Community Blog
At the center of leadership in Jewish education for over 90 years, Hebrew College has always been a fulcrum of active discussion about the most current issues of the day. Now, Hebrew College extends that discussion worldwide, with the Hebrew College community blog.
| Why I am a Jewish Educator and Jewish Learner |
| Michael Shire Dean, Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education |
| My study of Judaism enriches me, and my teaching of Judaism makes the enrichment all the more fulfilling. It can be the history of our people, Jewish thought or, indeed, the very engagement with ancient Jewish writings. > Read full post |
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| Is Hatred of Evil a Jewish Value? |
| Daniel Lehmann President, Hebrew College |
| Both of these recent tragedies force us to confront the question of whether hatred of evil is a Jewish value. Psalm 97, which we recite as part of the Friday evening Shabbat service, reminds us that "those who love the Lord, hate evil..." > Read full post |
| A New Vision for Prozdor |
| Dan Brosgol Director, Prozdor |
| Prozdor hazily exists somewhere between passion and compulsion. Yes, parents like to make their kids go to Prozdor (and for that, I thank them) but once they are here it is our job to make sure they get plugged in to the right opportunity that will make them take ownership of their Jewish learning experience. > Read full post |
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| The Power of Music |
| Cantor Brian Mayer Dean, School of Jewish Music |
| April 25, 2013 — It's a cliche: "The power of music reaches the human soul in ways that words cannot." Maybe it's because I'm a musician, but I am tired of this cliche. > Read full post |
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| A Statement of Grief and Hope From Boston |
| Rabbi Or Rose Director, Center for Global Judaism |
| April 17, 2013 — As clergy serving different religious communities in Greater Boston, we are shocked and saddened by the Patriots' Day attacks on our fellow citizens, our city and our freedom. > Read full post |
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| The Hebrew College-Japan Connection: Unexpected Discoveries |
| Bernice Lerner Director, Adult Learning |
| April 11, 2013 — When former Hebrew College President Sam Schafler and his wife, Sara, visited Kyoto, Japan, Akira Kondo, MJS’91, happily introduced them to his parents — and to members of Beit Shalom, also known as Japan Christian Friends of Israel. Founded in 1946 by Father Otsuki Takeji, Beit Shalom now boasts 10,000 members. Akira’s studies at Hebrew College helped prepare him for the role of pastor of the group’s headquarter church in Kyoto. > Read full post |
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| Anyone Can Lead |
| Daniel Brosgol Director, Prozdor |
| March 21, 2013 — In looking at the stories of Prozdor students, there’s a compelling case to be made that as long as a student latches on to something he is passionate about and is given the tools and the space to be creative, he can become a leader. > Read full post |
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| My Shortest Trip to Israel |
| Rabbi Daniel Lehmann President, Hebrew College |
| March 6, 2013 — Rabbi David Hartman was a larger than life figure. Rooted in Orthodox practice and belief, he pushed the boundaries of Jewish thought, articulating a covenantal theology of partnership and love. As an Orthodox rabbinical student and a then a young rabbi, David Hartman was a model for me of someone who was devoted to the tradition, passionate about Jewish law and thought, and striving for a creative, contemporary theology that responded to the challenges and opportunities of pluralism and the State of Israel. > Read full post |
| Shushan Purim |
| Elizabeth Bonney Student, Rabbinical School |
| Feb. 25, 2013 — We acknowledge today as Shushan Purim, as a commemoration of the day when the Jews of Shushan (the walled Persian capital) finally rested after defeating their enemies. They returned to their gated community, and rejoiced. > Read full post |
| Purim: A Holiday of Friendship? |
| Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld Dean, Rabbinical School |
| Feb. 20, 2013 — It was from one of my most significant teachers, Rabbi James Ponet, that I first learned about Rabbi Hartman’s understanding of Purim as the Jewish holiday of friendship. The connection may seem counterintuitive at first. A holiday of debauchery, disguises and narrowly averted disaster, yes. But the holiday of friendship? > Read full post |
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| Easy Ways to Celebrate Purim at Home with Young Children |
| Rachel Raz Director, Early Childhood Institute |
| Feb. 13, 2013 — There are many ways we can celebrate Purim at home. This post gives you tips on bringing the excitement of Purim into your home without breaking the bank, with easy Mishloach Manot and free videos about the holiday. > Read full post |
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| Experiencing Islam: An Interview with Homayra Ziad, PhD |
| Rabbi Or Rose Director, Center for Global Judaism |
| Feb. 11, 2013 — We are confronted on a daily basis with facts, figures and foregone conclusions about Islamic beliefs and practices. My first hope for this weeklong introduction was to provide students with tools to intelligently navigate this complicated terrain. > Read full post |
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| Walk the Walk |
| Cantor Brian Mayer Dean, School of Jewish Music |
| Feb. 6, 2013 — I had the privilege of being part of an amazing Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Providence on Sunday, Jan. 27. Six choirs from around the city joined together to pay tribute to Dr. King's legacy in a concert entitled "Singing the Dream." > Read full post |
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| An Interfaith Vision for America |
| Rabbi Daniel L. Lehmann President, Hebrew College |
| Jan. 22, 2013 — The remarkable confluence of President Obama’s second inaugural celebration and the national holiday marking Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday led me to think about the place of religious pluralism in America. I listened to President Obama’s inaugural address at noon, and as I was driving back to Boston from New York City, I listened again to MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech that was broadcast on the local radio. I was struck, as I have been in the past, with the concluding sentence of King’s famous speech. > Read full post |
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| Gaining a Fresh Approach to Rearing Teens: An Opportunity for Every Parent |
| Bernice Lerner Director, Adult Learning |
| Jan. 18, 2013 — As her triplets were heading into their teen years, Cynthia Cohen thought it would be helpful to enroll in Parenting Your Teen Through a Jewish Lens. The Jewish aspect of the course attracted her. “We are not better parents than our friends who are not Jewish. We just do certain things differently. We have Shabbat dinner and lunch. We have Jewish holidays and life cycle events. We send our kids to a day school because we value Torah learning." > Read full post |
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| Israel: There and Back Again |
| Dan Brosgol Director, Prozdor |
| Jan. 8, 2013 — It’s always amazing to go to Israel with Prozdor kids. This time, we managed to somehow dodge the historic rainfall that has been pounding the country all winter to enjoy a jam-packed 11 days of travel. It only rained the night of our arrival (Dec. 21, and no, we didn’t see the Messiah, even though I went for a run that night in Jerusalem to see if I’d run into him) and for an hour on the following Saturday. > Read full post |
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| What We Bring, What We Take |
| Bernice Lerner Director, Adult Learning |
| Nov. 15, 2012 — I have counseled many adults with work, family or other obligations to enroll in Me’ah, to enjoy learning the compelling story of the Jewish people with outstanding scholars. I tell them that assigned readings deepen understanding, but our instructors know how to teach busy adults who have not time to prepare for class. Finally, I have heeded my own words. I have carved out three hours one evening a week for Me’ah. > Read full post |
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| Toward Creativity: A Theological Goal for Jewish Education |
| Rabbi Daniel L. Lehmann President, Hebrew College |
| Nov. 1, 2012 — I have been contemplating the need for a theology of Jewish education which would ground the goals of Jewish education in an understanding of Judaism’s religious telos. It seems to me that Jewish education should inspire and equip us to achieve the deepest aspirations of Judaism. > Read full post |
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| Square One? Re-envisioning Jewish Experiences for Today's Youth |
| Dan Brosgol Director, Prozdor |
| Oct. 18, 2012 — Every year in our towns and neighborhoods, Jewish families fork over thousands of dollars for Russian Math School, Mass Premier Soccer, private SAT tutoring and intensive jazz and ballet dance classes. Yet at the same time they either don’t need, want or are unable to devote similar resources to Jewish activities. > Read full post |
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| A Tale of Two Countries |
| Rabbi Michael Shire Dean, Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education |
| Oct. 4, 2012 — I was privileged to lead the High Holy Day services again this year at the Oxford Jewish Community in Great Britain. The OJC is unique in Europe in having a single community with multiple "minyanim," including a regular Orthodox, Masorti and Liberal Jewish service on Shabbat and Hagim. > Read full post |
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