On November 30^th, Chaplain D'vorah Epstein McDonald, '06, a Board Certified Chaplain at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank sent an email explaining the holiday of Chanukah to approximately 1800 employees at the Medical Center. As a result of that email, the Providence Health & Services Foundations put together and distributed a beautiful and inspirational video entitled "Chanukah: Festival of the Lights." In commenting on the piece, Chaplain Epstein said "I was really moved by this and though I take no credit for it, I think it is an affirmation of my presence at the hospital as well as Judith'sand Ruth's presence in the South Bay." (Chaplain Judith Sommerstein, '06 is at Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital in San Pedro and Chaplain Ruth Belonsky, '06 is at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance.)

On Sunday, December 6^th, AJRCA Cantorial student Marcus Feldman and Cantor Jonathan Friedmann, '10 were featured soloists at a Chanukah Concert held at Beth Jacob Congregation, a Modern Orthodox synagogue in Beverly Hills. Cantor Edward Robin, '10 and student Seth Ettinger also performed as part of the choir.

Cantor Jonathan Friedmann's, '10 review of the book Toward a Theology of Beauty: A Biblical Perspective, by Jo Ann Davidson was published in the McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry (vol. 12). Cantor Friedmann is the Cantor of Bet Knesset Bamidbar and Valley Outreach Synagogue - P'nai Tikvah, both in Las Vegas, NV.

Rabbi Birdie Becker, '10 was featured in the article, "Judaism offers guidance on speaking-and listening-with integrity" which ran in the December 11^th issue of The Pueblo (CO) Chieftain. Rabbi Becker explained the concept of "Lashon Hara" or "evil tongue" noting that "It doesn't simply refer to speaking ill of others. It's also about not being party to such talk by listening to it...(and) denigrating oneself is not acceptable either." Our charge, she said, is "to keep the level of conversation moving always upward." Rabbi Becker serves as the rabbi of Temple Emanuel, a Reform congregation in Pueblo, CO. She also spearheads the "Raising the Bar" program for the Mile High Maven Storahtellers.