Community Blog Hebrew College is Coming to a Community Near You
Each semester, Hebrew College faculty go beyond our classrooms to bring compelling, relevant and creative ideas to your community. We share our love of Torah, our commitment to communal and social responsibility, and our diverse perspectives, to ask and help find answers to the most important and challenging questions of our time—and of our lives. Our faculty inspire, enlighten and engage.
If you have a morning, a weekend, or an evening to explore these ideas, you can spend it with our faculty in cities across Greater Boston, North America and Israel at synagogues, conferences, theaters, or institutions. Below, you will find a sample of faculty appearances in the upcoming months.
January | February| March | April | May | June | July
JANUARY
Cantor Brian Mayer, Dean, School of Jewish Music
Where: Temple Emanu-El, Providence, RI
When: January 27
What: Conducting a fifty voice ecumenical choir, “Singing the Dream,” a musical event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King with special guest Joshua Nelson, the Prince of Kosher Gospel
Dr. Keren McGinity, Interfaith Families Jewish Engagement Program
Where: Jewish Studies Program, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
When: January 27
What: “Still Jewish and Newly Jewish: Two Histories of Women and Intermarriage in America.” Year of the Woman: Celebrating 100 years of Women at the College.
Rabbi Arthur Green, Rector, Rabbinical School
Where: Bet Tefillah Yisre’elit, Tel Aviv, Israel
When: January 28
What: First of three public classes sponsored by Bet Tefillah Yisre’elit
Rabbi Dan Judson, Dean, Rabbinical School
Where: Temple Israel, Boston, MA
When: Jan 30, Feb. 6, 13
Rabbi Jane Kanarek, Associate Dean for Academic Development and Advising; Professor of Rabbinics
Where: Hebrew College & Adelson Educational Campus, Las Vegas, NV
When: Ongoing through June 30
What: Rabbinical Advisor, Legacy Heritage Instructional Leadership Institute, working with a group of pre-school teachers at the Adelson Educational Campus in Las Vegas. This remote and onsite project guides instructional leaders in Jewish day schools to build standards-based curriculum for Bible and Rabbinics.
FEBRUARY
Dr. Rachel Adelman, Assistant Professor, Bible
Where: Temple Or Atid, Wayland, MA
When: Feb. 5,. 19, March 5, 19, April 2. 10 am-noon
What: “Bad-ss Broads of the Bible.” The women featured in this course are the less known, more obscure characters such as Rahab, the prostitute, the women in Samson’s story, and Queens Jezebel and Athalyah, Judith of the Apocrypha, both the good and the wicked female figures in Tanakh. Sponsored by the West Boston Women’s Learning Group and CJP.
Rachel Adelman, Assistant Professor, Bible
Where: Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley, MA
When: February 6, 13, 27; March 6, 13, 27; April 3, 10; May 1, 8, 15, 22. (No class February 20, March 20, April 17 or 24. Snow/sick days TBA). 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
What: “The Making and Breaking of a King (Studies in the Book of Samuel),” exploring David as both a historical figure and mythical character. Sponsored by Kent Street Group and under the aegis of Open Circle Jewish Learning.
Rabbi Or Rose, Director, Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership
Where: Temple Beth Elohim Scholar in Residence Weekend–Jewish Spiritual Renewal in a Pluralistic Age, Acton, MA
When: February 8-10
What: “Towards a Theology of Jewish Pluralism,” “American Mystics: Reverend Howard Thurman and Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi,” and “Case Studies in Religious Cooperation and Challenge”
Rabbi Arthur Green, Rector, Rabbinical School
Where: Pardes Institute, Jerusalem, Israel
When: February 13
What: Lecture on “A Neo-Hasidic Judaism for the 21st Century”
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President, Hebrew College
Where: San Francisco Friends School, San Francisco, CA
When: February 15-16
What: Delivering D’var Torah for The Kitchen
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President Hebrew College
Where: Temple Emanuel, Newton, MA
When: February 20
What: Leading a day of teaching for Israeli Masorti rabbis
Rabbi Arthur Green, Rector, Rabbinical School
Where: Synagogue, Kfar Sabba, Israel
When: February 20
What: All-day seminar for Israeli Masorti rabbi
Cantor Lynn Torgove, Head of Vocal Arts, School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College
Where: CJP, Boston, MA
When: February 28 & March 6
What: Co-leading workshops on ‘Foundations of Effective Communication’ and ‘Presentation Preparation’ for new and continuing CJP staff members.
MARCH
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President Hebrew College
Where: Romemu, New York, NY
When: March 1-2
What: Guest Darshanit at Romemu, (annual Hebrew College-Romemu Shabbaton)
Cantor Lynn Torgove, Head of Vocal Arts, School of Jewish Music . Where: First Church Congregational Cambridge, Cambridge
When: March 2, 8 pm
What: “Chichester Psalms” for Spectrum Singers. Hebrew Language & Diction Coach
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President Hebrew College
Where: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
When: March 3
What: Judge for the Collegiate Moot Beit Din
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President Hebrew College
Where: New York, NY
When: March 8-9
What: Visiting faculty at Bronfman Youth Fellowship Collegiate Shabbaton
Barbara Merson, Adjunct Professor, Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education
Where: Multiple Venues: Portland, Brunswick, Bangor, Lewiston, Rockland, Waterville
When: March 9-17
What: Executive Director, Maine Jewish Film Festival
Rabbi Michael Shire, Chief Academic Officer; Dean, Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education
Where: Prizmah Conference, Atlanta, GA
When: March 10-12
What: “ Spiritual Education; Mapping the Field”
Cantor Brian Mayer, Dean, School of Jewish Music
Where: The Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago Divinity School, Chicago, IL
When: March 10-11
What: Speaking on “Pluralistic Cantorial Ordination Education in 2019” and participating in a Cantorial Education Leadership Symposium entitled Hallel v’Zimra: Jewish Liturgical Music, Present and Future conference sponsored by The University of Chicago Divinity School, The Mordecai M. Kaplan Center for Jewish Peoplehood, and The Mervis Chair in Jewish Culture at Indiana University.
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President, Hebrew College
Where: Temple Emanuel, Newton, MA
When: February 12
What: Featured speaker for Community Hevra Kadisha Zayin Adar dinner
Dr. Keren McGinity, Director, Interfaith Families Jewish Engagement Program
Where: University of Michigan School of Social Work, Ann Arbor, MI
When: March 13-15
What: “#MeToo”. “Jewish Feminisms/American Visions: Perspectives From Fifty Years of Activism” Jewish Communal Leadership Program and the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies.
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President Hebrew College
Where: Temple Emunah, Lexington, MA
When: March 15-16
What: Scholar-in-Residence, Glatzer Weekend
Rabbi Arthur Green, Rector, Rabbinical School
Where: Shalom Hartman Institute, Jerusalem, Israel
When: March 17
What: Seminar
Rabbi Ebn Leader, Faculty, Rabbinical School; Rabbi Nehemiah Polen, Professor of Jewish Thought, Rabbinical School; and Rabbi Or Rose, Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership at Hebrew College
Where: Merkaz, Israel American Council of Boston (IAC), Newton, MA
When: March 18, 8-10:15 pm
What: “Alternative Realities: Purim & the Possibility of Transformation. Jewish Mystical Insights for Contemporary Life.” Sponsored by IAC & Hebrew College.
Rabbi Nehemia Polen: Spoiler Alert: A Theory of Laughter & the Meaning of the Book of Esther. An intertextual exploration of the biblical text, hasidic sources, and recent writing on laughter.Rabbi Ebn Leader: Turning Away to Come Together: Rabbi Isaac Luria’s Vision of Purim & Sacred Time. Using this great mystical master’s (16th-century) theory of eternal cycles of creation and becoming, we will study his vision of Purim and the spring season.
Rabbi Or Rose: From Sinai to Purim and Beyond: Uncovering the Sacred. Following in the footsteps of Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev (18th-century), we will explore the themes of revelation, concealment, and the ongoing quest for meaning and purpose.
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President, Hebrew College
Where: AIPAC Policy Conference, Washington, DC
When: Sunday, March 24
Dr. Keren McGinity, Director, Interfaith Families Jewish Engagement Program
Where: Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church, VA
When: March 25
What: “Vashti, Esther and #MeToo: A Conversation with Dr. Keren McGinity”
Cantor Lynn Torgove, Head of Vocal Arts, School of Jewish Music
Where: Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, West Newton, MA
When: March 29
What: Leading Hebrew College’s choir, Kol Arev, in a Klezmer Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Rabbi Dan Judson, Dean, Rabbinical School
Where: Temple Reyim, Newton, MA
When: March 30 (Private event)
What: Scholar-in-residence. “Lessons for Today from the Past: An Investigation of American Jewish History
Cantor Brian Mayer, Dean, School of Jewish Music
Where: David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, New York, NY
When: March 31
What: Conducting HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir, a 400-voice ensemble
Keren McGinity, Director, Interfaith Families Jewish Engagement Program
Where: Jewish Community Day School of Boston, Watertown, MA
When: March 31
Rabbi Jane Kanarek, Associate Dean for Academic Development and Advising; Professor of Rabbinics . Where: Temple Israel, White Plains, NY
When: March 31
What: Day of Learning honoring Rabbi Gordon Tucker. Rabbi Gordon Tucker just retired from his pulpit at Temple Israel in White Plains, whole day of learning to honor a new learning center being endowed in his name.
APRIL
Dr. Rachel Adelman, Assistant Professor, Bible
Where: Temple Agudat Achim, Leomister, MA
When: April 5-6
What: Scholar-in-Residence. “Shabbat HaHodesh”
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President Hebrew College
Where: Temple B’nai B’rith, Braintree, MA
When: April 6
What: Installation of Rabbi Ma’ayan Sands, Rab`17
Rabbi Arthur Green, Rector, Rabbinical School
Where: Brandeis University Library, Waltham, MA
When: April 7, 4:00 p.m.
What: Event Honoring 50th Anniversary of Havurat Shalom
Dr. Keren McGinity, Director, Interfaith Families Jewish Engagement Program
Where: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
When: April 7-10
What: “#GamAni: How #MeToo Inspired the American Jewish Community to Look Inward.” International Symposium: Comparative Perspectives on #MeToo,” and “Jewish Continuity and the #MeToo Movement”
Rabbi Arthur Green, Rector, Rabbinical School
Where: Tufts University, Somerville, MA
When: April 9
What: “A Neo-Hasidic Judaism for the 21st Century”
Rabbi Nehemia Polen, Rabbinical School
Where: Drake University, Des Moines, IL
When: April 11
What: “Miracles in Hasidic Judaism: Changing the Natural Order, or Opening the Eyes To What Is Already There”
MAY
Cantor Lynn Torgove, Head of Vocal Arts, School of Jewish Music
Where: Boston Lyric Opera, Boston, MA
When: May 5-12
What: Singing the role of Martha in “The Handmaids Tale”
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President, Hebrew College
Where: Ohabei Shalom, Brookline, MA
When: May 11
What: Installation of Rabbi Daniel Schaefer, Rab`18
Dr. Keren McGinity, Director, Interfaith Families Jewish Engagement Program
Where: Synagogue Council of Massachusetts, Newton Centre, MA
When: May 15
What: “The Changing Narrative of Intermarriage and How to Embrace Interfaith Families”
Rabbi Jane Kanarek, Associate Dean for Academic Development and Advising
Where: Boch Center (formerly Citi Performing Arts Center), Wang Theatre, Boston, MA
When: May 17
What: New England Law School Commencement ceremony benediction and receiving an honorary doctor of humanities degree
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President Hebrew College
Where: New York, NY
When: May 20
What: Keynote at Legacy Heritage Fund Educators Conference
Cantor Brian Mayer, Dean, School of Jewish Music
Where: Louisville Marriott Downtown. Louisville, KY
When: May 20
What: Receiving the Samuel Rosenbaum Award for Scholarship and Creativity at the 72nd Annual Cantors Assembly Convention
Rabbi Jane Kanarek, Associate Dean for Academic Development and Advising
Where: Online (via Zoom) to Chicago, IL
When: May 22
What: Teaching on ‘Women and Headcovering” for the Chicago Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbi Arthur Green, Rector, Rabbinical School
Where: Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church. VA
When: May 26
What: “Judaism’s 10 Best Ideas: A Brief Guide for Seekers.” Co-sponsored by the Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies and Temple Rodef Shalom.
JUNE
Dr. Rachel Adelman, Assistant Professor, Bible
Where: Kehillath Israel, Brookline, MA
When: June 8
What: Tikkun Lel Shavuot
Dr. Keren McGinity, Director, Interfaith Families Jewish Engagement Program
Where: Congregation Sinai, Chicago, IL
When: June 13-14
What: “Breaking the Cycle: The Jewish Community in the Age of #MeToo.”
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, President Hebrew College
Where: Temple Beth David, Rochester, NY
When: June 16
What: Installation of Rabbi Michael Silbert, Rab`12
Rabbi Michael Shire, Chief Academic Officer; Dean, Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education
Where: St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada
When: June 20-22
What: Presenting Torah Godly Play at the 2019 North American Godly Play Conference
JULY
Rabbi Arthur Green, Rector, Rabbinical School
Where: Uman, Ukraine
When: July 7-14
What: First International Conference on the Study of Hasidism – “The Hasidic Experience – Literature, Tale, & Melody”