Michele Prince, Director of the Kalsman Institute on Judaism and Health, is best known for, among other things, her ability to synthesize complex information and bring order to complicated and multi-faceted issues. An oncology social worker and Jewish non-profit professional, Ms. Prince moved into the world of Judaism, health, and healing after a fifteen-year career as an accomplished account manager and consultant in marketing, strategic planning, and advertising in the non-profit and for-profit marketplaces.

Part of Ms. Prince's responsibilities leading the Kalsman Institute is as an adjunct faculty member of HUC's Rabbinical School. She teaches and also works directly with all students in pastoral internships, providing group and individual supervision, reflection, and guidance.

Ms. Prince was appointed the Director of the Kalsman Institute in July 2007. She received her MSW from the USC School of Social Work and MA in Jewish Communal Service from HUC-JIR in 2002. Ms. Prince continues to work as a member of the oncology social work staff at the USC/Norris Cancer Hospital. In 2003, at the end of her first year of service at Norris, she was named Norris Employee of the Year.

Ms. Prince is founder of The Jewish Bereavement Project, at a website based service which has served thousands of people in the Los Angeles area with information and referrals since it was launched in 2002 (JewishBereavement.com). She has conducted hundreds of class sessions and workshops on such topics as "A Behavioral Health Introduction for Rabbis," "The Basics of Hospice," "Creating Caring Communities," "Communication Skills," "Advanced Cancer & End of Life Care," and "Putting Our Affairs in Order: Legal and Financial Matters from a Jewish Perspective." To learn more about Michele Prince, visit our press page.

Adi Bodenstein, the Assistant Director of the Kalsman Institute is committed to ensuring organizational goals are progressing, effective, and coinciding with agency ideals.

Ms. Bodenstein became the Assistant Director of the Kalsman Institute in January of 2010. She received her MSW from the University of Michigan, School of Social Work in 2009. Before coming to the Kalsman Institute Adi Bodenstein worked with several well known social service organizations whose focus is also on health and healing, including the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, the March of Dimes and Take Back the Night. At the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation she developed an innovative educational game for use at their annual Take Steps Walk. Her game is used to raise awareness in doctors, as well as those with Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis, and their allies around both medical treatment and the day-to-day realities of living with this chronic illness.

Adi also co-taught courses at both the undergraduate and graduate student level at the University of California, San Diego and the University of Michigan: School of Social Work. The courses include: Intergroup Dialogue: Religion, Intergroup Dialogue: Race and Ethnicity, Introduction to Facilitation, and Foundation Field Instruction.

Adi combines a strong background in social work methodology with an intuitive aptitude and a passion for championing social justice ideals, helping to better individuals' quality of life.

Rabbi Cutter is Emeritus Professor at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he held the Paul and Trudy Steinberg Chair in Human Relations, and was Professor of Modern Hebrew Literature and Education. He has taught at the College-Institute since 1965, and has served as the Assistant Dean and Director of the Rhea Hirsch School of Education, which he helped found in 1970. Rabbi Cutter is an accomplished author, educator and public speaker. His most recent publication is Midrash and Medicine: Healing Body and Soul in the Jewish Interpretive Tradition (2011, Jewish Lights Publishing).
Ordained, HUC-JIR (1965), Ph.D., UCLA (1971)

To learn more about Bill Cutter, visit his faculty page.
To read about Bill's latest journey to Israel click here.

Jay Abarbanel received his Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from the University of Manchester, England. He has done research in Israel and taught at the University of Southern California. Jay has been active in several organizations, including the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. He is currently on the Boards of the Renewal of Spirit Foundation and Bet Tzedek, the Jewish Legal Aid Organization in Los Angeles.

Kalsman Institute on Judaism and Health
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Los Angeles School
3077 University Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90007-3796
213.749.3424
kalsman@huc.edu

Kalsman Steering Committee

Jay Abarbanel
Marla Abraham
Richard Address
Bill Aron
Pearl Barlev
Linda Bertenthal
Anne Brener
Susan Caro
Ken Chasen
Josh Holo
Lawrence Goldmark
Douglas Kohn
Ilana Mills
Janet Offel
Gil Rosen
Harriet Rosen
Debi Rowe
David Schulman
Howard Silverman
Allan Tobin
Sally Weber
Marshall Zolla