This inspiring cadre of ordinees and graduates are the newest professional leaders for the Reform Movement, the Jewish people, and the larger world. They will build and transform communities throughout North America, Israel, and around the globe.
Distinguished communal and civic leaders and alumni will be awarded honorary degrees and prizes in recognition of their service to Reform congregations and North American Jewry, and in honor of their humanitarian work.
Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D., HUC-JIR President, stated, “Congratulations to our ordinees, graduates, alumni honorees, and recipients of our honorary degrees and Joseph Prize at our upcoming Ordination and Graduation Ceremonies! In their vital roles transmitting Jewish values, tradition, and culture, these individuals help those seeking meaning and purpose grounded in our shared history and community. They have had, and will continue to have, a profound impact in strengthening inclusive, dynamic, and spiritually nourishing communities, while their advocacy for justice and human rights makes a tangible difference in our world. May the courage of their convictions and ideals guide their sacred paths to building a bright, just, and promising future for the Jewish People and all humankind.”
Ordination of 35 rabbis in Cincinnati, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, New York
10 Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters
13 Master of Arts in Hebrew Literature
Ordination of 11 cantors in New York
7 Master of Sacred Music
15 Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management
4 Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Innovation
2 Certificate in Jewish Organizational Leadership
3 Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
1 Master of Arts in Jewish Learning
12 Master of Arts in Religious Education, Executive M.A. Program
7 Master of Arts degrees in Teaching
8 Certificates in Day School Teaching
14 Rikma Certificates/M.A. in Pluralistic Jewish Education, Jerusalem
1 Doctor of Philosophy in Judaic, Hebraic, and Cognate Studies
2 Doctor of Ministry;
1 Master of Arts in Jewish Studies
2 Interfaith Doctor of Ministry for Education in Pastoral Care
11 Certificates in Sugiyot Chayim/Bibliotherapy, Jerusalem
R. Marie Griffith, Ph.D., John C. Danforth Distinguished Professor in the Humanities; Director, John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, Washington University in St. Louis
Sue Neuman Hochberg, Immediate Past Chair, Board of Governors, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Anat Hoffman, Executive Director, Israel Religious Action Center; Graduation Speaker in Jerusalem
Daryl Messinger, Immediate Past Chair, Board of Trustees, Union for Reform Judaism
R. Marie Griffith, Ph.D., Graduation Speaker, Cincinnati
Anat Hoffman, Graduation Speaker, Jerusalem
Rabbi Jocee Hudson, Clergy and Formation Lead, LA Voice; Ordination Speaker, Los Angeles
Rabba Sara Hurwitz, Founder and President, Yeshivat Maharat; Graduation Speaker, New York
Rabbi Naamah Kelman, Dean, Taube Familly Campus, HUC-JIR/Jerusalem; Ordination Speaker, New York
Sharon S. Nazarian, Ph.D., President, Younes & Soraya Nazarian Family Foundation; Graduation Speaker, Los Angeles
Rabbi Gary P. Zola, Ph.D., Executive Director, Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives; Edward M. Ackerman Family Distinguished Professor of the American Jewish Experience & Reform Jewish History; Ordination Speaker, Cincinnati
Accepted by Nancy Northup, President and CEO
Alumni honors will be bestowed upon 69 alumni for 25 years of dedicated service to the Jewish People and the larger world:
51 rabbinical alumni of the Class of 1998
9 cantorial alumni of the Class of 1998
4 education alumni
3 Jewish nonprofit management alumni
2 doctoral alumni
Register to attend these events in-person or online
Thursday, November 10, 2022; Jerusalem international YMCA, 26 King David Street,
Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 4 pm ET; Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York, 10 East 66th Street, New York;
Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 9:30 am ET; Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York, Fifth Avenue at 65th Street, New York
Sunday, May 14, 2023, at 10 am PT; Stephen Wise Temple, 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive, Los Angeles
Monday, May 15, 2023 at 10 am PT; Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 3077 University Avenue, Los Angeles
Friday, May 19, 2023 at 11 am ET; Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 3101 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati
Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 9:00 am ET; Plum Street Temple, 720 Plum Street, Cincinnati
New York Graduation and Ordination:
Contact Meredeth Kelly at mkelly@huc.edu or (212) 824-2236.
Los Angeles Ordination and Graduation:
Contact Yvette Joffe at yjoffe@huc.edu or (213) 765-2149 or Amanda Sissman at asissman@huc.edu.
Cincinnati Graduation and Ordination:
Contact Autumn Wheeler-Peterson at awheeler@huc.edu or (513) 487-3231.
Contact the National Office of Communications and Public Affairs at news@huc.edu
