Join us at Hebrew College for the first of our public Rabbinical School-alumni-led talks about the Torah portion of the week as it pertains to our “Seeing Torah” art exhibit on campus. The event is free of charge and will be offered in the Ted Cutler Atrium in the lower level of the college on Monday, October 4 at 1:15 p.m. with Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal `19.
Jessica’s talk will focus on, “Did Noah do all that he could to save the world?” Jews have grappled with this question for thousands of years. Join us as Rabbi Jessica examines Noah’s actions in both Torah and midrash and discusses with guests how it relates to our responsibility towards our world today.
Masks are required to enter the building.
Additional talks:
- Tues., Oct. 26 at 1:15 with Rabbi Allison Poirier `19 — RSVP
- On Zoom: Tues., Nov. 9 at 1:15 p.m. with Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz `10 — RSVP
- Wed., Nov. 17 at 11:00 a.m. with Rav Hazzan Aliza Berger `17 — RSVP
- Wed., Dec. 8 at 11:00 a.m. with Rabbi Jamie Kotler `16 — RSVP
About Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal
Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal is the Rabbi and Education Director at Temple Beth Shalom in Melrose, MA. During her schooling at Hebrew College, she worked for University of Rhode Island Hillel and was a founding participant of the Hillel Rabbinic Fellowship. She was also the Rabbinic intern at Temple Israel in Boston and Temple Beth Sholom in Framingham, leading both traditional and alternative services and Torah study.
Rabbi Jessica has been teaching Hebrew school for over a decade. She has taught 5th grade through High School at various synagogues. Additionally, she helped reshape and run the post-B’nai Mitzvah program at Temple Sinai in Brookline. She has been trained in multiple Holocaust curricula, such as Facing History and Ourselves and Echoes and Reflections.
Before attending Rabbinical school, Rabbi Jessica worked at the Anti-Defamation League in Boston as the Assistant Regional Director working with partners like MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition) and MassEquality to work towards legislation that will help all of our communities live in a safer and more equitable world.
Rabbi Jessica obtained her MBA in non-profit management and her MA in Jewish Leadership through the Hornstein program at Brandeis. She completed her BA at George Washington University in Religion and Judaic Studies.
UPDATE: THIS TALK HAS BEEN MOVED TO ZOOM DUE TO THE WEATHER
Join us for the second of our public Rabbinical School-alumni-led talks about the Torah portion of the week as it pertains to our “Seeing Torah” art exhibit on campus. The event is free of charge and will be offered on Zoom on Tuesday, October 26 at 1:15 p.m. with Rabbi Allison Poirier `19.
Rabbi Allison will speak about Parashat Chayei Sarah: What happens after the Akeidah? Does Sarah ever find out the truth of what happens to her son, and does Isaac know the truth of how his mother dies? Who is Keturah, and how is she involved in the drama surrounding Sarah’s death?
Additional talks:
- On Zoom: Tues., Nov. 9 at 1:15 p.m. with Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz `10 — RSVP
- Wed., Nov. 17 at 11:00 a.m. with Rav Hazzan Aliza Berger `17 — RSVP
- Wed., Dec. 8 at 11:00 a.m. with Rabbi Jamie Kotler `16 — RSVP
About Rabbi Allison Poirier
Rabbi Allison Poirier joined Temple Beth Sholom in Framingham, MA in July 2019, and is TBS’s first female rabbi. Rabbi Poirier brings to our community great energy, creativity, and the ability to make immediate connections with people of all ages. She embraces TBS’s goal of continued growth through outreach and innovating programming.
Rabbi Poirier has dual undergraduate degrees from Barnard College and the Albert A. List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary. After graduation, she spent two years traveling the south as an Education Fellow with the Institute of Southern Jewish Life. She has also returned to the south to lead several small-town seders for the ISJL Passover Pilgrimage.
She received her Rabbinical Ordination and Master’s of Jewish Education from Hebrew College where her Master’s Thesis explored the use of the Torah Godly Play curriculum with elderly populations, and she is eager to share Torah Godly Play with students of all ages at TBS. While in rabbinical school, she also served as Rabbinic Intern at Temple Israel in Sharon where she created the Chevra, a group for young professionals.
When she’s not at TBS, Rabbi Poirier can be found hiking, reading, and cheering enthusiastically for all the Boston sports teams.
Join us at Hebrew College for the fourth of our public Rabbinical School-alumni-led talks about the Torah portion of the week as it pertains to our “Seeing Torah” art exhibit on campus. The event is free of charge and will be offered in the Ted Cutler Atrium in the lower level of the college on Wednesday, November 17 at 11:00 a.m. with Rav Hazzan Aliza Berger `17.
Masks are required to enter the building.
Additional talks:
About Rav Hazzan Aliza Berger
Aliza grew up in the Jewish Renewal community of Boulder, Colorado and dreamed of becoming a rabbi from a very young age. In high school, after becoming the youngest member of the Denver Opera Company, Aliza decided to seriously pursue a singing career and enrolled at Vanderbilt University to study classical voice at the Blair School of Music and Jewish Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. It was there that she realized that her true passion is singing with others and making music together in the context of community. After college, Aliza lived and studied in Israel before moving to Boston to start studying at Hebrew College. She was ordained as both a rabbi and a cantor in 2017 and has been at Temple Emanuel (first as an intern, and now as a Rabbi/Cantor) since 2016.
Co-sponsored by Hebrew College
Hadar’s Virtual Halakhah Intensive is a multi-day learning seminar that will focus on the in-depth study of a targeted area of halakhah. Part independent learning and part teacher-facilitated, participants will immerse themselves in ancient textual sources in order to take their lessons forward to contemporary application. Led by Rabbi Ethan Tucker and Rabbi Aviva Richman of Hadarand Rabbi Micha’el Rosenberg of Hebrew College, a stellar faculty will guide this week of intense learning. Bring your deep interest in halakhah and your thirst for more knowledge.
This Intensive is designed for learners who have had prior exposure to Jewish texts and are comfortable navigating a variety of texts on their own. It is an excellent resource for rabbis, rabbinical students, graduate students, or others looking to expand their understanding of the halakhic process.
We recognize that the reality of this moment has made finances a complicated and challenging issue. In light of that, the rate for this program will be on a sliding scale between $50-$250. We ask that you pay what you can and please reach out to us at Programs@hadar.org if finances pose an obstacle. We would love to learn with you!
A Conversation with Pastor Doug Pagitt (right), artist Meah Pace, and Pastor Samir Selmanovic, with musical reflections by Meah Pace & Rev. Vince Anderson
Please join us for a soulful exploration of theology, interreligious dialogue, and civic engagement with these outstanding Christian leaders and activists. Our encounter will include music, storytelling, and personal reflection.
