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The Latest Achievements, Honors, and Recognition June 2011
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Dear Friends,
It is with great pride that I inform you of the latest achievements and recognition garnered by the Academy and those affiliated with it. May we all get much nachas from these accomplishments and may the Academy and all of those associated with it continue to go from strength to strength.
Best regards,
Jacob Zighelboim, MD
Chairman, Board of Directors
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 On May 16th, AJRCA President, Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, PhD spoke at press a conference at Claremont School of Theology announcing the establishment of Claremont Lincoln University (CLU) which, in a cooperative effort with the AJRCA and the Islamic Center of Southern California, will include a consortium of professional graduate schools for religious education. CLU was made possible as a result of a $50 million donation ($10 million last year and now $40 million more) from philanthropists David and Joan Lincoln. Each participating institution will contribute to the curriculum at Claremont Lincoln, which will offer such graduate programs as interreligious studies, comparative religions, and conflict resolution. Students pursuing ordination will continue to receive that training from their home institution, but there will be opportunities to take courses with students of other faiths. The Los Angeles Times, the Jewish Journal and Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) were among the publications which covered the press conference. On May 2nd, Rabbi Gottlieb gave a lecture to rabbis attending a regional gathering of OHALAH in San Francisco, speaking on the subject of the "Zohar and Consciousness." On May 1st, he met with AJRCA alumni working in the Bay Area as well as prospective students interested in learning more about the Academy.
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AJRCA 2011 Rabbinic Ordinee, Janet Madden, PhD, was invited to participate in the 7th annual Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding's Colleagues in Dialogue Program at Union Theological Seminary in New York, May 2-4, 2011. Sponsored by Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT), Colleagues in Dialogue provides the opportunity for religious leaders to "gather as a group committed to creating a better world through dialogue and the sharing of our gifts, hopes, accomplishments and challenges." Rabbi James Rudin, author of Christians and Jews: Faith to Faith--Tragic Past, Promising Present, Fragile Future was one of the keynote speakers.
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 As of May 5th, Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, '04 was elected President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern Nevada, for a two-year term effective immediately. Rabbi Mintz is the spiritual leader of Valley Outreach Synagogue-P'nai Tikvah, a progressive congregation affiliated with the Reconstructionist movement and is President of OHALAH, the international Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal. Rabbi Mintz also serves on the Board of the Clark County Ministerial Association as well as the Board of AJRCA.
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In the Spring 2011 issue of Lillith Magazine, Rabbi Cheryl Weiner , '07 was quoted by Shayla Gunter Goldstein in her article entitled, "And the Bride Wore Green". Based on her work with the Progressive Jewish Alliance's Green and Just Guide to Celebrations, Rabbi Weiner explained, "When a couple decides to have an eco-conscious wedding, they're changing the consciousness of what a wedding could be, would be, and should be. They're also altering the consciousness of their guests." In addition, Rabbi Weiner completed another Educational Guide for the Jewish Museum of Florida on "Isaac Bashevis Singer and His Artists". She will be teaching a summer course for the Florence Melton Adult Program in Miami on "I.B. Singer: Living between Two Worlds".
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On May 18, 2011, Rabbi Michael Barclay, '07 was honored by the B'nai Zion Foundation, with their "Distinguished Humanitarian Award" at a community dinner held at Sinai Temple. The B'nai Zion Foundation is a 102 year old national organization dedicated to assisting those in need with humanitarian projects in both Israel and America including providing funding for five Israeli hospitals. According to Benzy Kogen, Executive Director of the Western Region of B'nai Zion Foundation, Rabbi Barclay was chosen for this honor because "One of the hallmarks of Michael's rabbinic life is his ability to bring people of all faiths and stripes to an understanding and appreciation of Judaism and Israel."
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On February 19, 2011, the Owners' Counsel of America honored appellate and condemnation attorney, and AJRCA Board of Directors member, Michael M. Berger, Esq., J.D., LL.M,
with the Crystal Eagle Award for his devotion to defending Americans and their private property in eminent domain, regulatory takings, inverse condemnation, land use litigation and on appeal. In announcing the award, the Owners' Counsel of America noted, "For more than 40 years, Michael Berger, has consistently sought to advance the cause of private property rights throughout California and the United States....Throughout his remarkable career, Mr. Berger has argued four cases before the United States Supreme Court as well as cases before appellate courts throughout California, the federal courts of appeal and various state supreme courts." Mr. Berger is a partner with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP in Los Angeles and is co-chair of Manatt's Appellate Practice Group.
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 First year Cantorial student, Lizzie Weiss, was recently chosen to serve as the Cantorial Soloist at Congregation B'nei Tzedek in Fountain Valley. The congregation is affiliated with the Reform movement and has about 500 families. Lizzie will assume the position on July 1st and will be working with Rabbi Stephen Einstein who is in his 36th year with the synagogue. As there is no Cantor on staff, she will be undertaking those responsibilities and leading Shabbat Services, High Holidays, festivals and Bar Mitzvahs. |
On March 30th, Rabbi Larry Seidman, PhD, '09, Rabbi Linda Seidman, '10 and Rabbi and Cantor Osnat Margalith, '07, '08, met with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel. The AJRCA alumni, all members of the Orange County Board of Rabbis, met with Dr. Wiesel at Chapman University where he is a Distinguished Presidential Fellow. |
 The article, "The Neighborhood Music Settlement and Boyle Heights," by Cantor Jonathan Friedmann, '10, was recently published in the journal Western States Jewish History (vol. 43, no. 3/4). The issue focuses on the Boyle Heights Jewish Community in Los Angeles from the 1920s to the 1960s. |
 Rabbi Mordecai Finley, AJRCA Professor of Jewish Thought, was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Israel-Christian Nexus, an organization whose mission is to strengthen the alliance between Jews and Christians in defense of our shared Judeo-Christian values and to educate and mobilize the two communities for sustained action in solidarity with the nation and people of Israel. Through its outreach to Christian pastors and priests, several tens of thousands of Christians are educated and inspired regarding the State of Israel. On another note, Rabbi Finley was referenced in the recent Weekly Standard article on playwright David Mamet's political journey. |
 On the evening of June 1st, AJRCA Professor of Jewish Liturgy, Rabbi Arielle Hanien, will be one of the panelists at an interfaith dinner sponsored by Westwood Presbyterian Church's Women's Reading Group. Her fellow panelists include Reverend Dr. Lynn Cheyney, Senior Pastor of Westwood Presbyterian Church as well as Sumeyye Kocaman, a PhD candidate in Islamic Studies at UCLA. |
 The May 27th issue of the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix featured the article "Rabbis meet to address community needs," which noted that the presidents of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix and the Orthodox Rabbinical Council (ORC) have announced plans to work together to address community issues. Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman, '05, president of the Board of Rabbis, discussed the fact that the two organizations are "deeply concerned about our community as a whole" and would be meeting to explore creative solutions to the problems the Greater Phoenix community is currently facing. We are "both community-minded people," Rabbi Sharfman said, "and we are looking forward to doing whatever we can to protect and enhance the quality of Jewish life in our community...that we hold so dear." |
 During the weekend of May 20th-22nd, AJRCA Professor of Talmud, Rabbi Elijah Schochet, PhD, served as the "Scholar in Residence" for Beth Israel Community Center in Mexico City, Mexico, the congregation served by Rabbi Steve Finley, '09. Rabbi Schochet addressed a number of topics including what he has learned from 50 years in the Rabbinate. |
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Academy for Jewish Religion|CA
Yitzhak Rabin Hillel Center for Jewish Life at UCLA
574 Hilgard Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
phone: 310-824-1586 email: office@ajrca.org
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