Parashat Ki Tavo
By Steve Altarescu
If Deuteronomic theology has not troubled you so far, Ki Tavo will now challenge you as it pushes the concept of reward and punishment to the limit. For the purpose of review here are some highlights of this theology from earlier in the Book of Deuteronomy.
“Give heed to the laws…that you may live to enter and occupy the land.” (Deut: 4:1)
“Obey…that it may go well with you.” (4:25)
“God…keeps the covenant faithfully…of those who love God and keep God’s commandments but instantly requites destruction on those who reject Him.” (7:9-10)
“If you do obey these rules…God will maintain…the covenant.” (7:12)
“See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: blessing if you obey the commandments …and curses if you do not obey the commandments.” (11:26)
In summary, the Israelites were told that if they followed the commandments they would be blessed and rewarded, and if they did not they would be cursed and punished.
In Ki Tavo we are presented reprimands, curses and horrific things that will happen if upon entering and living in the promised land the Israelites do not follow God’s commandments. Moses charges the people to create a visual-audio experience when they enter the land in order to bring this point across. First Moses instructs that large stones should be set up on Mt. Ebal, covered with plaster and all the words of the Torah should be inscribed on them. Secondly he orders six of the tribes to stand on Mt. Gerizim, representing the blessings and six of the tribes on Mt. Ebal, representing the curses. The Levites were charged with proclaiming the blessings and curses “to all the people of Israel in a loud voice.” (27:14) Read on…
Parashat Ki Tetze
By Rabbi Leonard Levin
A famous midrash tells how Moses argued with the angels that the Torah, though a creature of heaven, was destined for use on earth. “Do you have urges to murder, to commit adultery, to steal? We earthly creatures, who are imperfect, need laws to tame our urges and work for self-improvement. You are already perfect! It is we who need the Torah” (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 88b-89a).
Ahad Ha-Am, similarly in his essay “Priest and Prophet,” contrasted two currents in Biblical thought. The prophet had a counsel of perfection, and dreamed of a society where justice would flow like a mighty stream and the lion would lie down with the lamb. The priest proposed a practical compromise, incorporating as much of the ideal as his contemporaries could digest, moving society forward one step at a time. Read on…
The Sisterhood: America’s Influential Women Rabbis
We at AJR are so proud that among those fifty women rabbis chosen as most influential by The Forward in “The Sisterhood: America’s Influential Women Rabbis” are three AJR community members: Rabbi Jill Hammer, AJR’s Director of Spiritual Education, Rabbi Judith Hauptman, AJR alumna, and Rabbi Shohama Wiener, AJR alumna and President Emerita. We are so proud of all of our rabbis and teachers, but, we are thrilled that the Jewish world has recognized the high caliber of AJR’s alumni and teachers. Yasher Koach to Jill, Judy, and Shohama, and Yasher Koach to all AJR students, alumni, and teachers for fostering community and dialogue which leads to growth and influence in the Jewish community. Read Forward article
Personal Reflections on This Year’s Ordination
By Rabbi Jeff Hoffman, Rabbi-in-Residence
A few days before the most recent AJR Ordination ceremony, I experienced the wide-angled perspective that results from observing the browns, greens and whites of mountains, farmland and ice-fields from 35,000 feet up. I was returning from a brief trip to Israel. During and following Ordination, I experienced it again as I looked at each of the ordinees in a new way. I saw them as much, much more than students who had completed their oral and written comprehensives, their senior projects, their required courses, fieldwork, and so on. The way they had prepared for the ceremony in recent days – including a “spontaneous” visit to the Mikveh for the women – and interacted on the stage – again, spontaneously, covering their heads with their tallitot, having their presenters first announce them with their new titles in Hebrew – pointed to spiritual depth and esprit de corps that can’t be tested by any objective instrument.
Since the Ordination, I have been overwhelmed with the soaring intensity of experiencing ten lives changed in such profound ways.
The term “life-changing” is not an exaggeration when applied to AJR’s Ordination ceremony held on Thursday, May 13th, 2010. The lives of eight rabbis and two cantors – all newly minted – were certainly changed on that day. The ceremony centers around the stories of each individual student in a way that is rarely experienced in the seminary- or university-world.
To read about this year’s graduates, click here.
AJR Joins with Overlook Hospital Foundation to Honor Rabbi Horn and the Pastoral Care Department of Overlook Hospital
The Academy for Jewish Religion and The Overlook Hospital Foundation are pleased to jointly sponsor an important and unique event honoring the decades of service provided by Rabbi William Horn and Overlook’s entire Pastoral Care Department, led by Sister Patricia Murphy, SSJ to the hospital’s patients, their families, the staff and the entire community served by the hospital.
Ordination Approaches
We are looking forward to this year’s ordination ceremonies to be held on May 13, 2010 in Hayes Auditorium on the campus of the College of Mount Saint Vincent. The program is scheduled to begin at 4 pm when ten seniors will be ordained.
Melody Davis
Joan Finn
Paul Hoffman
Irwin Huberman
Molly Karp
Margaret Joy Frisch Klein
Isabel Ann Kopstein
Enid C. Lader
Moshe Rudin
Ziona Macagon Zelazo
In addition, we are pleased to honor Rabbi Michael Pitkowsky with the P’nei Torah Award for contributions as a faculty member and the Alumni Award Award to Rabbi Bernice Kimmel Weiss.
We invite you to place an ad in the AJR Ordination Journal. Please click here to download the ad form.
Pre-Ordination Concert with Neshama Carlebach
Join us on Wednesday, May 12 at 8 pm for a wonderful pre-ordination concert to be held at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun. For the full flier click here.
AJR Joins with Overlook Hospital Foundation to Honor Rabbi Horn and the Pastoral Care Department of Overlook Hospital
The Academy for Jewish Religion and The Overlook Hospital Foundation are pleased to jointly sponsor an important and unique event honoring the decades of service provided by Rabbi William Horn and Overlook’s entire Pastoral Care Department, led by Sister Patricia Murphy, SSJ to the hospital’s patients, their families, the staff and the entire community served by the hospital.
A reception will be held at the hospital on Sunday, June 6, 2010 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm to recognize the dedicated service of Rabbi Horn and Sister Pat as well as the tremendous contributions of the entire Pastoral Care Department. This unique department includes the oldest and one of the largest Clinical Pastoral Education programs in New Jersey, which is led by The Rev. Dr. Catherine Bickerton. Read on…
Power Outage at AJR
Please note that due to a power outage on our campus, AJR has no access to email. If you need to contact us, you can leave a voicemail message or re-send any emails once the power is restored. We apologize for the inconvenience.
AJR Open House
You are invited to AJR’s Spring Open House on Tuesday March 9th. Come join us to learn about our Rabbinical and Cantorial Ordination Programs. Spend the day sitting in on classes, meeting with students and administrators. You will get a taste of what it means to be a part of a new, inclusive, creative, and spiritual approach to Jewish life and how you can become a Rabbi or Cantor who truly is a spiritual seeker and leader. There will also be an opportunity to meet with the Dean to discuss the possibility of transfer credit if you come with previous studies or experience. For information please be in touch with Cantor Lisa Klinger-Kantor at lklingerkantor@ajrsem.org or 718-543-9360 x14. Please feel free to share the Open House Flier with anyone you know who might be interested.