B'Yachad | Together

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In This Issue:
Moment of Inspiration: Steven Windmueller, Ph.D.
Student Spotlight: Aria Caligiuri
Staff Spotlight: Angele Osborne
Faculty Spotlight: Joshua Holo, Ph.D.
Alum Spotlight: Rabbi Rebecca L. Dubowe ‘93
Donor Spotlight: Peachy Levy
A Moment of Sacred Music: Shalom Rav

Dear Alumni, Supporters, and Friends,

Expressions of antisemitism have been on the rise over the last eight years. Regardless of the political outcome sought by the hostage taker at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, we must not ignore that he targeted a synagogue, not a hospital, school, or government agency. And he did so not because he happened to be walking by, or it was near his home. The congregation was targeted because the perpetrator believed that Jews control America.

Antisemitism thrives when democracy declines. And so we stand in partnership with other minority groups who face violence, discrimination, and inequity on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and other personal characteristics. We do so particularly now as we mark the 50th anniversary of women in the rabbinate; Jewish Disability, Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM); and Black History Month, illuminated by articles in this issue. As Jews we must support and celebrate the rights of others and must remain in allyship with them. This involves accepting that our actions individually and systemically may contribute to the harms of discrimination and racism that others experience. And it involves holding even our allies accountable when they engage, wittingly or not, in antisemtic words or actions.

At HUC-JIR, our graduates are on the frontlines of leadership as rabbis, cantors, scholars, and educational and nonprofit leaders, whose compassion, ethics, wisdom, and valor ensure the safety and flourishing of their communities. We are proud of the sacred work that Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker '06 has demonstrated every day, culminating in his courageous leadership during the standoff in Colleyville, Texas. We take pride in our students, as we prepare them to serve as the next generation of Jewish leaders ready to embrace Torah, fight injustice, confront antisemitism, and bring healing to our society and the larger world.

Preparing our students well for these challenges ahead is contingent on advancing our strategic goals of strengthening our academic excellence, supporting our students, growing our impact, and ensuring our fiscal sustainability. We welcome your participation in our strategic decision-making process in upcoming briefings and conversations, so that together we can plan how best to realize a vibrant Jewish future for this institution and the Jewish People. We look forward to sharing updates in the weeks ahead.

Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D.
President

MOMENT OF INSPIRATION

Steven Windmueller, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of Jewish Communal Studies

How do we come to observe annual moments of reflection?

In 1926, Negro History Week was created to coincide with the birthdate of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14); both dates had been observed by the Black American community since the late 19th century. The first Black History Month was celebrated in 1970; in 1976, as part of the American Bicentennial, President Gerald Ford formally recognized this observance as an “opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” I grew up in the South amid segregation. Black History Month permits all of us the opportunity to recall the record of racial intolerance in our nation, while acknowledging the contributions of Black Americans.

Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) represents a unified effort among Jewish organizations worldwide to raise awareness and foster inclusion of people with disabilities. Founded in 2009, it is annually observed in February by the Jewish community. My father lived with the effects of polio most of his life. Sadly, few Jewish institutions that he often frequented were handicap-accessible, giving JDAIM a special significance for me.

Each spring, the College-Institute observes Founders’ Day, celebrating the enduring vision of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, founder of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, and Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, who established the Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. As a former member of our faculty, I take pride in the rich history and the important legacy that our founders charted in shaping the Reform Movement and in building the College-Institute.

These occasions serve to remind us of the diverse, meaningful, and essential elements that comprise and enrich our society. They reflect our history both as a nation and as Jews.

Celebrate HUC-JIR’s Day of Giving tomorrow, Thursday, February 17! Last year, over 500 donors participated and helped us reach our goal. This year, our goal is for 600 donors to support HUC-JIR and our students. Can we count on you to join us tomorrow? For more information, follow us on social media, watch for emails sharing ways to get involved, or contact us at dayofgiving@huc.edu.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Aria Caligiuri (she/her)
Third-Year Rabbinical Student

Following my Birthright trip to Israel, I fell in love with Jewish tradition, taking Hebrew classes, going to shul regularly, and attending Torah studies. Soon enough, I began teaching Sunday school and became more and more involved with my local Jewish community. One of my friends said that I should become a rabbi. I thought, “Wait a minute, me? You think I should become a rabbi?” I prayed on it, and I realized that as a rabbi, I could serve God and serve my community. From there I applied to HUC. It is an honor to learn from some of the greatest Jewish thinkers of our time.

HUC in one word: Passion.

Click here to learn about Aria’s Jewish journey, what Jewish Disability, Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month means to her, and more. Read more student spotlights here.

LEARN MORE

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Angele Osborne (she/her)
Director of Advancement Services

I have worked at HUC for nearly twenty years, and the most rewarding part of my role has been watching students go out into the world and fulfill our mission. It is personally satisfying to know that, over the arc of my career, a scholarship proposal I helped to craft, an event I helped to plan, or data I helped to steward, has in some way allowed our students achieve their dreams. I think we are defined by our mission to train leaders who can build deep, meaningful connections to Jewish identity and tradition. At the highest level, as a member of Institutional Advancement, it is our job to build connections between our donors and this sacred mission.

HUC in one word: Connection.

Click here to learn about what Day of Giving and Black History Month mean to Angele, and what she enjoys in her free time. Read more staff spotlights here.

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

Applications for all our programs are now open. Look around your community for those who have incredible potential for Jewish leadership and might not know it yet. Tell them what you see. Be curious, ask provocative questions, and give honest answers. See their passion and talent, name it and nurture it. Put them in touch with us here.

REFER A STUDENT

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Joshua Holo, Ph.D. (he/him)
Dean, Jack H. Skirball Campus;
Associate Professor of Jewish History

It is a rare privilege to wake up every day and be able to spend time with the HUC faculty. Every conversation is an eyeopener, a lesson, and an opportunity to reinforce friendships and a shared vision of the world. With respect to the students, it is one of the great satisfactions of any professional to see the product of your work – in my case, to see students at the beginning of their programs eventually emerge enriched, different, and prepared to lead the Jewish world in ways that we feel will make the world a better place.

HUC in one word: Essential.

Click here to learn about Joshua’s Jewish journey, his role as Dean of the Skirball Campus, what he enjoys in his free time, and more. Read more faculty spotlights here. Check out Season 2 of HUC Connect here.

ALUM SPOTLIGHT

Rabbi Rebecca L. Dubowe ‘93 (she/her)
Moses Montefiore Congregation, Bloomington, IL

As the only ordained Reform Deaf rabbi in the world, my role is quite unique. There are many Deaf Jewish people who did not receive a Jewish education because they had no access. I have been blessed to work with many Deaf couples and officiate at their weddings, funerals, and b’nai mitzvot while serving my own hearing congregation. Communication is essential. There is a difference between having an interpreter and someone like me who can communicate directly in American Sign Language. Everyone wants to be able to sit, talk, and connect with their rabbi and that is what I have done throughout the years for the Deaf Jewish Community. This past year, I teamed up with the URJ and initiated the first Introduction to Judaism, all taught in ASL. I am now teaching the second cohort of this program. You can imagine how many doors have opened for this wonderful opportunity—allowing complete communication access for Deaf adults throughout the country who get to connect and learn about Judaism with others.

HUC in one word: Legacy (I’m a super proud parent of an HUC-JIR MAJE graduate!).

Click here to learn about Rabbi Dubowe’s Jewish journey, her interfaith work, and more. Read more alum spotlights here.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Peachy Levy
Board of Advisors Emeriti; Western Region Advisor

I’m very interested in the future of Reform Judaism, specifically for clergy and educators. As a Board member, what I find most interesting is any opportunity to connect with students, to find out what they see as their future, to talk about their pulpits and any issues, and to generally see what the future looks like. In my own synagogue, Leo Baeck Temple, many students have served as interns, some becoming members of the clergy. I have seen first-hand the importance and the value of HUC, and I am proud to be a part of this work.

Click here to learn about how Peachy became involved in HUC. Read more donor spotlights here.

A MOMENT OF SACRED MUSIC

Shalom Rav

Second-year cantorial student Beth Reinstein is the singer and composer of this piece. She shares, “When I write songs it’s usually because a melodic idea pops into my head. I first heard the bass line in my head that served as a springboard for me to write a melody. As I improvised the melody, the words of Shalom Rav came out and I could tell where I wanted the piece to go. I wanted to make sure the piece was joyful and expansive to express the abundant peace we can feel from G-d.” This piece also features fourth-year cantorial student Sydney Lazar, second-year cantorial student Sierra Fox, and faculty members Julian Chin and Elana Arian.