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| Dear Friends,
It is truly a blessing to be able to provide you with information about the kavod, (honor or recognition) that the Academy and those affiliated with it are garnering on a regular basis. While this will be the last newsletter sent under my leadership, I have no doubt that subsequent issues will reflect the ever growing success of this beautiful and vitally important institution which has been, and will remain, so dear to my heart. With your help, may the Academy continue to go from strength to strength!
Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, PhD
President
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SALUTING AN EXEMPLARY LEADER 
In June 2012, AJRCA President Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, PhD announced that he would be retiring from his position as of December 31st. With that date just weeks away, the Administration, Board of Directors, Faculty, Alumni and Students, wish to express their deep and abiding appreciation for all that Rabbi Gottlieb has accomplished during his tenure as well as for his warm and collaborative leadership style. As AJRCA Board of Directors Chairman, Jacob Zighelboim, MD, said, "Rabbi Gottlieb's passionate dedication to the Academy's mission and to the well-being of its students, to the excellent functioning of its administration and to its excellent standing in the Jewish community have been greatly responsible for the remarkable success the Academy has enjoyed, both as a school of learning and as a spiritual center from which new light emanates. He has brought to his work a kindness, an enthusiasm, a serenity of presence, and a loving spirit that heightens all those fortunate to work and learn with and from him. The caliber of his leadership and his deep respect and attunement to the values and the principles the institution embraces and affirms are of a unique quality and will be deeply missed." Upon his retirement as President, Rabbi Gottlieb has said that he plans to "pursue more fully my desire to write, to continue to teach courses, to help guide and counsel others on the spiritual path, to continue to support and articulate the sublime vision of our Academy, and redirect my time to new personal and professional pursuits."
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On October 28th to 30th, representatives from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) visited AJRCA, the fourth such visit since 2006 when the Academy began the WASC accreditation process. In 2006, the Academy was granted "Eligibility" status and, in 2009, we received "Candidacy" status, at which point we began pursuing the third, and final stage of the process, "Initial Accreditation." In an email to the Academy community, AJRCA President, Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, PhD, noted that the WASC team was "very impressed by the quality of education that we provide for our students, our attention to all the recommendations that they have made over the years, and our clear progress as a unique institution that is making and will continue to make an impact on the Jewish community, and the larger community as well." Rabbi Gottlieb singled out AJRCA Provost and WASC liaison, Dr. Tamar Frankiel, "for her dedicated, assiduous, outstanding work in preparation of documents, and in organizing every aspect of the preparation enabling us to succeed so brilliantly." |
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AJRCA LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVE
On November 15th, the Academy launched a new initiative promoting our 2013 ordinees and graduates to potential employers nationwide. As part of those efforts, the new website page, "Meet our 2013 Ordinees and Graduates" (http://ajrca.org/meet-ordinees-graduates-2013/) provides a bio and photo of each student; a quote about what they hope to accomplish as a rabbi, cantor, or chaplain; a statement regarding their "ideal job" including any geographic preference or whether or not they would be willing to relocate; and their preferred contact information. Emails with a link to this page have been sent to AJRCA Alumni, Board members, and Faculty as well as to such Jewish community leaders as the Executive Directors and Presidents of Boards of Rabbis in 12 cities across the country, Directors of Jewish Federations in 20 states, and the Executive Director of RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network, the national organization to which 120 community day schools belong.
The organized and wide-spread dissemination of this new website page not only provides information to prospective employers about our ordinees and graduates but it is also an excellent opportunity to increase general awareness about the Academy to Jewish leaders throughout the country.
Back row (l-r): Mariana Gindlin, Dov Gottesfeld, Belle Michael, Jennifer Eaves Nye, Stephen Macht, Adam Siegel. Front row (l-r): Sandy Bernstein, Ronnie Abrams, Robin Podolsky, Robin Hoffman, Batshir Torchio. Not pictured: Ilana Goldhaber-Gordon, PhD and Ron Li-Paz.
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 VOICES OF WISDOM LECTURE SERIES
On November 26th, the Academy hosted the inaugural lecture in the "Voices of Wisdom" lecture series, a dynamic series of thought-provoking interfaith lectures presented by renowned scholars. Working in conjunction with our Claremont Lincoln University partners (Claremont School of Theology and the Islamic Center of Southern California), the first program was entitled "Humility and Humiliation in the Abrahamic Traditions," and featured Rabbi Elijah Schochet, PhD, AJRCA Professor of Talmud; Dr. Kathleen Greider, Claremont School of Theology's Edna and Lowell Craig Professor of Practical Theology, Spiritual Care, and Counseling; and Ozgur Koca, Bayan Claremont Adjunct Professor. The event was made possible by the Interreligious Studies grant which the Academy received from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles.
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The Dr. Scholl Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant towards the establishment of the Academy's projected Interreligious Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education Center. AJRCA Provost, Dr. Tamar Frankiel, wrote the grant application with information also provided by Academy President, Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, PhD and Rabbi Rochelle Robins, Dean of the Chaplaincy School and Director of Clinical Pastoral Education. Noting the documented "rapid increase in the need for chaplains,"Dr. Frankiel provided the details of the proposed Center including its purpose, where students would be drawn from, its institutional foundations, and the proposed leadership and potential faculty. Established by William M. Scholl, MD in 1947, the Dr. Scholl Foundation "is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world." |
 INTERFAITH SPIRITUAL CARE
On November 11th, AJRCA's Chaplaincy School and Clinical Pastoral Education Program hosted a presentation by Reverend Dagmar Grefe, PhD, on Interfaith Spiritual Care. Reverend Dr. Grefe shared reflections and teachings from her newly published book entitled Encounters for Change: Interreligious Cooperation in the Care of Individuals and Communities. As part of her presentation, she discussed some of the practical strategies that support interreligious contact at a grassroots level and described interreligious cooperation at work in local communities. Reverend Dr. Grefe serves as Manager of Spiritual Care and Clinical Pastoral Education at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Clinical Assistant Professor at USC Keck School of Medicine. She is also is a member of the Faculty at Claremont School of Theology. Commenting on the program, Rabbi Rochelle Robins, Dean of AJRCA's Chaplaincy School and Director of Clinical Pastoral Education said, "The importance of Interfaith Spiritual Care can not be overstated. In our times, chaplains of all traditions are able to serve within and across diverse populations. Jewish chaplains serve within the foundation of Jewish tradition but we also serve with our Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, and Hindu colleagues as well as colleagues of other faiths to answer to the spiritual care needs, biomedical ethical concerns, and cross-cultural demands that exist today. Reflecting that reality, AJRCA'S School of Chaplaincy and CPE program focus on serving spiritual needs both within and outside of the Jewish world."
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 AJRCA WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER
The Academy's Board of Directors proudly welcomes Robert Figlin, MD, FACP, as its newest member. Appointed to the Board in December, Dr. Figlin is Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, holds the Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology Oncology, is the Associate Director of the Academic Programs and Director of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Cedars-Sinai's Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute. He is board-certified in both medical oncology and internal medicine. A prolific researcher known for advancing urologic and lung cancer therapies, his expertise has resulted in the development of novel anti-cancer drugs that have led to improved outcomes for patients. Dr. Figlin has written more than 300 peer-reviewed publications, authored several books on kidney cancer and published more than 60 book chapters on new approaches to cancer treatment. |
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END THE YEAR BY SUPPORTING THE ACADEMY!
The Academy for Jewish Religion, California's mission statement is more than just words. It is a commitment to accomplish what we set out to do; training rabbis, cantors and chaplains "who are capable of transforming the communities in which they serve." How "capable" are AJRCA alumni? Consider this:
- President of the Arizona Board of Rabbis
- President of the Southern Nevada Board of Rabbis
- President of OHALAH, the international Association for Rabbis for Jewish Renewal
- President of the Claremont Interfaith Council
- Visiting Assistant Professor at Harvard Divinity School
- Winner of a national award for excellence in Jewish education
- Keynote speaker at a conference for hundreds of California health care providers
- Three appointed members of the national Association for Professional Chaplains' Board Certification Committee
- Author of a book on the Holocaust being translated and published in Poland
- Founder and spiritual leader of a congregation reaching out to the unaffiliated that now has 85 children enrolled in its weekly Religious School, 22 more receiving Bar/Bat Mitzvah training, and 30 women enrolled in the weekly Women's Torah Study classes
- Rabbi featured in a Jewish Journal cover story extolling the unique interfaith bond she's forged between her congregation, a church and a Sufi Muslim congregation
- Cantor whose publications tally since 2011 includes 167 magazine and journal articles, 6 books, 5 book chapters, and 31 book reviews
- Alumni leading 10 Conservative, 2 Conservative/Reform, 19 Reform, 2 Renewal, 1 Reconstructionist and 12 Transdenominational congregations as well as those in leadership positions in day schools, religious schools, hospitals, homes for the aging, chaplaincy programs and universities nationwide
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For those wishing to make an "end of year" contribution in support of the Academy and the important work being done here, please click on the following link Donate Now. As always, your support is deeply appreciated!
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If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about becoming a student at the Academy, please contact Robin Federman, AJRCA Director of Admissions and recruitment at 310-824-1586, ext. 451 or rfederman@ajrca.org.
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