Rabbi David Ellenson, President, writes, “The recent contretemps in Beit Shemesh riveted the Israeli public and brought worldwide attention to the misogynistic treatment accorded women in the public square by certain sectors of ultra-Orthodox Israeli society. These episodes of Jewish religious extremism unconscionably objectify women and are absolutely incompatible with the democratic and egalitarian values upon which the State of Israel was founded.”

The issue of who can become a Jew through conversion is controversial and critical to determining the essence of the Jewish character, and as timely as the current headlines from Jerusalem. But as two rabbinic scholars, Rabbi David Ellenson and Rabbi Daniel Gordis, show in assessing Orthodox rabbinic decision-making on the subject over the last two centuries, the debate is hardly new. And in their recently published book, “Pledges of Jewish Allegiance: Conversion, Law and Policymaking in Nineteenth‐ and Twentieth‐Century Orthodox Responsa,” the authors emphasize that opinions have always taken into account the social context and conditions of the day as well as interpretation of Jewish law.

Rabbi Plaut was an unparalleled scholar, leader, and rabbi of our Reform Movement and our People. HUC-JIR will be forever blessed that it had the zechut to bring him from Germany to our Cincinnati campus during the 1930s and save him from destruction during the Shoah. Rabbi Plaut served on the HUC-JIR Board of Governors and was honored by HUC-JIR with the Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, in 1964, and the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, in 2003. In his scholarship, congregational calling, and his life, we will not see his like again. Baruch dayan emet.

HUC-JIR and the Jewish Women Artists Network are pleased to invite you to “Song of the Land” artists’ reception on February 23 at the Jack H. Skirball Campus in Los Angeles. “Song of the Land” is a collection of 44 works whose theme challenges artists to consider contemporary issues of environmental sustainability. It not only shares concerns about what is happening to the world physically and spiritually, but offers a challenge to protect the planet in order to ensure the future of Earth’s blessing.

Join Dr. Judah Cohen, Associate Professor of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University, for a lecture exploring the role that music has played in Jewish American life on February 27 at 12:30 at HUC-JIR’s American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati.

Join the HUC-UC Ethics Center for a luncheon featuring Luke Bocher, Director of Contemporary Slavery Initiatives at The Freedom Center, as he speaks about issues relating to human trafficking on March 1 at 1:00 pm.

Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D., President, and Dr. Rachel Adler, Professor of Modern Jewish Thought and Judaism and Gender, join with leading thinkers to share their unique vantage points on a series of questions: Is American Judaism theologically bankrupt or is it at the cusp of a radically new beginning? How should we diagnose this perceived crisis and what proposals might counter it? How can American Judaism build on traditional Jewish thought to address today’s challenges?

Experience the music of American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim as performed by HUC-JIR students and faculty on March 4 at 4:00 pm at the Cincinnati campus. Reception to follow.

Join us on March 7 at 12:00 pm at HUC-JIR/Cincinnati for a commemorative service, as well as a short lecture by scholar in residence Dr. Martin Abegg. Dr. Abegg will speak about his work with Ben Zion Wacholder, z"l, a special teacher and collaborator. Reception to follow.

Every Spring, we host a wonderful evening to benefit the HUC-JIR Soup Kitchen. Our Soup Kitchen Celebration will take place on March 15 at 6:30 pm at the New York campus. We invite you to join our community for a festive evening with entertainment, drinks, food, and a live auction to support the HUC-JIR's Soup Kitchen.