Sue Neuman Hochberg, Chair of the Los Angeles Board of Overseers of HUC-JIR, has nominated Rabbi Zachary R. Shapiro to the Board of Overseers for the Los Angeles Campus. "I am so honored to be a part of this incredible Board. I believe in how progressive Judaism has shaped modern thinking, and I take pride in HUC-JIR's mission to train our future leader," said Shapiro, who was ordained at HUC-JIR/Cincinnati in 1997 and has been at Temple Akiba in Culver City, CA since 2006. "My mission in life is to bring goodness into the world. I do not believe in random acts of kindness, but rather in purposeful acts." More...

HUC-JIR students throughout the country are actively involved in relief efforts to aid those in Haiti. Students at HUC-JIR/New York donated $280 to the American Jewish World Service and $140 to Israeli Haiti Relief. Students at HUC-JIR/Los Angeles are planning a silent auction on Purim to raise funds for Haiti. Students at HUC-JIR/Cincinnati are asking for donations at services and discussions on Purim to raise funds for Haiti. Jordi Schuster gave a sermon at Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles on January 22. Miriam Terlinchamp, a Kol Tzedek Fellow with American Jewish World Service (AJWS), spoke at Temple Chai and Congregation Beth El in Phoenix, as well as at the Phoenix Federation, in order to raise awareness and funds. Click here for sermons by Jordi Schuster and Miriam Terlinchamp: More...

Last week, the New York campus community came together to celebrate 21 years of serving the local population by feeding those in need. This year, the planning committee decided to shake things up and organized a black-tie soiree for the community, complete with a red carpet, cocktails and appetizers, a photographer and music. At the end of the night, $5,000 had been raised for the soup kitchen. The annual soiree is an opportunity for more students to get involved and to further develop their leadership skills. More...

A trained moral philosopher and Los Angeles-based management guru, Dov Seidman has built a highly successful business on the theory that in today's wired and transparent global economy, companies that "outbehave" their competitors ethically will also tend to outperform them financially. Seidman received an honorary doctorate at HUC-JIR/NY in April, 2009, when he performed as the graduation speaker. His ethics are also informed by the rabbinical tradition. Although Seidman is not a particularly devout Jew, he speaks fluent Hebrew and quotes the Talmud and Heraclitus with equal facility. "Our 3,000-year tradition has always recognized the infinite power of values," he said. More...

On February 8, 2010, we will welcome Cantor Ida Rae Cahana, class of 1993. She will present a Master Class and share with us her insights from her illustrious and varied career - including Toledo, Providence and Central Synagogue in New York. From 11:00 to 11:45, Cantor Cahana will sing and speak about her career and recordings. Cantor Cahana will then join us for a discussion from 11:50 to 12:20. More...

The Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology will present a slide lecture by Dan Bahat on "The Transition between the Hashmonaean Temple Mount and Herod's Temple Mount" on Thursday, February 18 at 5 pm at HUC-JIR/Jerusalem, 13 King David Street. This lecture, in Hebrew, is part of the lecture series "News in Archaeology 2009-2010" supported by the Fellner Foundation and its Trustee, Frederick L. Simmons. Admission is free. More...

Cincinnati - at 10:50 am unless otherwise noted:
Feb. 6 at 10:30 am: Leading Services: Karen Kriger-Bogard
Feb. 8: Leading Services: Ariel Boxman; Reading Torah: Jessica Huetlner Rosenthal
Feb. 9: Leading Services: Samuel Rose-Cormack
Feb. 11: Leading Services: Meredith Kahan; Reading Torah: Nicole Roberts

Los Angeles - at 10 am:
Feb. 8: Schaliach Tzibbur: Daniel Brook; Reading Torah: Callie Souther; Dvar Torah: Lauren Luskey; Gabbai: Keren Klein
Feb. 9: Founders' Day
Feb. 11: Schlichai Tzibbur: Daniel Brook and Cantor Kent; Reading Torah: Joel Abramowitz; Sermon: Jake Singer Beilin; Gabbai: Beau Shapiro

New York - at 10 am unless otherwise noted:
Feb. 8: Leading Services: Rabbi: David Levin; Cantor: Lauren Phillips; Educator: Igor Khokhlov; Reading Torah: Scott Fox; Gabbai: Adam Scheldt
Feb. 8 at 11 am: School of Sacred Music Master Class with Cantor Ida Rae Cahana
Feb. 9 at 11: NY School of Education Practica: Igor Khokhlov and Olga Zelzburg on 'A Family Curriculum: Celebrating Jewish Time"
Feb. 10 at 10:45 am: School of Sacred Music Practica: Julia Rubin-Cadrain and Vicky Glikin on "The Music of Moshe Wilensky (1910-1997)"
Feb. 11: Leading Services: Rabbi: David Levin; Cantor: Lauren Phillips; Educator: Igor Khokhlov; Reading Torah: Amanda Winter; Gabbai: Julia Rubin Cadrain; Rabbinic Thesis Fair

Jerusalem:
Feb. 11 at 8:30 am: Leading Services: Allison Tick; Dvar Torah: Allie Harris
Feb. 13 at 9:30 am: Leading Services: Rabbi Naamah Kelman, with Rachel Levin and Keara Cummings; Dvar Torah: Ethan Prosnit More...

Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz will be meeting with students and faculty at the University of Miami, February 8-10. On Monday, February 8 at 7pm, please join Rabbi Dantowitz at Hillel to learn about Jewish Spiritual Practice and find out about Jewish career paths. For more information, please contact fdantowitz@huc.edu. More...