On April 10^th, AJRCA President, Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, PhD led a three hour advanced workshop sponsored by The Mussar Institute, at Brandeis Bardin Institute. The symposium was given to the advanced students of The Mussar Institute who have been studying as a class for several years with Alan Morinis. Rabbi Gottlieb's workshop focused on the topic, "Discovering the Soul through Mussar Practice."

AJRCA Professor of Jewish Liturgy, Rabbi Arielle Hanien, has been accepted into the Executive Doctoral program at The William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education.  In commenting on her acceptance, Rabbi Hanien said, "The opportunity to pursue this advanced degree, taking courses at the Davidson School at the Jewish Theological Seminary and at Teacher's College, promises to enrich my thinking and my ability to teach a new generation of leaders. For me, the privilege of serving on the faculty of AJRCA and my desire to contribute to the work and growth of this extraordinary school, are at the heart of what the Davidson School expressed in its welcome letter, writing that the admissions committee was "most impressed with your achievements and your promise as a continued leader in Jewish education." Indeed, I credit my students and my colleagues for the inspiration to pursue doctoral studies, as I see it as one way of honoring their dedication and lifelong learning--a way that can further enhance my teaching and our experience at AJRCA."

Marvin A. Sweeney, AJRCA Professor of Tanakh, recently presented a paper, "Ezekiel's Conceptualization of the Exile," at the Society of Biblical Literature Pacific Coast Meeting, held at Whittier University, March 28, 2011.  He is currently writing a commentary on Ezekiel for the Smyth & Hewys Reading the Old Testament commentary series. Three of Dr. Sweeney's most recent publications include "The Portrayal of Assyria in the Books of Kings." The Bible as a Human Witness to Divine Revelation. Hearing the Word of G-d through Historically Dissimilar Traditions. Edited by R. Heskett and B. Irwin. LHBOTS 469; London and New York: T and T Clark, 2010, pp. 274-284; "The Problem of Ezekiel in Talmudic Literature." After Ezekiel: Essays on the Reception of a Difficult Prophet. Edited by P. Joyce and A. Mein; LHBOTS 535; London and New York: T and T Clark, 2011, pp. 11-23; and "The Minor Prophets." The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism. Edited by J. Collins and D. Harlow. Grand Rapids and Cambridge: Eerdmans, 2010, pp. 951-952.

Rabbi Birdie Becker, '10 was a recent guest columnist for the Pueblo Chieftain, the major newspaper in Southern Colorado. Her article, "Passover message: Open your hearts to freedom," appeared in the April 16^th issue of the newspaper. Rabbi Becker is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Pueblo, CO, the Program Director of "Storahtelling Colorado," and President of the Rocky Mountain Cantors Association.

AJRCA Chaplaincy student, Stephen Macht, was profiled in the March 25^th issue of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In the article/interview, "Veteran TV actor spreads 'Rumors' in Summerlin," Stephen discussed his most recent role, co-starring in Neil Simon's farcical "Rumors," the first fully staged production by the Jewish Repertory Theatre of Nevada, as well as his long and prolific career in TV, film and theatre. Trained professionally at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, a graduate of Dartmouth College, a Ph.D. in Dramatic Literature from Indiana University, Stephen has been called "one of the best-educated working actors in America today." His many acting credits include "General Hospital," "Cagney & Lacey," "Knots Landing" and starring as Yoni Netanyahu in "Raid on Entebbe."

Rabbi Julia Watts Belser, PhD, '07 has been invited to spend a year at Harvard Divinity School as a Research Associate in the Women's Studies in Religion Program.  Her research project will set contemporary feminist, queer, and post-colonial theory and poetry in provocative conversation with the Babylonian Talmud, in order to articulate a critical Jewish feminist ethics that responds to issues of violence, poverty, and ecological crisis.  While at the Divinity School, she will also teach a course on Jewish Feminist Ethics. Rabbi Watts Belser is Assistant Professor of Judaism in the Religious Studies department at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO.

Upcoming: AJRCA Ordination and Graduation