The Jim Joseph Foundation has awarded a three-year, $5.2 million grant to the DeLeT teacher education program at HUC-JIR/Los Angeles and Brandeis University. The grant extends a donor relationship between the foundation and DeLeT that began two years ago. According to an evaluation commissioned by the foundation, DeLeT represents a "paradigm shift" in the preparation of Jewish day school teachers, integrating graduate coursework with a yearlong immersive field experience in partner schools. As of this summer, the program will have prepared almost 140 Jewish day school teachers, working in 40 schools across the U.S. More...

Rabbi David Ellenson writes: "As I write these words in the hours before Tisha Be'Av, I feel a sense of great sadness. As a lifelong Zionist devoted to the State of Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people, I am filled with sorrow regarding recent developments that threaten to undermine both the liberal and democratic ethos of its founding leaders and the relationship between American Jews and Israel. The arrest of Anat Hoffman for carrying a Torah scroll publicly at the Western Wall last week as she participated in the Rosh Hodesh prayers held monthly by 'Women of the Wall' as well as the proposed Rotem conversion bill that would have granted a Haredi Chief Rabbinate exclusive oversight over all conversion matters had left hundreds of thousands of Jews with feelings of sorrow and anger. These acts were tantamount to a declaration of war by zealots in governmentally sanctioned positions of power against liberal religious Jews in particular and Diaspora Jewry in general. This struggle for Jewish religious freedom is a principled fight for justice that expects the state to be impartial in defining authentic religious Judaism. It is high time that the legitimacy and authority of different branches of religious Judaism be affirmed in Israel. This will surely enhance and strengthen the commitment significant numbers of American Jews feel towards the Jewish state." More...

The Los Angeles campus of HUC-JIR is now home to the Western Center for Reform Judaism - an innovative environment that brings together the academic, congregational, and rabbinical leadership arms of the Reform Movement under one roof. HUC-JIR, the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), and the Central Conference of Reform Rabbis (CCAR) are benefiting from the enhanced synergy and cooperation facilitated by the Center, which is a template for a proposed National Reform Movement Center in New York. More...

The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) dedicated its new home at the Jerusalem campus of HUC-JIR on Wednesday, June 30th. The Hanukat Bayit - housewarming party - began with a reception and mezuzah hanging, followed by keynote speaker, Israeli author Amos Oz. The Israel Religious Action Center, the public and legal advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel, was founded in 1987 with the goals of advancing pluralism in Israeli society and defending the freedoms of conscience, faith, and religion. Through the generosity of Rabbi Amy and Gary Perlin, IRAC moved to the Jerusalem campus of HUC-JIR in January of 2010. Rabbi Naamah Kelman, Dean of HUC-JIR/Jerusalem, speaks for President David Ellenson and the entire HUC-JIR/Jerusalem community in welcoming IRAC to the place where it belongs-"at the heart of our Jerusalem campus, to promote the noble values of our Reform Movement-social justice, tikkun olam, and human rights advocacy." Please click here to read Gary Perlin's remarks at the ceremony. More...

HUC-JIR's School of Jewish Communal Service and JCPSC invite you to the Summer Salon Series featuring Nancy K. Kaufman, 2010 Rabbi Louis Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence, on Monday, August 2nd at 6:30 pm at the home of Michael Hirschfeld. Kaufman will discuss "Jewish Community Relations in 2010 - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." No charge. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to hpearson@huc.edu, address of event provided upon reservation. More...

You are cordially invited to attend the 41st Culmination Exercises of HUC-JIR's School of Jewish Communal Service on Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 at 5:00 pm at HUC-JIR/Los Angeles, 3077 University Avenue. The Culmination Address, "Jewish Leadership in the 21st Century: Recapturing Our Soul!" will be presented by Nancy Kaufman, Executive Director of the Boston JCRC and the Rabbi Lois Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence. Reception to follow ceremony. Please RSVP to hpearson@huc.edu. More...

Dr. Lawrence Hoffman, Dr. Jonathan Krasner, Dr. Mark Washofsky, and Dr. Andrea Weiss will be among the scholars teaching at the URJ's Summer Kallah. The URJ's Kallah is an intense immersion in Jewish texts and ideas with outstanding teachers within a vibrant community of committed leaders. This is an unparalleled opportunity for spiritual renewal with full days of study and spiritual growth, including six sessions of a limud (text-based study seminars), plus additional workshops and learning opportunities. The entire Kallah community joins together for daily worship and meals, plus entertainment, singing and socializing. Register now for an unforgettable learning experience August 4-8, 2010, at the Glen Cove Mansion in Glen Cove, NY. More...

The Institute for Judaism & Sexual Orientation is a proud co-sponsor of the historic 20th World Conference of GLBT Jews. The sponsoring organization, Keshet Gaavah, the World Congress of GLBT Jews, was the first organization to bring together GLBT Jews from all over the world beginning in 1976. Many great HUC-JIR alumni are part of the conference, including Rabbi Lawrence Edwards, Rabbi Lisa Edwards, and Rabbi Jocee Hudson, to name a few. The conference keynote speaker on Friday, August 13, is Progressive Jewish Alliance Executive Director, Elissa Barrett, Esq. The World Conference will honor Senator Mark Leno for his lifelong advocacy of GLBT rights and inclusion. The Conference is scheduled for August 13-15 at UCLA Hillel. Information about the conference, including how to register, is available at http://glbtjews.org/la2010/. More...