordinary class includes individuals who will shape the future of Jewish life as rabbis, cantors, educators, nonprofit leaders, and pastoral caregivers, along with honorees who have already made profound contributions across their years of dedicated service.
“Our graduates and honorees have committed themselves to strengthening Jewish life by building communities that are inclusive, grounded in our sacred texts and traditions, and dedicated to the pursuit of justice.” said Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D., Hebrew Union College President. “They will carry forward the values that guide us — loving-kindness, truth, and humility — to inspire hope and belonging in a world that urgently needs both.”
As rabbis, cantors, educators, nonprofit professionals, and communal leaders, they will foster spaces of belonging, compassion, and resilience, ensuring that Jewish values remain a vital force in shaping our collective future.
This year’s ceremonies will also recognize several distinguished honorees:
- Stacy Burdett, who works with policymakers, philanthropies, and other nonprofits on strategies to prevent and respond to antisemitism, will be honored with the prestigious Roger E. Joseph Prize for her contributions to social justice and advocacy.
- Members of Hebrew Union College’s Class of 2000 will receive honorary degrees in recognition of their 25 years of dedicated service to Jewish life and learning.
For a full list of degrees and ordinations conferred, click here.
Graduation and Ordination Schedule
New York
- Graduation: May 1, 4:00 pm ET
- Ordination: May 4, 9:30 am ET
Los Angeles
- Ordination: May 18, 10:00 am PT
- Graduation: May 19, 11:00 am PT
Cincinnati
- Graduation: May 30, 11:00 am ET
- Ordination: May 31, 9:00 am ET
Featured Speakers
New York
- Graduation: Linda G. Mills, Ph.D., NYU President; Lisa Ellen Goldberg Professor of Social Work, Public Policy, and Law; and Founder, Center on Violence and Recovery (CVR), who also will receive the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa
- Ordination: Rabbi Lisa D. Grant, Ph.D., Eleanor Sinsheimer Distinguished Service Professor in Jewish Education at Hebrew Union College
Los Angeles
- Ordination: Rabbi Dvora Weisberg ’11, Ph.D., National Director, Rabbinical School; Rabbi Aaron D. Panken Professor of Rabbinics
- Graduation: David N. Myers, Ph.D., Distinguished Prof. and Sady and Ludwig Kahn Chair in Jewish History; Director, UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy; Director, UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute (BKI) who also will receive the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa
Cincinnati
- Ordination: Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch ‘15, CEO of Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ)
Media Contact:
Patricia Keim
news@huc.edu
