Seven New Israeli Reform Rabbis to be Ordained at HUC-JIR Graduation at the Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion will celebrate the academic achievements of students in its Jerusalem programs during the Ordination and Academic Graduation at the Taube Family Campus on November 15.

HUC-JIR President Andrew Rehfeld Ph.D. will preside over the ceremony, which will include the ordination of seven new Israel Reform rabbis in the Israel Rabbinical Program (IRP): Ziva Ofek, Smadar Bilik, Naomi Ben Ari, Miriam Jano, Lipaz Vinitzky, David Sperber, and Joshua (Josh) Scharff. This brings the total number of IRP alumni to 136, as the new rabbis join their colleagues in serving more than 50 Reform/Progressive congregations, synagogues, institutions, and communities throughout Israel.

HUC-JIR will also award certificates to 14 graduates of Rikma, a program in pluralistic Jewish Education that includes a Master's degree in Education from the Seymour Fox School of Education at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem: Shachar Aharoni, Tal Eliel Amedi, Or Eliaz, Esther Appelbaum, Adi Blum, Tali Bass, Moran Bar, Noga Pnina Hevron-Pereh, Michal Hodadad, Roni Lehman, Ori Levy, Tsipornit Paz, Tamar Friedmann Arad, and Noam Regev. 

In addition, nine students in the Blaustein Center for Pastoral Care's Sugiyot Chayim Life Text Program will receive certificates recognizing the culmination of their studies in this unique Talmudic Bibliotherapy Program: Yael Abecassis, Miriam Jano, Irit Glanz, Chaya Lederberg, Roni Magidov, Ahuva Abudi-Naaman, Ayala Paz, Judith Plavner, and Naama Kirpichnikov.

The title of Doctor of Divinity honoris causa will be conferred on Rabbi Miri Gold and Rabbi Ada-Hasia Zavidov. Rabbi Gold will be recognized for her work as a pioneering rabbi who conceived, founded, and built Birkat Shalom Congregation in Kibbutz Gezer, a groundbreaking model of state support and recognition of Reform Judaism in Israel. Rabbi Zavidov will be honored for her leadership for over two decades at Har-El, the oldest Reform congregation in Israel, along with her commitment to the strengthening of ties between Israel and the diaspora, and to the health of Israel's democracy.

Reflecting on the broader significance of the event, President Andrew Rehfeld said, "In the difficult days after the October 7 attacks, the Israel Rabbinical Program at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion ordained three new Israeli Reform rabbis, in a powerful statement of our enduring commitment to Israel and to the growth of Reform Judaism and the promotion of its progressive values in the country. A year later, we are proud to ordain seven more exceptional Reform rabbis among our Jerusalem graduates, continuing to build this movement as part of our broader work of education and dedication to the future of Israel and to strengthening its foundation of Jewish-democratic values - an abiding pillar of HUC-JIR's mission."

"The newly ordained rabbis will be at the forefront of Israeli society as they embark on their missions to strengthen and restore essential values and institutions in these critical times," said Rabbi Talia Avnon-Benveniste, Director of the Israel Rabbinical Program. "Through years of rigorous study, they have gained a deep understanding of Jewish wisdom and tradition, and developed skills that are necessary to serve the people with the most hopeful mission of our time."

"77 years of independence in Israel and thousands of years of Jewish history have taught us that we need leadership - honest and reliable leadership to overcome crises and pitfalls, leadership that will show us the way to our goals preserve us as a people and as a country," said Nachman Shai, Ph.D., Dean of the Jerusalem campus. "These new rabbis must embrace this moral leadership and love of others as people of faith, seekers of justice and equality, and pursuers of peace. As they leave this familiar place and enter the challenging spaces of Israeli society, may they always bring words of comfort and encouragement, to heal visible and hidden wounds, and spread the new spirit that Israel longs for."

As part of her ordination address, Provost Rabbi Andrea Weiss, Ph.D., will urge each of the seven ordinands to fulfill their unique and special mission as Reform rabbis in Israel. Drawing upon the words of the biblical prophets, she will encourage them "to speak to the heart of the people who are searching for meaning, belonging, hope, and faith - faith that there is something true and enduring in our fractured, fragile world."

In addition to the Israel Rabbinical Program, Rikma, and Sugiyot Chayim, HUC-JIR's Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem is home to the Year-In-Israel Program for first year students in HUC-JIR's North American rabbinical and cantorial programs, along with Teachers' Lounge, Jewish Democracy Education Labs, Uplan Mila, and other activities that aim to strengthen a pluralistic and democratic Jewish society in Israel, as well as the connections between Jewish communities in Israel, North America, and around the world.

The Ordination and Academic Graduation will take place on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 11:00 am local time at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion's Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem. Register to watch the live broadcast.

Meet the rabbinical students to be ordained for Israel's Reform Movement:

Ziva Ofek

Ziva was born in Israel in 1971. She lives in Jerusalem with her partner and their two children. She graduated from the law school at Bar Ilan University and received a teaching certificate in citizenship and Bible at the Kerem Institute. Ziva is also a graduate of Beit Midrash Lindenbaum and Beit Midrash Elul and she earned a M.A. in Israeli thought and midrash from the Shechter Institute and a research M.A. in Israeli thought at Bar Ilan, both with top honors. She works as a lawyer in civil law and family matters and volunteers in the organizations of the gay religious community in Israel. Ziva served as a traditional "Yuval" community leader and wrote weekly sermons and articles on LGBT issues and Judaism.

Smadar Bilik

Smadar Bilik is a rabbinical student at the HUC-JIR Jerusalem campus, to be ordained in November of 2024, and a rabbinical intern at Kehillat YOZMA in Modi'in. Smadar holds a B.A. in Art Education from the Beit-Berl College, and an M.A. in Pluralistic Jewish Education from HUC-JIR in Jerusalem and the Hebrew University. She served as director of Jewish Studies at the YOZMA day-school in Modi'in. In the years 2015-2019, Smadar joined the professional staff of the Israel Reform Movement, working in project DOMIM, which promotes partnerships between Israeli and diaspora reform congregations.

Naomi Ben Ari

Born in Israel in 1957, Naomi Ben Ari is the mother of three daughters and grandmother of two grandchildren. She is a member of Yozma - the Reform community in Modi'in.  She recently retired from her position as the community's financial manager, after 25 years of working there. Naomi graduated with a B.A. in medical studies and an M.A. with honors in medical sciences from the Hebrew University. She also received an M.A. with honors in Jewish studies at the Schechter Institute. She was also trained in group facilitation at The Herzog Center for Jewish Identity and graduated from the HUC program Sugiyot Chaim. In addition to serving as the VP of Finance in the Yozma Community, Naomi was a co-director of the Yozma Beit Midrash and led a women's group in the community and in other social groups.

Miriam Jano

Miriam is a graduate of the Rikma program, receiving a M.A. in pluralistic Jewish education from HUC-JIR and the Hebrew University, as well as various Beit Midrash study programs and several study programs for cantorial and prayer leaders. She teaches Israeli Jewish culture in middle schools in Jerusalem. Miriam was born in Ukraine and grew up in the Jewish community of Kharkiv. She graduated from a Chabad school and then worked at Hillel and the local JCC. As a new immigrant to Israel, in the course of consolidating her identity, she had the opportunity to get to know a wide variety of communities in Israel. She maintains a good connection with them all, while retaining her empathy towards people who think differently. Everywhere she goes Miriam brings with her a diverse, colorful Israel, a rich mosaic of people and culture.

Lipaz Vinitzky

Lipaz was born in Israel in 1958 and currently resides in Tel Aviv. Raised in a religious-traditional family, his move from the religious to the state education system during high school played a key role in his ideological shift from Revisionism to the Zionist left. He holds a B.A. in geography and Israel studies from Bar Ilan University, an M.A. in archaeology and ancient Near Eastern civilizations from Tel Aviv University, and a second M.A. degree from the Schechter Institute. He is also a fellow in the Kolot graduate program. Professionally, Lipaz serves as the director of both the continuing education section, which he established, and the marketing system, which he initiated, at the Open University. He also founded a beit midrash that welcomes both secular and religious participants, fostering inclusive learning and dialogue.

David Sperber

David Sperber is an art historian, curator, and art critic. In the past, he served as a postdoctoral associate at the Institute of Sacred Music, Yale University; a research fellow at the David Hartman Center for Intellectual Leadership of the Shalom Hartman Institute, Jerusalem; and the head of the Curatorial Studies Program at the Schechter Institutes, Jerusalem. In 2012, he co-curated the international exhibition "Matronita: Jewish Feminist Art" at the Mishkan Le'Omanut Museum of Art, Ein Harod in Israel. Sperber's book Devoted Resistance: Jewish Feminist Art in the United States and Israel was published by the Hebrew University Magnes Press in 2021.

Joshua (Josh) Scharff

Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Josh made aliyah in 2015. Raised in the Reform Movement, he was involved in community life from a young age. In Israel, he worked for several years as a Jewish history educator at URJ Heller High School, as well as an educational guide in NFTY programs. During his studies at HUC, Josh worked as the coordinator of development and external communications and student rabbi at Beit Daniel congregation in Tel Aviv. He is also a musician, using his musical talents to lead and accompany worship services and lifecycle events. Josh holds a B.A. in History from Yale University and an M.A. in Jewish History from The Hebrew University.

Doctor of Divinity honoris causa

Rabbi Miri Gold

Miri Gold graduated from the University of Michigan in 1971, with a degree in Philosophy. In 1999 she became the third Reform woman rabbi to be ordained in Israel through Hebrew Union College, Jerusalem campus. She has served Kehilat Birkat Shalom since its founding in 1997 and is now retired, as Rabbi Emerita. Miri petitioned the Israel Supreme Court in 2005 demanding recognition as the rabbi of Gezer.  In 2012, the Israel Attorney General decided that rabbis of non-Orthodox rural communities are entitled to salaries, setting an historic precedent. Rabbi Gold is the first non-Orthodox rabbi to be recognized by the State of Israel. Miri was named by The Forward newspaper as one of the five influential women rabbis in Israel, October 2010.

Rabbi Ada-Hasia Zavidov

Rabbi Ada Zavidov holds a B.A. in philosophy and comparative literature and an M.A. in Jewish Philosophy, both from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In addition, she holds an M.A. in Hebrew Letters from the Hebrew Union College. She was ordained as a rabbi at HUC in Jerusalem in 1999 and is one of the first Israeli women to be ordained as a rabbi in Israel. Rabbi Ada served as the rabbi of the Reform congregation in Tzur Hadassah during the congregation's first years. Since February 2004, has been the rabbi of Kehilat Har-El in Jerusalem. In addition to serving as a congregational rabbi, she has served as the chairperson of MARAM (the Council of Israeli Progressive Rabbis) and has taught for a number of years in HUC-JIR's Israel Rabbinical Program.

All photos of our ordinees were taken by the photographer Yonit Schiller.

Sugiot Chayim Graduations 2024

Yael Abecassis 

A creative actress.

Miriam Jano

Miriam was born in Ukraineand she now lives in Jerusalem. She is an educator, involved in teaching Jewish studies. A singer and community leader. A student of the Israeli Reform Rabbinical Program here at HUC and due to be ordained this November.

Irit Glanz

Irit lives in Modi'in. An expert in cognitive testing, lecturer in the fields of assessment, attention, and emotional development.She is also a parenting facilitator and trainer for dealing with attention challenges. She holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and educational counseling, a teaching certificate, master's degree in education and brain research, all from Bar-Ilan University. Her parenting facilitation certificate is from the Seminar Hakibbutzimand she is a graduate of the program 'Jewish Psychology with a Minimalist Approach.'

Chaya Lederberg

Chaya Lives in Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut. She holds a master's degree in rabbinic literature from Bar-Ilan University. She is the coordinator of Jewish culture at the Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'utMunicipality.

Roni Magidov, PhD

Roni is a teacher of Biblical studies and does teacher training in this field. She directed the Ziv School in Jerusalem where she also taught. She was a faculty member in the Revivim program at the Hebrew University, the Kerem Institute, the Hartman Institute, and others. Roni is currently studying in the Israeli Rabbinic program, a joint program of the Hartman Institute and Oranim College.

Ahuva Abudi - Naaman

Ahuva Lives in Binyamina. She is a teacher and holds a bachelor's degree in literature and Israel studies from the University of Haifa, a diploma in journalism and communication and a master's degree in these fields from Bar-Ilan University, as well as teaching certificate from Seminar Hakibbutzim.

Ayala Paz

Ayala is a lecturer in Biblical studies at David Yellin College. She led workshops for teacher training in the 'Revivim' program at the Hebrew University, taught various courses and professional development programs for Bible teachers at institutions such as the Hartman Institute and the Kerem Institute, and was a member of the steering committee for Biblical studies at the Ministry of Education.

Judith Plavner

Judith is a resident of Ness Ziona,she holds degrees in chemistry and educational administration. She has been an educator for 42 years, including 22 years in educational management.

Naama Kirpichnikov

Originally from Kibbutz Nirim, Naamah is now a member of Kibbutz Hatzerim. She has  a teaching certificate and a bachelor's degree in Biblical studies  and Jewish studies, as well as a Master's degree in Jewish thought (Hebrew University). She is a teacher and educator at Brenner Regional High School.

Rikma Graduates 2024

Shachar Aharoni

Shachar lives in Ramat Gan and originally comes from Haifa. She has degrees in law and literature, but for the past two years, she has been following her heart, working and teaching in Mechina Kdam Tsevait (pre-army preparatory program), studying Talmud to the best of her ability, and engaging in public lobbying. Shachar has worked at BINA and in the Israel 2050 Movement. This year she is teaching at a high school in Tel Aviv.

Tal Eliel Amedi

Tal is an educator at the Hartman Institute's Beit Midrash for Girls and the coordinator of social action there. She is a graduate of the Kerem Institute and has been an educator for the past nine years. Originally from a moshav, she now lives in and breathes Jerusalem, loving the city and taking pride in being part of it. In her free time, Tal teaches literature and writing to women in their senior years and leads baking workshops.

Or Eliaz

Or is a graduate of the Jewish Agency's campus shlichut program, serving as an emissary at a university in Milwaukee. Wisconsin/ He received a bachelor's degree in the history of the Jewish people and Education from the University of Haifa. In his free time, he engages in writing and spoken word performance; he loves history, literature, and art, and enjoys exploring the country on foot. He is currently a teacher at a high school in Jerusalem.

Esther Appelbaum

Esther lives in Beit Yisrael community in the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem, She teaches 11th grade Bible studies at Gilo Comprehensive High School.

Adi Blum

Adi is the deputy director of the 'Kol Ami' preparatory programs of the Jewish Agency. He believes in education and political engagement as forces that drive social change. He  completed his bachelor's degree at the Hebrew University in philosophy, economics, and political science. Adi has been involved in informal education since his service year in 2005.

Tali Bass

Tal, who has lived in Jerusalem in recent years, is originally from Be'er Sheva, and originally from St. Petersburg. She holds a bachelor's degree in theatre and comparative lliterature from the Hebrew University. Now, after a decade, she has returned to academia. Tal tries to start each day with reading and end it with physical exercise. She worked as a producer at the Mishkenot Sha'ananim Cultural Center and is currently working as a producer at Beit Avichai.

Moran Bar

Moran manages the activities of the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement in the rural area. Previously, she managed the "Tzafit" youth program-a boarding school for social leadership in the Yoav Regional Council. She is a member of the Hashomer Hatzair alumni movement. She believes in education based on values and criticism as a tool for the growth and development of the student and for shaping a just and equitable society. She holds a bachelor's degree in informal education and a teaching certificate in citizenship from the Beit Berl Academic College. She lives in an urban kibbutz in Nahariya.

Noga Pnina Hevron-Pereh

Noga lives in Mevaseret Zion. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and philosophy, along with a teaching certificate in these subjects. Noga grew up in the Reform movement, and today she works as a community coordinator in the Reform community in Mevaseret Zion.

Michal Hodadad

Michal lives in Jerusalem. She holds a degree in anthroposophical education and is interested in education for traditionalism. She facilitates groups at Gesher and has an interest in music.

Roni Lehman

Roni is a Jerusalemite, an educator, and a teacher at Keshet School. She holds a degree in Bible and Jewish History from Bar-Ilan University and has completed the teacher training program of the organization Chotam. In the past, she worked as a guide for tours and identity journeys, as well as in various informal education settings. She strives every day to believe in the goodness of people and their ability to make the world a better place.

Ori Levy

Uri lives in Moshav Amindav. He is a member of the Ruach Nachon organization (inspired by the late Rabbi Menachem Fruman) and in Or Halev (Jewish meditation). He runs a social initiative that brings together opposing groups in society. He strives to find wonder each day, strumming, blowing, tapping, and playing various instruments about what expresses his inner self. He enjoys moments of silence, spontaneous dancing, and stepping out of his comfort zone.

Tsipornit Paz

Tsipornit Paz is a catalyst for building relationship and communities. Tzipornit is from Holon. She holds a bachelor's degree in Informal education and educational administration from Bar-Ilan University. She works on developing connection between community and heritage, identity and belonging. She is the initiator and director of the "Connections - Jewish-Israeli Culture in Holon" program and she directs the Heritage Museums of Holon.

Tamar Friedmann Arad

Tamar lives in Nataf. She holds a bachelor's degree in Hebrew literature and in Islam and Middle Eastern studies from the Hebrew University. Tamar has worked for years in informal education within Jewish education, promoting tolerance and pluralism. Currently, she coordinates organizational processes at Migdalor and Idea, advancing education for liberal democracy."

Noam Regev

Noam lives in Tzur Hadassa. He holds a bachelor's degree in science and environmental studies from the Democratic Education Institute. He graduated from the Waldorf Education Seminar and is involved in anthroposophical theater. He is an educator at a primary school that integrates religious and secular students in an anthroposophical spirit. He loves birds, stars, plants, and people.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.