On November 16th, Rabbi Janice Mehring, '10 participated in a panel discussion sponsored by the American Association of University Women, Atascadero chapter.  Panelists included Dr. Nisha Abdul Cader, The Rev. Harriet Linville, of St. Peter's Episcopal Church,  Rev. Susan Brecht of the United Church of Christ, and Deborah Wilhelm, lay preacher and preaching instructor for the Diocese of Monterey. Panel members discussed the role of women leaders in their various denominations as well as asking the group to discuss the question: "In what ways can Jews, Christians and Muslims be prophetic participants within society, while also retaining their unique religious identities and preserving their integrity in the midst of pluralism?" Rabbi Mehring is the Rabbi of Congregation Ohr Tzafon, a Reform synagogue in Atascadero, CA. She is also a member of the San Luis Obispo Ministerial Association and serves as Interfaith Liaison for the Jewish Community Center of San Luis Obispo.  

On November 18th, the Jewish Journal ran a D'var Torah on Parshat Chayei Sara by Rabbi Avivah Winocur Erlick, '09 entitled "An Attitude of Gratitude." As part of her D'var Torah, Rabbi Erlick, then a chaplain for Skirball Hospice, a program of the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging, recounted her experience comforting the family of a woman in her 90's who had died after living a full and vibrant life. The eloquent piece elicited a commendation from Bill Ries, Skirball Hospice's top administrator who wrote "Rabbi Avivah took her own time and talent to write a very thoughtful editorial to the Jewish Journal on her experience as a hospice chaplain. It was an excellent presentation of the hospice to an important audience."

The latest book by Cantor Jonathan Friedmann, '10, Emotions in Jewish Music: Personal and Scholarly Reflections (University Press of America), has just been published. From the publisher: "Emotions in Jewish Music is an insider's view of music's impact on Jewish devotion and identity. Written by cantors who have devoted themselves to the study and execution of Jewish music, the book's six chapters explore a wide range of musical contexts and encounters..." Among the contributors are AJRCA alumni Cantor Sharon Colbert, '09, Rabbi Cantor Mark Goodman, '07 and Cantor Meeka Simerly, '09.

Fourth year Rabbinical student, Beth Lieberman has been working with author Maggie Anton on Rav Hisda's Daughter: Book One. It is the first of two planned novels about the Babylonian Jewish communities of the 3-5 centuries C.E., slated for fall 2012 publication by Penguin.  

On motz'ei Shabbat January 7th, Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, '04 will add the title "Mash'piah Ruchanit" to her name.  As a musmechet of the ALEPH Hashpaah program, Rabbi Mintz will be certified to be a Spiritual Director. In addition to serving as President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern Nevada, she is also completing her second and final term as President of OHALAH, an international transdenominational association of rabbis, cantors, rabbinic pastors, and chaplains.