At the beginning of the book of Devarim, Moses reviews the history of the Israelites’ experience in the wilderness, starting with the appointment of leaders throughout the people, heads of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. He continues:
Tradition encourages our memories to be jogged as we enter into the new month of Av, laden with historic calamities, particularly the ones most pivotal and strikingly cataclysmic: The destruction of the holy temples, the first in 586 BCE and the second in 70 CE. The rabbis’ integration of a formal grief tradition helps us to prepare both mentally and spiritually for the High Holy Days.
The Aseret HaDibrot should be understood as a covenant for both a theology and a way of life. It transcends a halakhic list of laws, to become an educational covenant.
About 20 alums attended in person and via zoom the wonderful discussion from a Torah spiritual perspective about the current surge of anti semitic violence in our country, and how to confront it morally, spiritually and communally, while leaning on the age-old wisdom of Jewish textuality.
Revital is a stained-glass Judaic artist-cum-scholar and educator. She started her teaching career in the Israeli Defense Force, where she was one of the first women artillery officers. After receiving her BA in Architecture from the Technion in Haifa, she traveled around the world, eventually settling in Los Angeles, where she practiced as a certified public accountant (CPA) licensed to audit in California.
Chaplain Dina Kuperstock graduated with honors from the University of Michigan with a BA in American Culture, and minors in Film/Media and Anthropology. Prior to pursuing chaplaincy, Dina was an agent in the Media Finance Department at Creative Artists Agency, one of the world’s largest entertainment agencies. She managed the company’s film sales business, licensing…
Bryce Emily Megdal was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She attended a Jewish day school from first through eighth grade, where she developed a lifelong passion for Judaism and the Hebrew language. She began her singing journey in fourth grade, when she joined the Tucson Jewish Youth Choir in its first year.
Orly Campbell graduated from California State University, Northridge with a BA in Vocal Arts. Prior to beginning her journey at the Academy for Jewish Religion California (AJRCA) she was already a year into her most proud job-being a new mom. Little did she know she would not only complete her Master’s degree with one child, but with three.
Rabbi Cantor Jennie Chabon graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Anthropology and receive her Master of Sacred Music and Investiture from the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Sue Issler received her BA in Liberal Studies from California State University Northridge as well as her Bilingual Elementary School Teacher’s Credential. For ten years Sue taught first through sixth grade at Roscoe Elementary School in Sun Valley. When her second son was born, Sue retired from teaching and became a full time mother.