In mid-April it was announced that, as of July 31st, 2012 AJRCA President Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, PhD will be stepping down as Dean of the Rabbinical School and Dean of the Chaplaincy School while continuing in his position as President of the Academy. As a result, each of the aforementioned schools will have new leadership. Both appointees were chosen by an AJRCA-assigned faculty committee, and confirmed by the faculty, the President, and the Board of Directors. According to Rabbi Gottlieb,"The search committee did a thorough job, dedicating themselves to assessing excellent candidates and chose two superb individuals amongst the distinguished applicants." Rabbi Michael Menitoff, PhD will be the Dean of the Rabbinical School, and Rabbi Rochelle Robins will be the Dean of the Chaplaincy School. 

Rabbi Menitoff, who will assume his new position as of August 1st, 2012, received his B.A. from Harvard College, his ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and his PhD in Early Childhood Development from UCLA. He has had a distinguished career in the Synagogue Rabbinate including leading Congregation B'nai Jacob in Woodbridge, CT (1984-1991), and Congregation Mishkan Tefila in Chestnut Hill, MA (1991-2005). He has received many notable honors throughout his career, including serving as Chairman of the Connecticut State Ethics Commission, President of the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis, President of the Western States Rabbinical Assembly, and National Vice Chairman of the Rabbinic Cabinet of State of Israel Bonds. He has also participated in interfaith programs in Israel and Rome including a meeting with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

Rabbi Menitoff joined the Academy's faculty several years ago and, as Rabbi Gottlieb said "has distinguished himself with his collegiality, hard work, dedication to improving internship evaluations (along with Associate Dean of Internships and Placement, Rabbi Lynn Brody Slome, '05 and Board of Directors member, Julie Madorsky, MD), and commitment to align himself with the values and vision of the Academy. I am confident that he will make a superb Dean, and his thoughtfulness and assiduous dedication will have a very positive impact on our fine school."

On Sunday, March 25th, the Academy sponsored the first in a series of seminars addressing the values and beliefs shared by the three Abrahamic traditions. The focus of these seminars reflects AJRCA's groundbreaking collaborative initiative with Claremont School of Theology and the Islamic Center of Southern California, a collaboration which has led to the establishment of Claremont Lincoln University, an interreligious institution of graduate studies. The meeting attracted over 150 attendees and consisted of presentations by Jerry Campbell, PhD, President of Claremont School of Theology; Jihad Turk, Director of Religious Affairs, The Islamic Center of Southern California, and Interim Dean, Bayan Graduate Program at Claremont Lincoln University; Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, PhD, President of the Academy for Jewish Religion, California and Vice President of Claremont Lincoln University; and Rabbi Miriam Hamrell, '03, the Rabbi of Ahavat Torah Congregation in Brentwood. A video podcast of the event can be seen here.   

In an ongoing effort to reach out to potential students, AJRCA Director of Admissions and Alumni Liaison, Janet L. Barzilay, J.D., organized a very successful Open House on Sunday, March 18th. The Academy hosted 12 potential applicants interested in learning more about the Rabbinical, Cantorial and Chaplaincy Schools. In addition to Janet's introductory remarks, attendees had the opportunity to hear from AJRCA President, Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, PhD; Dr. Tamar Frankiel, Dean of Academic Affairs; Cantor Perryne Anker, Associate Dean of the Cantorial School; and Rabbi Lynn Brody Slome, '05, Associate Dean of Internships and Placement. Attendees also met with and asked questions of a number of current students representing each of the three schools and, in addition, were able to sit in on some classes. In summarizing the event, Janet said "I was very pleased with the turnout for the Open House and our prospective students seemed quite impressed with and excited by what they heard and experienced. Related to that, I want to express my deep appreciation to the members of the Administration, faculty and students who participated in the event, each of whom conveyed, both in their remarks and their warm and welcoming presence, why the Academy is such an extraordinary institution."    

AJRCA President, Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, PhD has announced that Director of Admissions and Alumni Liaison Janet L. Barzilay, J.D. will be moving to New York City and, as such, will be leaving her position at the Academy as of June 15th. In reflecting on her tenure, Rabbi Gottlieb said "Janet has been an outstanding member of our administration, these past two years, and we will miss her enormously. Not only did she do her job with the utmost professionalism, most enduring was the impact that she has had on all of us as a genuine, sensitive, caring, warm, bright human being who always met us with a smile and a positive attitude. She is a rare individual who makes all those around her feel good with her incessant positive energy, and authenticity. Janet will be providing her successor with the important data that she has gathered and created these past years, and pointing out trends and opportunities based on this data, which will help to insure that a smooth transition will occur in this important position. With that in mind, the search to fill her position has already begun. All of us at AJRCA wish Janet great success, joy and fulfillment on her transition to New York, and express gratitude to all that she has given to us these past two years."