“Ritually Rooted” Fellowship’s First Cohort Begins Sessions

Hebrew Union College has welcomed its first group of 17 fellows to Ritually Rooted, a new initiative that enables college-aged individuals to explore and create deeply rooted modern Jewish ritual, as part of an effort to connect an emerging generation to sacred Jewish leadership.

“The aim of Ritually Rooted is to give fellows the opportunity to explore the origins of different Jewish rituals and an overview of practices around the world, so they can explore ways to make these traditions relevant in their own time,” said Erin Fine, MAJNM, MSW, Associate Director of Recruitment and Partnership Development, and creator of the fellowship. “We are so excited to welcome the fellowship’s first cohort and embark on this course of study.”

The program launched with a welcome session led by Fine offering students the chance to meet and frame the cohort’s learning together. Over the course of Ritually Rooted, fellows will use verbs such as lishmor (to guard, to keep) as a vehicle to study what Jews have turned into ritual, either rooted in keva (routine) or kavanah (intention).

In addition to learning sessions, fellows will receive mentorship, and complete a community ritual project. Those projects will include fellows designing and implementing a ritual experience for their community. HUC is thrilled that grants for these projects are available through a partnership with Men of Reform Judaism.

Fine noted that this year’s fellows represent 5 time zones, 16 universities, and 14 states, as well as the nation of Uganda. The cohort includes not only Jewish Studies majors, religious school teachers, Hillel leaders, and camp counselors, but also musicians and ballroom dancers.

The Ritually Rooted fellowship will continue until June. Fellows will learn with a wide range of mentors and faculty from across North America and the Jewish ecosystem. Group sessions are conducted primarily on Zoom, though some small group sessions may take place in person. The program is 20-30 hours over the spring semester/winter and spring quarters, depending on independent project work time.

Upcoming sessions will include “Memory and Informed Choice” led by Rabbi Adam Allenberg, M.A.J.E. ‘05, ’07, Senior Director of the Office of Recruitment and Admissions, and Infusing and “Building Jewish ritual with Creativity” with School of Education Director and Associate Professor Miriam Heller Stern, Ph.D., along with a “Toolbox for Jewish Ritual” session on rituals and blessings for starting a meal, led by student rabbi Hannah Lybik, CJOL.