Rabbi Alex Weissman (’17) “An Advocate for Social Justice and Civil Rights”
Rabbi Alex Weissman is the senior Jewish educator at Brown RISD Hillel, where he says he has the pleasure of drinking a lot of coffee and learning a lot of Torah with and from his students. He agreed to answer a few questions as part of Jewish Rhode Island’s ongoing effort to introduce community leaders.
Faculty Member Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer Publishes Book on Peace Through Multifaith Understanding
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, Ph.D., a longtime faculty member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College who founded the institution’s multifaith studies department, has published a new book, Strangers, Neighbors, Friends: Muslim-Christian-Jewish Reflections on Compassion and Peace.
Rabbi Sandra Lawson (’18) Profiled by Student News Magazine
Rabbi Sandra Lawson, ’18, who serves as associate chaplain for Jewish life and Jewish educator at Elon University in North Carolina, was recently featured in an in-depth video segment produced by Elon News Network, the university’s student-run organization.
Rabbi Amy Bernstein, ’97, Chosen to Lead SoCal Board of Rabbis
Rabbi Amy Bernstein was installed on January 16, 2019 as the president of The Board of Rabbis of Southern California for a two-year term.
Rabbi Lazarus-Klein (’04) Named to Buffalo Hillel Board
Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein, a 2004 graduate who serves Congregation Shir Shalom near Buffalo, has been named to the board of Hillel of Buffalo.
Rabbi Lawson (’18) Recognized in JTA Twitter 50
2018 Graduate Rabbi Sandra Lawson was recognized in JTA’s Twitter 50 list this year.
Jewish Ethics, #MeToo, and Crowd-Sourced Responsa
In 5778, the hashtags #TimesUp #MeToo #GamAni sparked a broad communal conversation about abuses of power on the part of individuals and institutions, within and beyond the Jewish community. The year brought revelations of misconduct among celebrities and government officials, and in Jewish schools, organizations, and synagogues. Now, powerful people who abuse their power are being held accountable, and this is a development that is welcome and long overdue. That doesn’t mean it is easy.
Labor and Faith Leaders Rally in Support of Immigrants
Rabbi Mordecai Liebling joined with labor and faith leaders in support of immigrants in an August 15 rally in Philadelphia that drew thousands.
Rabbi Adler (’18) Appointed at Belle Mead Synagogue
Congregation Kehilat Shalom, a Reconstructionist congregation in Belle Mead, has appointed Rabbi Jacob Best Adler, a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. As a student, Adler co-wrote “The Hamilton Haggadah” with a classmate. The two rewrote Lin-Manuel Miranda’s famous songs to tell the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. The project went viral the week before Passover in 2016, and received national media coverage.
Rabbi Kennebrae (’17) Featured: Gay and African-American rabbi wants to shatter stereotypes of what a Jew looks like
In her position as the newly installed rabbi of West End Synagogue, a Reconstructionist congregation on the Upper West Side, Kennebrae aims to challenge notions of what a Jew looks like.
