Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Graduation/Ordination/Investiture Advisory

*Daniel Pearl, posthumously, and The Daniel Pearl Foundation to receive the 2003 Roger E. Joseph Prize

*Edgar M. Bronfman to receive the 2003 Dr. Bernard Heller Prize

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is proud to announce the ordination, investiture, graduate, and honorary degree recipients of the Class of 2003. Founded in 1875, HUC-JIR is the nation’s oldest institution of higher Jewish education and the academic, spiritual, and professional development center of Reform Judaism.

The College-Institute will ordain 56 rabbis (28 men, 28 women) in Cincinnati, Los Angeles, and New York. The College-Institute will invest 12 cantors (4 men, 8 women) in New York.

In addition, 43 rabbinical students will receive the degree of Master of Arts in Hebrew Literature/Letters and 12 students will receive the Master of Sacred Music degree. Fifteen students will receive graduate degrees – 3 Doctor of Philosophy, 1 Doctor of Hebrew Studies, 2 Doctor of Ministry, 5 Master of Philosophy, 1 Master of Arts, and 3 Master of Arts in Judaic Studies. Five students will receive the degree of Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service, and one student will receive a Certificate in Jewish Communal Service. Fourteen students will receive education degrees - 2 Joint Masters of Arts in Jewish Communal Service and Jewish Education, 4 Master of Arts in Jewish Education, 4 Master of Arts in Religious Education, and 4 Master of Education in Educational Administration from Xavier University through the HUC-Xavier Joint Program (in conjunction with rabbinical ordination at HUC-JIR).

The College-Institute will bestow honorary degrees upon the following recipients:

Los Angeles, Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa:
Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Ph.D., Rector and Sol and Anne Dorff Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, University of Judaism
Lenore C. Kipper, R.J.E., Judaic Studies Director, Temple Beth Am Day School

New York, Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa:
Honorable Avraham Burg, Member of Knesset, State of Israel
Daniel S. Goldin, Senior Fellow, Council on Competitiveness
David A. Harris, Executive Director, The American Jewish Committee
Judith Miller, Pulitzer Prize Winning Correspondent, The New York Times
Leon Uris, Author

Cincinnati, Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa:
Dr. Geoffrey H. Hartman, Sterling Professor Emeritus of English and Comparative Literature, Yale University
Dr. Baruch A. Levine, Skirball Professor Emeritus of Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, New York University
Dr. Colette Sirat, Professor of Hebrew and Hebraic Texts, Sorbonne, and Director of the Hebraic Department, Institut de Recherche et d’Histoire des Textes

The 2003 Roger E. Joseph Prize will be awarded to Daniel Pearl, posthumously, and The Daniel Pearl Foundation at Investiture and Ordination Ceremonies in New York on May 4. Daniel Pearl, an inspiring and courageous journalist, was murdered by Islamic terrorists in Pakistan primarily because of his Jewish identity. His hopes and dreams of tolerance and understanding are a living legacy, sustained by The Daniel Pearl Foundation, for all who would help create a better world.

Accepting the award on behalf of Daniel Pearl and The Daniel Pearl Foundation is Professor Judea Pearl, Daniel Pearl’s father.

The Roger E. Joseph Prize is an international award presented annually to an individual or organization which, by virtue of religious and moral commitment, has made a distinctive contribution to humanity.

The 2003 Dr. Bernard Heller Prize will be awarded to Edgar M. Bronfman at Graduation Ceremonies in Cincinnati on May 29. The hallmark of Edgar M. Bronfman’s life is his abiding concern for the safety and wellbeing of the Jewish people and Jewish communities worldwide. He demonstrates his commitment to human rights as President of the World Jewish Congress and helps ensure Jewish continuity through his philanthropic generosity to Jewish education. His landmark efforts in establishing justice and restitution to Holocaust survivors is testimony to his dedicated leadership; it is the fulfillment of the Biblical admonition, “Justice, justice, shall you pursue.”

The Dr. Bernard Heller Prize is an international award presented annually to an individual or organization whose, work, writings, or research reflects the values and commitment to the betterment of humanity.

A breakdown of degree recipients by School location and program follows:

New York Graduation – May 1, 2003
Rabbinical School
Nineteen students will receive the Master of Arts in Hebrew Literature, leading to rabbinical ordination.
School of Sacred Music
The 12 students who will be invested as cantors on May 4 will also receive the Master of Sacred Music degree at Graduation.
Graduate Studies
Two students will receive the Doctor of Ministry degree.
New York School of Education
Four students will receive the Master of Arts in Religious Education degree.

New York Investiture and Ordination – May 4, 2003
Rabbinical School
The New York School will ordain 24 rabbis (12 men and 12 women).
School of Sacred Music
The SSM will invest 12 cantors (4 men and 8 women).

Los Angeles Graduation – May 19, 2003
Rabbinical School
Seven students will receive the Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters, leading to rabbinical ordination.
The Rhea Hirsch School of Education
Two students will receive the Joint Masters of Arts in Jewish Communal Service and Jewish Education. Four students will receive the degree of Master of Arts in Jewish Education.
The Irwin Daniels School of Jewish Communal Service
Five students will receive the Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service, and one student will receive a Certificate in Jewish Communal Service.
The Edgar R. Magnin School of Graduate Studies
One student will receive the Doctor of Hebrew Studies and three students will receive the Master of Arts in Judaic Studies.

Cincinnati Graduation – May 29, 2003
Rabbinical School
Seventeen students will receive the degree of Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters leading to rabbinical ordination.
The School of Graduate Studies
Three students will receive the degree of Ph.D. Five students will receive the degree of Master of Philosophy. One student will receive the degree of Master of Arts.

Cincinnati Ordination – May 31, 2003
Rabbinical School
The Cincinnati School will ordain 19 rabbis (12 men, 7 women).