Hazak Hazak V'nithazek: Celebrating Strength Through Inclusion

Hazak Hazak V'nithazek: Celebrating Strength Through Inclusion, a full day of programming marking the one-year anniversary of the decision to admit gay and lesbian students into the rabbinical and cantorial schools of The Jewish Theological Seminary, will take place on Wednesday, March 26 at JTS.

"This day marks the anniversary of an historic change at JTS. We celebrate not only the admission of gay and lesbian students to our rabbinical and cantorial schools but also the process of honest outreach and spirited discussion that led up to that decision. JTS has long known that our differences make our community stronger. In this case, too, may we go from newly added strength to ever greater strength,” said Chancellor Arnold Eisen.

The program will begin at 7:45 a.m. with Shaharit and conclude at 6:00 p.m. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community at large are invited to attend all or part of the day’s events. Admission is free; donations will be accepted. The cost for lunch is $5 for all attendees. Further information is available by emailing aaweininger@jtsa.edu.

Schedule of Events*

7:45-8:35 a.m.: Shaharit and Devar Torah
Rabbi Julia Andelman, Congregation Shaare Zedek, New York City
Devar Torah: Dr. Carol Ingall, professor of Jewish Education, JTS

8:45-10:00 a.m.: Limmud Alef (Breakfast and Community Time)
Panel and Discussion: “The Dynamics of Cultural Change in the Rabbinical and Cantorial Schools”
Welcome: Chancellor Arnold Eisen
Devar Torah: Aaron Weininger, student, The Rabbinical School, JTS, and chair of the Committee on Inclusion
Moderator: Dr. Alan Cooper, provost, JTS

Panelists:
Rabbi Shirley Idelson, dean, New York campus and director of the Rabbinical Program, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Rabbi Daniel Nevins, dean, The Rabbinical School, JTS
Hazzan Henry Rosenblum, dean, H. L. Miller Cantorial School and College of Jewish Music, JTS

10:20-11:20 a.m.: Open House: Welcome to JTS
Facilitators:
Rabbi Ed Feld, rabbi-in-residence, JTS
Rabbi Charles Savenor, associate dean, The Rabbinical School, JTS
Sara Horowitz, dean of Student Life, JTS
JTS students

11:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m.: Limmud Bet
Torah study and discussion: “The Stranger and Strangeness”
Dr. Amy Kalmanofsky, assistant professor of Bible, JTS

12:15-1:15 p.m.: Limmud Gimel
Lunch & Learn Panel: "Faith and Sexuality: Religious Visions for Inclusion and Justice"
Moderator: Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Temple Israel Center, White Plains, New York

Panelists:
Gabriel Blau, activist and founder, God & Sexuality Conference
Rabbi Lisa Gelber, associate dean, The Rabbinical School, JTS
Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, Congregation Ansche Chesed, New York City
Dr. Kate Ott, associate director, Religious Institute of Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing, Westport, Connecticut

1:15-2:00 p.m.: Sibah L’msibah: A Reason for a Celebration
Dessert, Music, and Conversation
Kavanah: Rabbi Karen G Reiss Medwed, PhD, Director Religious Education, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, and Rabbi Francine Roston, Congregation Beth El, South Orange, New Jersey
Sheheheyanu Leaders: Rabbi Lauren Kurland, education director, Congregation Ansche Chesed, New York City; Rabbi Antonio DiGesu, South Baldwin Jewish Center, Baldwin, New York; and current and former leaders of Keshet at JTS, members of Keshet Rabbis and Keshet Cantors

2:00-3:00 p.m. Limmud Dalet
“A Conversation: Karov Adonai L’chol Korav. First-Person Stories of Coming Out”
Moderator: Rabbi Mychal Springer, associate dean, The Rabbinical School, JTS

Speakers:
Rabbi Joel Alter, school rabbi and assistant head of school, Jewish Community Day School, Boston, Massachusetts
Rabbi Carie Carter, Park Slope Jewish Center, Brooklyn, New York
Ian Chesir-Teran, student, The Rabbinical School, JTS
Rabbi Lisa Grushcow, associate rabbi, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, New York City
Cantor Rachael Littman, Temple Beth El, Stamford, Connecticut

3:15-3:40 p.m.: Minhah and Devar Torah
Cantor David Berger, Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, New York City
Devar Torah: Dr. Judith Hauptman, professor of Talmud and Rabbinic Culture, JTS

3:45-4:05 p.m.: Musical Celebration
Debbie Friedman, singer-composer

4:10-4:20 p.m.: Presentation of Darkhei Noam (Principles of Inclusion)
JTS Committee on Inclusion

4:30-6:00 p.m.: Limmud Heh
“Adam and Eve Meet Adam and Steve: Inclusion in the Jewish Community and What Comes Next”
Moderator: Rabbi Ayelet Cohen, associate rabbi, Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, New York City

Panelists:
Dr. Joel Kushner, director, Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation, HUC-JIR, Los Angeles
Rabbi Adina Lewittes, Congregation Sha’ar, Tenafly, New Jersey
Cantor Erica Lippitz, Oheb Shalom Congregation, South Orange, New Jersey
Dr. David Shneer, director, Center for Judaic Studies, University of Denver, and co-editor of Queer Jews (Routledge, 2002)

*Schedule and speakers are subject to change.