Students, faculty, administration, alumni, Board members, and community leaders joined together to celebrate the 2022 Graduation and Ordination Ceremonies at HUC-JIR in Cincinnati. Graduation took place on Friday, May 20, at HUC-JIR/Cincinnati. Ordination took place on Saturday, May 21, at Plum Street Temple in Cincinnati. These ceremonies were among the series of events in New York, Los Angeles, and Cincinnati, during which 138 degrees and certificates were bestowed. The President’s Medallion was presented to Dr. Edward J. Septimus (see below) for his distinguished service to HUC-JIR. Rabbi Sally Priesand ‘72, the first woman rabbi in North America, presented the Cincinnati Ordination Address (see below), in celebration of the 50th anniversary of her ordination. Read more about the Class of 2022 here. Read the event program here, and the Ordination program supplement here.
Newly ordained rabbis at HUC/Cincinnati Ordination 2022.
Watch HUC/Cincinnati Graduation below:
Watch HUC/Cincinnati Ordination below:
The following students were ordained:
Madeline Rose Anderson
Ashley Lynn Barrett
Caitlin Joy Brazner
Randall Burke
Rebecca Anne Diamond
Jonathan Robert Falco
Daniel Paul Hotary
David Nathan Jaffe
Eliza Rosie Silk McCarroll
Tzvia Erin Rubens
The following students received graduate degrees:
MASTER OF ARTS IN HEBREW LETTERS
Madeline Torop Budman
Emily S. Dana
Samuel Isaac Rheins
Ilana Yael Symons
Aaron David Budman Torop
MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN JUDAIC, HEBRAIC, AND COGNATE STUDIES
Julia Rose Olson
MASTER OF ARTS IN JEWISH STUDIES
William Evan Vossman
Rebekah Jane Wallace
DOCTOR OF HEBREW LETTERS
Belle Michael
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN JUDAIC, HEBRAIC, AND COGNATE STUDIES
Caleb A. Gilmore
Sharon R. Love
Jared Wesson Saltz
Keith R. Vande Vrede
President Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D., presented Dr. Edward J. Septimus with the President’s Medallion. He stated that Dr. Septimus is an “Inspiring member of our Central Region Board of Advisors since 2011, whose passionate commitment to the College-Institute and Reform Judaism is an abiding source of strength and wisdom; Who, as a leading epidemiologist actively engaged with HUC-JIR, has given of his time and expertise on an ongoing voluntary basis throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to alert HUC-JIR’s leadership of emerging issues and to shape our policies and procedures based on the best available public health information, thereby protecting the safety and wellbeing of our community; Whose devotion has been expressed through his vital leadership of significant endowment campaigns supporting our students and faculty; And whose life’s work as a physician exemplifies the teaching of Hippocrates, ‘Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.’” Read the full statement here.
Rabbi Priesand presented the Cincinnati Ordination address to mark the 50th anniversary of her ordination as the first woman rabbi in North America. She shared, “I would ask each of you, our ordinees, to think of today as the day when you respond to God’s call with the time-honored response of our ancestors: “Hineini – Here I am.” This was Abraham’s response when called by God to sacrifice his son. Moses uttered the same word at the burning bush. Joseph said hineini when Jacob sent him to find his brothers. Centuries later, at a time of disaster and difficulty, God asks, “Who shall I send, and who will go for us?” The Prophet Isaiah responded, “Hin’ni sh’la’chay’ni” — “Here I am; send me.” These are just a few of the fourteen times in the Hebrew Bible when individuals are asked to show themselves fully present at a time of challenge, ready to respond for the benefit of others and the well-being of all. Hineini – here I am – the Jewish response that reflects a great deal about the character, commitment, and integrity of the one who speaks it.” Read Rabbi Priesand’s full speech here.
HUC-JIR’s mission is to prepare rabbis, cantors, educators, nonprofit leaders, scholars and pastoral caregivers to serve the Reform Movement, the Jewish people, and humankind. Through rigorous academic and professional study and mentored professional experiences, they gain the knowledge and skills to teach, lead worship, provide pastoral care, advocate for social justice, promote mutual responsibility among North American Jews and Israel, and serve effectively as visionary community leaders.