Reconstructionist congregations partner across the miles – Rabbi Nitkin-Kaner (’16) and Rabbi Weissman (’17)
Little did these two rabbinical students imagine that within a decade they would bring together their Reconstructionist congregations — one located in Ann Arbor and one in Attleboro, Massachusetts — for joint worship services and holiday celebrations on a platform called Zoom.
The Well & Jewish News’ 36 Under 36: Rabbi Ari Witkin (’19)
The great joy of his job is supporting Metro Detroiters leadership in the work of building and strengthening our community. In addition to his role at Federation, he currently serves as the part-time rabbi of Temple Beth Israel in Bay City.
Rabbi Shira Stutman (’07): Hanukkah celebrates a Jewish victory, but this year the rebuilding matters more
It’s about that moment immediately after the Jews won — when, surveying the damage in their country and among their people, they realized how much work there was still to be done, and then chose to get up and start doing it. It is, in other words, the perfect allegory for the United States in 2020.
How Faith Groups Are Bringing Sermons to Screens This Holiday Season – Rabbi Rachel Weiss (’09)
Rachel Weiss, a senior rabbi at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, said her congregation has created meaningful ways to celebrate the holiday online. Together, they’ll be cooking latkes together, watching movies and lighting candles virtually. “Because we do it on Zoom, we have windows into everyone’s homes and it’s incredibly moving to be able to see candles lit all over,” Weiss said. “It’s like windows into 100 different sanctuaries.”
Rabbi Moti Rieber (’04) quickly takes reins as interim in Topeka
As most congregations can attest, it was hard enough preparing a virtual experience during the High Holidays this year. But try doing it with a temporary spiritual leader who has been on the job for only a matter of weeks. That was exactly the situation at Temple Beth Sholom in Topeka. Congregation president, Alan Parker, said the experience turned out fantastically thanks in large part to interim rabbi, Moti Rieber, who lives and worships in Overland Park.
New Rabbi at Attleboro Synagogue – Rabbi Alex Weissman (’17)
“Synagogues are one of the few places that have the potential to meaningfully, rigorously, and generously, build relationships across age, ideology, religiosity — and so many other things that keep people apart,” Weissman said. “We live in a world of isolation, hyper-individualism, and division. Synagogues have the potential to be an antidote, to show up for each other, to learn from each other, to rejoice together, and to grieve together.”
Data Breach Notification
Recently, we were notified by one of our software vendors, Blackbaud, that they experienced a ransomware attack from February 2020 to May 2020.
Trauma, Healing & Resilience for Rabbis, Jewish Educators and Organizers – Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg (’18)
“This guide offers, I hope, valuable context, distillation of terms, tools, and most importantly, questions that rabbis and educators can ask to engage the ongoing process of integrating trauma awareness into our Jewish communities.” – Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg
Rabbi takes a non-traditional path to Temple Sinai Cinnaminson – Rabbi Michael Perice (’20)
He started out small, reading books and going to services more often. But no matter how much his newly excavated faith grew, he said, becoming a rabbi was still the farthest reality in his mind.
Boycotting Twitter to protest its handling of anti-Semitism could backfire – Rabbi Emily Cohen (’18)
In that sense, the digital walkout’s mission is one I fully support. But, of course, effective action is a little more complicated than that.
