A Celebration of our Graduates 2023/5783

Cantorial Ordination

Matt Goldberg
Kochava Krieger Munro

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Rabbinic Ordination

Elyse Pincus Abrahams
Eric Ross Feld
Lisa Batya Feld
Micah Roberts Friedman
Matt Goldberg
Joshua Doron Greenberg
Ryan Leszner
Alex Matthews
Jackson Vance Mercer
Joshua Shalem Schreiber
Jenna Nicole Shaw
Daniel Morris-Dubin Stein
Ashira Jennifer Lynn Stevens
Moshe Webber

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Master of arts in Jewish Studies

Eric Ross Feld
Lisa Batya Feld
Micah Roberts Friedman
Matt Goldberg
David Bossak Heilbron
Ryan Leszner
Alex Matthews
Joshua Shalem Schreiber
Daniel Morris-Dubin Stein
Moshe Webber

Master of Jewish Education

Elyse Pincus Abrahams
Alyssa Pessaroff Kischel
Sheri Beth Konowitz
Joshua Doron Greenberg
David Bossak Heilbron
Jackson Vance Mercer
Kochava Krieger Munro
Jennifer Wolinsky Saber
Jenna Nicole Shaw
Sydney Belle Ungar

Master of Jewish Education, Pardes Educators Program

Emma Caroline Keswick
Joshua Ray Less

Liz Walker
Liz Walker, former journalist, humanitarian, and minister, leads the Cory Johnson Program for Post Traumatic Healing (CJP). Named after a young, murdered member of Roxbury Presbyterian Church where Reverend Walker served as pastor until December of 2021, CJP is a faith-inspired, clinically supported, community-based program that addresses the epidemic of Post-Traumatic Stress in a neighborhood too often overrun by violence. CJP offers weekly community gatherings called ‘Can We Talk…’ where residents are encouraged to share traumatic experiences, increase their understanding of psychological trauma, and learn coping skills. The program also offers access to mental health support that some residents might not otherwise receive. Since it began in 2014, CJP has served thousands of residents and is in the process of replicating its ‘Can We Talk…’ community conversations around the country.

Reverend Walker took a lead role in vaccine education for communities disproportionately impacted by COVID 19, serving on Massachusetts Governor Baker’s Advisory group for COVID vaccine distribution.

With a life filled with many chapters, Liz Walker is still best known as Boston’s first Black television news anchor, a position she held for 21 of her 28-year television news career. She is the recipient of two Emmys, symbolizing the highest recognition from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and an Edward R. Murrow award for journalistic excellence.

A 2005 graduate of Harvard Divinity School, Reverend Walker has long been actively involved in a healing ministry. She helped found the Jane Doe Safety Fund, a multimillion-dollar anti-violence initiative in Massachusetts that continues to work on policy and supports domestic abuse shelters and safe houses around Massachusetts. She spent 10 years as a humanitarian working in South Sudan one of Africa’s most troubled countries and helped build a girls’ school there. years as Boston’s first African American News Anchor on WBZ TV.

Considered one of the nation’s most healing voices, Reverend Walker is a member of the Core Strategy Team of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization and serves on the Board of Trustees for Boston Medical Center. She has served on the Board of Trustees for Andover Newton Theological Seminary, the Tufts Health Foundation and Board of Overseers for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She is the mother of three and grandmother of two.

David Broza
David Broza is an internationally renowned Israeli singer-songwriter, recognized for his dynamic guitar performances and humanitarian efforts.

His signature sound brings together songs in Hebrew, Spanish and English, with the influence of Spanish flamenco, American folk, rock and roll, and poetry.

Social justice and peace advocacy are embedded in Broza’s work, as his 1977 hit song Yihye Tov remains an Israeli peace anthem. He has over 40 albums released, many of which are multiplatinum.

Broza’s extensive travels have contributed to his international sound and commitment to human connection, story-telling, and equality.

He is the founder of non-profit One Million Guitars, which provides underprivileged school children around the world with a hand-crafted guitar and the foundation of a musical education.

Broza’s charismatic, vibrant, and passionate energy is far-reaching and carries global impact. He is an extraordinary entertainer, an industry innovator, and an inspired humanitarian. Learn more at davidbroza.net

Benjamin A. Trustman Prize
For general excellence; the highest academic award
Alyssa Kischel, MJEd ’23

Cantor Rick Boyar Prize
For excellence in hazzanut
Matthew Goldberg, MJSRK ’23

Myer Dana Memorial Prize
For excellence in advanced Jewish Studies
Dani Satlow, MJPE ’23

Sara Feinsilver Prize
Established by HCWA for an outstanding graduating student
Joshua Less, MJPE ’23

Myer and Anna Wolf Prize
For excellence in Hebraic or Judaic Studies
David Heilbron, MJEJS ’23

Barbara Benjamin Friedman & Rabbi Carl Friedman Scholarship Award
Given to a worthy student
Jenna Shaw, MJER ’23

Professor J.K. Mikliszanski Fund
For a student preparing for a career in Jewish education or conducting research in Rabbinic literature
Joshua Greenberg, MJER ’23

Sol Rotenberg Memorial Prize
For a worthy student
Sheri Konowitz, MJEd ’23

Helen & Isaac Tarmy Scholarship
For excellence
Sydney Ungar, MJEd ’23

Cecelia and Harry Needle Fund 
To an outstanding student in the cantor-educator program
Kochava Munro, MJEK ’23

Dr. Benjamin J. Shevach Award — merle feld

Dr. Benjamin J. Shevach left an indelible mark on Jewish Education in Boston. The award that bears his name recognizes distinguished achievement in Jewish Educational Leadership. The Dr. Benjamin J. Shevach award is the highest award that Hebrew College bestows for achievement in the field of Jewish Education.

Merle Feld  is a poet, playwright, educator and activist. Her most recent book, Longing, poems of a life (CCAR Press 2023) tells stories of her challenges and blessings which she hopes will help readers explore their own lives with courage and curiosity.

A pioneer in the field of Jewish spiritual writing practice, Merle has found her greatest joy mentoring rabbis of all denominations, guiding them to find and speak from their deeply authentic selves. She is also co-founder of Derekh.org, offering rich virtual programming and community building on multiple themes, including new ways of preparing for the yearly holiday cycle.

Merle is best known through her poems in Mahzor Lev Shalem, Siddur Lev Shalem, The Torah: A Woman’s Commentary and many other volumes, as well as in her own books, A Spiritual Life and Finding Words. Her award-winning play The Gates are Closing has been performed in synagogues continuously since 1985; Across the Jordan was inspired by her experiences as dialogue facilitator on the West Bank and at Seeds of Peace.

Merle is blessed to share her life with Rabbi Eddie Feld and their children, Uri, and Lisa, Rab`23. Learn more about Merle at her website and at Derekh.org.

Hillson/Bronstein Award for Leadership in Hebrew Language and Literature — Rabbi Andrew Ergas

Rabbi Andrew Ergas is the Chief Executive Officer of Hebrew at the Center, an organization working to bring a revolution to Hebrew education, engagement, and advocacy in North America and beyond. Bringing to this role over twenty-five years of involvement in Jewish education and organizational leadership, Andrew has served as executive director of a JCC, of the Association of Reform Zionists of America, and of Jewish residential and day camps. He also spent seven years as Head of School at Beit Rabban Day School on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and as five years a Director of the Union for Reform Judaism’s Youth Division.

While living in Israel, Andrew served on the faculty of the Eisendrath International Exchange high school program, the Machon l’Madrichim Chutz l’Aretz, the Melitz Institute, and as a lecturer for Young Judaea’s Year Course. Andrew has been an adjunct lecturer for HUC’s School of Education and a Florence Melton instructor. As a volunteer, he spent three years as chair of the Council for Hebrew Language and Culture in North America from 2016-2019.

Andrew holds a BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a MPA in Nonprofit Management from Georgia State University, a MA in Hebrew Literature and rabbinic ordination for HUC-JIR; he is presently completing a doctorate at the Davidson School of JTS, focusing his scholarship on Hebrew, identity, and pedagogy, with his dissertation write-up process being supported as a part of the Mandel Doctoral Fellow program. Rabbi Ergas lives in Hartsdale, NY with his wife, Dr. Jennifer Davids, both of whom love being parents of three wonderful, adult sons.

Linda Friedman Memorial Award—Michelle Goldhaber

Awarded to a third or fourth-year rabbinical student in recognition of social justice work recently completed or in which they are taking ongoing leadership.

Michelle Goldhaber (she/her) is deeply honored to be the 2023 recipient of the Linda Friedman Memorial Award, and to continue her work in the spirit of Linda’s enthusiasm, compassion and sense of justice. Michelle is a Shanah Gimmel rabbinical school student, with a background in peacebuilding, facilitation, entrepreneurship, experiential (wilderness) education, and consulting. She has an MSW and an MDiv, and since 2002, has spent many years living and working in Ukraine, focusing primarily on Jewish-Ukrainian relations.

Since the intensification of the Russian war in Ukraine in February 2022, Michelle has traveled back to Lviv, Ukraine, serving as a witness, supporter and “spiritual first responder” to her loved ones and contacts there, and as a conduit between her Ukrainian friends and her 100+ member email list, sharing stories, pictures, prayers and support, as well as helping raise thousands of dollars to support Ukrainians in various ways.

She leads weekly meditations with Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland, MA and with Open Spirit in Framingham, MA, and resides part-time on Cape Cod where she cold-water swims daily throughout the year as a ritual practice and community prayer offering. Michelle is passionate about nature and the outdoors, meaning-making, mysticism and the human experience, and looks forward to continuing her “spiritual first responder” work in creative ways after ordination.

Questions?

• General Commencement: Contact Deb Ron in the
  Office of the President
• Rabbinical & Cantorial Ordination:
  Contact Laurena Rosenberg