Hebrew College Koleinu: Upcoming Celebrations, Outdoor Art Exhibit, Blogs & More

March 20, 2025 | 20 Adar 5785

Koleinu |our voice|

Reimagining Jewish learning and leadership for an interconnected world.

Parashat Vayakhel | Candlelighting 6:41 PM EST

Honoring Courageous Women's Leadership: Judith Rosenbaum, PhD to Receive Hebrew College Esther Award

At our Spring Gala on May 1, Hebrew College is honored to bestow Dr. Judith Rosenbaum with the Esther Award, named after the biblical figure and awarded each year to celebrate the ongoing legacy of Jewish women whose leadership and vision strengthens our people. Judith is CEO of the Jewish Women’s Archive, a pioneering digital archive and public history project that documents Jewish women’s stories, elevates their voices, and inspires them to be agents of change. Before becoming CEO ten years ago, Judith served for nearly a decade as JWA’s Director of Public History and Director of Education, developing its major programs and educational initiatives. She has served on the faculty of the Bronfman Fellowship and is a Schusterman Senior Fellow. An educator, historian, and writer, she teaches, lectures, and publishes widely on Jewish studies and women’s studies.

Learn more about our Gala...

Rosenbaum will teach "In Miriam’s Footsteps: Jewish Women’s Leadership and the Pursuit of Justice" at Tamid of Hebrew College's next free GROW Lunch & Learn Wed., April 16. Learn more & register

Coming Soon: A Labyrinth for Listening and Centering

This spring, Hebrew College will host an art exhibit installation from Boston-based artist Shirah Rubin on our shared campus in Newton. “Path: LAByrinth”, a continuous walking path with a central meditation and reflection space, is an opportunity to connect to one’s self, and to others, in a contemplative atmosphere designed to foster sacred listening. “A labyrinthine image of concentric sefirot, the 10 divine emanations enumerated by Jewish mysticism, is found in a 14th century commentary,” writes Rabbi Jill Hammer in her book, Return to the Place, establishing a metaphorical relationship “between the labyrinth and the running and returning of the Jewish mystics.” Inspired by this imagery, a group of large ceramic “Listening Vessels” created by Rubin will rim the labyrinth’s edge, adorned with large ceramic buttons inspired by the sefirot. “Path: LAByrinth is a metaphorical journey created to transcend the physical and provide an invitation for a spiritual experience,” says Rubin.

Learn more...

The installation, which will be mounted in April and officially premier on May 18, will stand on Hebrew College’s campus into the fall.

SEVENTY FACES OF TORAH

By Rabbi Frankie Sandmel `22, Rabbi at BASE Bay Area

Many of the conversations that fill my days as a rabbi lately center around helping young adults discern their relationship to “the work”. As my community members grapple with the gravity of current events and its impacts on their lives, they are asking, “What should I do? How do I know where to start? What do I have to offer?”

Tradition has long derived lessons about our work in the world from the work of the Mishkan — all 39 of our shabbat prohibitions are derived from the work of the Mishkan. So, if the Mishkan can teach about what not to do when we rest, it can also teach about what we should do when we want to work.

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TAMID OF HEBREW COLLEGE CELEBRATES LEARNERS & FACULTY

A Community for Learning at Every Age and Stage

By Kim Bodemer, Director of Tamid of Hebrew College Adult Learning

Tamid of Hebrew College: Your Home for Adult Learning has a lot to celebrate this academic year! We have sponsored 127 courses, traveled to the American South on a Civil Rights Journey, and in May a group of 34 adventurers will travel to Central Europe for our second travel-education experience abroad. A cohort of 17 learners will graduate from our two-year intensive Jewish learning program, Me’ah, and 245 new inductees are joining the Tamid Chai Society, a designation for learners who have taken 18 or more courses with us over the years. Join us for our year-end celebration, in person or online, April 9.

Learn more & RSVP to the April 9 Celebration.

Hebrew College Cantor Vera Broekhuysen to be Honored at New England Jewish Labor Committee's 25th Annual Labor Seder

On March 30, 2025, the New England Jewish Labor Committee (NEJLC) will honor Hebrew College alumna Cantor Vera Broekhuysen `16 with the Abraham Joshua Heschel Award for Leadership in the Jewish Community at their 25th Annual Labor Seder. The award recognizes her work for justice for all workers through her spiritual leadership in Congregation Beth El of Sudbury, MA, and her work with the Merrimack Valley Interfaith Sanctuary Network. NEJLC’s Labor Seder, now in its 25th year, is a unique interfaith and inter-community awards dinner that ties the story and rituals of Passover to contemporary labor struggles. Each year, they award a leader from organized labor and from the Jewish community who exemplify our values of justice for all workers and tikkun olam (repairing the world).

Rabbi Jane Kanarek Receives Honorary Doctorate

Rabbi Jane Kanarek, PhD, Hebrew College Dean of Faculty and Professor of Rabbinics, received an honorary doctorate at the Jewish Theological Seminary's Convocation on March 3, 2025. Read an excerpt of her remarks, which reflect Hebrew College's mission to reimagine Jewish learning and leadership for an interconnected world, making our lives more meaningful, our communities more vibrant, and our world more whole.

Hebrew College JTFGB Teens Receive Grossman Award

On March 16, 2025, Hebrew College Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston (JTFGB) students Maya Rottenberg and Jake Goldfine — both seniors in the program — received the Reuben A. & Lizzie Grossman Award. The award recognizes high ideals of leadership and service which have been demonstrated through outstanding accomplishments with the community and school, and promotes and encourages youths to place service about self. This fall, Maya will attend Dartmouth College and Jake will attend University of Pittsburgh.

Catch up on recent Hebrew College news and stories, including articles about faculty, students, and alumni who have been recognized for their work and scholarship here.

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TAMID ADULT LEARNING
Taste of Hebrew College Me’ah Classic

Monday, March 24 | 7-8 PM | Zoom

Learn about Hebrew College’s Me’ah Classic program. This two-year journey through Jewish history provides adults of all backgrounds with a foundation in Jewish culture and civilization. 

Learn more & RSVP

SOUL SOUNDS
Hebrew College Music Series
6:30 PM wine & cheese receptions | 7 PM concerts | Hebrew College

Hebrew College hosts Boston-based ensembles to explore Jewish ritual, prayer, and song.

Thursday, March 27: Jacob's Ladder | Learn more & purchase tickets
Wednesday, May 14: Di Khassene with Ezekiel’s Wheels | Learn more & purchase tickets

ALUMNI VIRTUAL REUNION

Hebrew College Education Virtual Reunion

Thursday, March 27 | 7:30-8:30 PM | Zoom

Connect with classmates and discuss emerging trends in the field of Jewish education.

Learn more & RSVP

FLOWING TOGETHER: WATER, RITUAL, AND SACRED COMMUNITY

A Day of Learning, Connection, and Collaboration

Monday, April 7 | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM | Zoom and Hebrew College

A collaborative in-person and online gathering by Kavod v’Nichum and Rising Tide Open Waters Mikveh Network. Hebrew College is a co-sponsor.

Learn more & RSVP

TAMID ADULT LEARNING
Tamid Adult Learning Celebration

Wednesday, April 9 | 7 PM | Hebrew College

Celebrate our adult learning faculty and adult learners including a Chai Society Induction and Me’ah Classic Graduation.

Learn more & RSVP

HEBREW COLLEGE SPRING GALA 2025
Braiding Hope

Thursday, May 1 | 6 PM Cocktail Hour | 7:15 PM Program | Dessert reception

Hebrew College

Join us to celebrate Hebrew College and our award recipients, Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl, Dr. Judith Rosenbaum, Denise Sobel, and the Teplow Family.

Learn more

HASIDISM AND THE LAND OF ISRAEL: AN EVENING WITH RABBI NEHEMIA POLEN

Thursday, May 15 | 7:30–8:30 PM

Hebrew College

Join us for a thought-provoking journey through a particular moment in history with one of Hebrew College’s beloved faculty members, Rabbi Nehemia Polen.

Learn more & RSVP

ART EXHIBIT

Walking the "Path:LAByrinth"

Sunday, May 18 | 10 AM-12 PM | Hebrew College Grounds

Save the date for a unique new OUTDOOR art installation from artist Shirah Rubin coming to Hebrew College’s collaborative campus this spring.

Learn more

SAVE THE DATE!

Commencement & Ordination

Sunday, May 25 | 12-4:30 PM | Hebrew College

Please join us for this year’s Hebrew College Commencement and Ordination ceremonies.

Commencement 12-1:15 PM | Rabbinical Ordination 1:45-3:15 PM | Reception 3:30 PM

Learn more

SUPPORT JEWISH LEARNING & LEADERSHIP IN OUR DIVERSE AND INTERCONNECTED WORLD

Please help open the doors of Jewish learning to students of all backgrounds and ages—and join Hebrew College in making our lives more meaningful, our communities more vibrant, and our world more whole. Your gift of any amount will make a real difference. Make a gift.

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