5764 – 66 Faculty
The following lists members of the Faculty for the Academic Year 2004’2005 or 2005’2006 or those who have an ongoing teaching commitment to The Academy for Jewish Religion.
Moshe Ariel ‘ Hebrew
Certification to teach Hebrew in Ulpan, Tel Aviv, Israel; trained to teach foreign languages, The New School for Social Research, NY; Instructor of Hebrew, Methods of Language Instruction and Supervisor of Teachers, The New School University, NY.
Cantor Richard Botton ‘ Hazzanut
Cantor, School of Sacred Music of Hebrew Union College’Jewish Institute of Religion. Served as Cantor, Temple Emanu-El, Long Beach, NY; and Central Synagogue in New York City. Has appeared in concert with the Robert Shaw Chorale, the Bach Aria Group, the Brooklyn Philharmonia under Lukas Foss, the Paul Whiteman Orchestra on Arthur Godfrey’s television show, the Fort Worth Symphony, and on numerous opera stages. Sang in the premiere of Bernstein’s Dybbuk.
Jerome Chanes ‘ History, Hebrew
Faculty Scholar at the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish
Studies and Adjunct Professor at Yeshiva University. Author of the award-winning A Dark Side of History: Antisemitism through the Ages, A Primer on the American Jewish Community, and Antisemitism: A Reference Handbook; editor of A Portrait of the American Jewish Community; contributing editor of the Forward; an author and editor of the second edition of the Encyclopedia Judaica.
Cantor Kenneth Cohen ‘ Hazzanut, Nusah, Professional Skills
Former National Director of Cantorial Studies, The Academy for Jewish Religion; Hazzan, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America; M.A., Ethnomusicology, SUNY; graduate musicology studies, NYU; B.A., History, SUNY; Cantor, Bet Torah, Mt. Kisco, NY, contributor, Journal of Synagogue Music; producer, educational material for Jewish youth.
Stanley Dorn ‘ Musical Skills
B.A., New York University, Studies at Mannes College of Music. Guitar studies with Alexander Bellow, Roselyn Dlugin, Eliot Fisk. Theory studies with Robert Cuckson, L. Poundie Burstein, David Loeb, Carl Schachter. Member, The Americas Vocal Ensemble. Chair, Guitar Department, Mannes Preparatory Division. Faculty, Mannes Extension Division.
Arline Duker, LCSW ‘ Professional skills
M.S.W., New York University; M.A., Teachers College, Columbia University; B.A., Barnard College; Licensed Clinical Social Worker, NJ; Certification by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis; Adjunct Associate Professor of Social Work, NYU.
Rabbi Stephen David Franklin ‘ Bible, Professional Skills
Rabbi, D.D., M.H.L., Hebrew Union College; B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, Williams College; Rabbi Emeritus of Riverdale Temple, Riverdale, NY. Past president of Riverdale Interfaith Clergy Conference and Greater New York Association of Reform Rabbis, member of the Executive Board of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Rabbi David Greenstein ‘ Rabbinics, Mysticism, Jewish Thought
Rabbi, The Academy for Jewish Religion; Ph.D, Kabbalah and Rabbinics, New York University; B.A., Philosophy, M.A., Talmud, Yeshiva University; M.F.A.,Queens College; Core Faculty member, The Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning at Congregation Emanu-El, New York;
member, Associate Editor, The Journal of The Academy for Jewish Religion; Former member of Editorial Board, Conservative Judaism; has taught at SUNY-Stony Brook, Touro College, NYU, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Jewish Theological Seminary, and adult programs, including Meah and Melton; author of essays on Jewish thought and culture; member, AJS, Rabbinical Assembly, CAJE, NY Board of Rabbis; exhibiting artist for many years.
Rabbi Andrew M. Hahn ‘ Philosophy
Rabbi, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion; M. Phil., Ph.D., Jewish Theological Seminary; B.A., Hampshire College; Resident, CLAL ‘ the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership; Instructor, Me’ah, 92nd Street Y, NYU, Franklin & Marshall College, etc.; founder, taichirabbi.com, kirtanrabbi.com.
Rabbi Jill Hammer ‘ Midrash
Rabbi, The Jewish Theological Seminary; M.A., Ph.D.; University of Connecticut, B.A., Brandeis University; Director, Tel Shemesh: A Website and Community Celebrating and Creating Earth-Based Jewish Traditions; has served as the editor of Living Text: The Journal of Contemporary Midrash, and of Journey, the journal of Ma’yan: The Jewish Women’s Project of the JCC in Manhattan; author of Sisters at Sinai: New Tales of Biblcial Women and The Jewish Book of Days: A Companion for All Seasons (2006); has taught ancient and contemporary midrash as well as bibliodrama and creative ritual at synagogues, retreats, and venues around the U.S.
Rabbi Richard Hammerman – Professional Skills
Rabbi, Ddiv., M.H.L., B.H.L., Talmud, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America; B.S., History, Columbia University; Rabbi, Congregation B’nai Israel, Toms River, NJ; Past President, Clergy Association of the Greater Toms River Area, James A. Pindar Affordable Housing development Corporation, Shore Area Board of Rabbis; Member, New York Board of Rabbis, Rabbinical Assembly, Board of Directors of Mercaz, the Conservative Zionist Organization and Masorti Olami/World Council of Synagogues.
Rivka Haut ‘ Codes, Professional Skills, Midrash
M.A., Talmud, Jewish Theological Seminary; B.A., Brooklyn College. Orthodox activist and author; co-edited Daughters of the King: Women and the Synagogue; assists agunot; Director, International Committee for Women at the Kotel; founder of the Women’s Tefillah Network and Flatbush Women’s Davening Group; organized first women’s prayer service at the Kotel; Convener of Orthodox Women’s Conference.
Cantor Natalia Hirshhorn ‘ Choir, Musical Skills
Hazzan, The Academy for Jewish Religion; Music Director, Congregation Ansche Chesed, NYC; member, Long Island Composers Alliance; a performing soloist and noted author and recording artist of many liturgical and secular compositions.
Rabbi Eric Hoffman ‘ Talmud
Doctoral study in Talmud, Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati; Rabbi, M.A., Hebrew Union College, NY; B.A., The Johns Hopkins University, Post-graduate study in rabbinics, The Hebrew University and Neve Schechter, Jerusalem. Rabbi, Adat Torah Conservative Congregation, Wilton, CT.
Rabbi Jeffrey Hoffman ‘ Liturgy, Codes
Rabbi, M.A., D.H.L., Liturgy, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America; B.A., SUNY; Adjunct Assistant Professor of Liturgy, Jewish Theological Seminary of America, author of curricula in Jewish liturgy for Melton Center at JTS, served as rabbi for twenty years at Congregation Sons of Israel, Nyack, NY.
Dr. Renee Frank Holtz ‘ Education
Ph.D., Education, Fordham University; M.S. Ed., Special Education, The Johns Hopkins University; MA, BA, Judaic Studies, Baltimore Hebrew University; Coordinator of Academic Support, Middle School, The Solomon Schechter School of Westchester; adjunct Assistant Professor, Manhattanville College and Fordham University; published articles and texts of Jewish education
Varda Hubara ‘ Hebrew
Director of Hebrew Studies, Academy for Jewish Religion; M.A., ESL, B.A., Hunter College, NY; past Educational Director, The Mazer School of Religious Studies, Park Avenue Synagogue, New York, NY; Certified Hebrew Teacher.
Rabbi David Kalb ‘ History, Liturgy
Teaching Fellow at CLAL’The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. Served as Rabbi of Beit Chaverim Synagogue in Westport, CT.
Rabbi Alan Abraham Kay ‘ Professional Skills
Rabbi, The Academy for Jewish Religion; Ed.D., New York University; M.A., English, New York University; B.A., Brooklyn College/CUNY; Rabbi of Temple Beth Emeth of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai, NY; Writer and author of many publications the most recent being, Make Your Own Passover Seder: A New Approach to Creating a Personal Family Celebration.
Rabbi Michael Klayman ‘ Codes, Professional Skills
Rabbi, Jewish Theological Seminary of America; M.A., Jewish Theological Seminary of America; B.A., Columbia University, NY; B.H.L., Talmud, Jewish Theological Seminary of America; Rabbi of Temple Beth O’r/Beth Torah, Clark, NJ; Trustee of the Northern New Jersey Rabbinical Assembly.
Cantor Lisa Klinger-Kantor ‘ Nusah
Hazzan, The Academy for Jewish Religion; M.A., Performance of Voice, New York University; B.A., Voice, Mannes College of Music. Cantor, Shaarei Shalom, Bellmore, NY. Extensive voice practice, teaching the art of singing to Cantors and Rabbis.
Rabbi Isaac Mann ‘ Halakha, Talmud
Rabbi, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary; M.S., Doctoral candidate, Talmud, Yeshiva University; M.A., Medieval Jewish History, Harvard University; B.A., City College; Rabbi, Old Broadway Synagogue, NY; Chaplain, Metropolitan Hospital, NY and Bronx Lebanon Hospital, NY.
Rabbi Aryeh Meir ‘ Mechina
Dean of Admissions, The Academy for Jewish Religion; M.H.L., D.H.L., Rabbi, Jewish Theological Seminary; M.S.S., Fordham University; B.A., University of Buffalo; Rabbi of West Clarkstown Jewish Center, Rockland County, NY; member, Rabbinical Assembly; former national staff member of the American Jewish Committee; authored a number of publications on Jewish communal issues.
Rabbi Craig Miller ‘ History, Rabbinics. Professional Skills
Rabbi, Bais Medrash L’Torah; B.A., Lang College New School; Certificate, Advanced Rabbinics/Synagogue Management, Touro College; Project Direct, Jewish Community Relations Council, Senior Member, Disaster Spiritual Care Services; Vice President, New York Board of Rabbis.
Rabbi David Paskin ‘ Rabbinics
Rabbi, The Academy for Jewish Religion; B.A., Brandeis University; an accomplished spiritual leader, educator, singer/songwriter and entertainer, rabbi and spiritual leader of Temple Beth Abraham, Canton, MA., has produced four albums of contemporary Jewish music.
Rabbi Michael Pitkowsky ‘ Codes
Rabbi, M.A., Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, Jerusalem; Ph.D. candidate Department of Talmud and Rabbinics-JTS; B.A., SUNY Binghamton, NY.; Teacher of Talmud and Halakhah at the Yeshiva of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies.
Rabbi Joseph Prouser ‘ Philosophy
Rabbi, M.A., B.A., Liturgy, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, B.A., Religion, Columbia Unversity; Rabbi, Little Neck Jewish Center, NY; author of Noble Soul (on the Vilna Ger Tzedek), Koach Ha-Berakhah (a Siddur for Birkat Ha-Hammah) and numerous articles; member of the Joint Bet Din of the Conservative Movement; Program Chairman, Jewish Committee on Scouting, Boy Scouts of America.
Dr. Ora Horn Prouser ‘ Bible
Executive Vice President, The Academy for Jewish Religion; Academic Dean, Professor of Bible, The Academy for Jewish Religion; Ph.D., B.A., Bible, Visiting Assistant Professor, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America; B.A., Columbia University; graduate studies, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; published numerous scholarly articles.
Rabbi Regina Sandler-Phillips ‘ Liturgy and Professional Skills
Rabbi, The Academy for Jewish Religion; M.P.H., Community Health Education, Hunter College/CUNY, NY; M.S.W., Hunter College/CUNY School of Social Work; B.A., Oberlin College. Chaplain in the 9/11 disaster relief and diverse community settings, spiritual care consultant and Jewish educator.
Rabbi Robert Scheinberg ‘ Liturgy
Rabbi, Doctoral candidate, Liturgy, M.A., Judaic Studies, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America; B.A., Psychology, Music, Columbia College; M.A., Rabbi, United Synagogue of Hoboken; served as Rabbi and Cantor in Florida, Nova Scotia and at JTS; Music Director and Performer Pizmon: Jewish A Capella; Instructor, Derech Torah at 92nd St. Y, NY.
Cantor Rena E. Shapiro ‘ Cantillation
Cantor, The Academy for Jewish Religion; M.S. Education, Western Connecticut State College; B.S. cum laude Psychology, Jackson College, Tufts University; Cantor, Temple Beth-El, Poughkeepsie, NY; founder/conductor of Shalom Singers Community Choir and Quartet; Healing Service leader, Vassar Temple, Poughkeepsie, NY; Conductor, Board of Directors, Dutchess Interfaith Council, Poughkeepsie, NY; Cantor-in-Residence for choral workshops; concert violinist, Hudson Valley Philharmonic Orchestra, Bach-Handel Festival Orchestra; private instructor.
Dr. Diane M. Sharon ‘ Bible
Ph.D., M.A. Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America; M.B.A., Finance, New York University; B.A., English Literature, SUNY at Stony Brook; former Assistant Professor, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America; taught comparative religion and Hebrew Bible at Fordham University, General Theological Seminary (Episcopal), the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, the Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning, and at other institutions of higher learning. She was Director of Curriculum Development for Hadassah-WZOA, after serving as National Education Director of Young Judaea, the Jewish Zionist Youth Movement of Hadassah. Dr. Sharon has been a scholar in residence in congregations nationwide, and has lectured and taught extensively. She is the author of Patterns of Destiny: Narrative Structures of Foundation and Doom in the Hebrew Bible, published by Eisenbrauns in 2002, and the JPS Commentary on Judges, to be published by the Jewish Publication Society, as well as many articles dealing with the Hebrew Bible in its context in the ancient Near East, comparative religion, and women’s studies.
Cantor Murray E. Simon ‘ Liturgy
Ph.D., Music, Hebrew Union College; M.A., Boston Conservatory of Music; B.A., Sacred music, Hebrew Union College; B.A., Music in Performance, Temple University; Cantor, The Jewish Center, Princeton, NJ.
Rabbi Bonita Nathan Sussman ‘ Philosophy
Rabbi, Aleph Alliance for Jewish Renewal; M.A., Columbia University; M.A., The Jewish Theological Seminary of America; B.A., Biology, Stern College; Program Manager, Community Health Action of Staten Island, and site coordinator, New York Psychiatric Institute; co-founder, Staten Island Jewish Women’s Project.
Hazzan Ramon Tasat ‘ Cantorial Studies
Trained at the Manuel de Falla Conservatory and the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary in Argentina, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin; Cantor of Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, MD; President of Shalshelet: The Foundation for New Jewish Liturgical Music; Musical advisor of the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Music Festival; and board member of the American Friends of Neot Kedumim; Internationally acclaimed vocalist, composer, arranger and choral director.
Rabbi Bonita E Taylor ‘ Chaplaincy
Rabbi, The Academy for Jewish Religion; M.A., Education, Columbia University, Hunter College (CUNY); Associate Director of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), The HealthCare Chaplaincy, NYC; CPE Supervisor, ACPE; Spiritual Advisor, Congregation Gan Eden, Maui, Hawaii; Board Member, Certified Chaplain, National Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC); Member, New York Board of Rabbis.
Rabbi Shohama Wiener ‘ Spiritual Development, Meditation
President Emerita, The Academy for Jewish Religion; Rabbi, The Academy for Jewish Religion D.Min., New York Theological Seminary; Ed.M., Harvard University; B.A., Psychology, Wellesley College; Rabbi, Temple Beth-El, City Island, NY: Editor, The Fifty-Eighth Century: A Jewish Renewal Source Book; co-editor, Worlds of Jewish Prayer; contributor, Meditation from the Heart of Judaism; formerly Rabbi-educator, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist congregations; frequent lecturer and scholar-in-residence on spirituality, meditation and healing; member, New York Board of Rabbis.
Cantor Sol Zim ‘ Nusah
Cantorial study at The Jewish Theological Seminary; M.A., New York University; B.A., Brooklyn College; Cantor, Hollis Hills Jewish Center (since 1964, life tenure); master-cantor, master coach, educator, concert performer, international recording artist of twenty cassettes and cd’s featuring all original music; Zimray Ent., Publisher, eleven books of original music used by rabbis, cantors and educators, The Cantors Assembly has endorsed Cantor Zim’s Shabbat Anthology ‘ A Musical Siddur as the standard synagogue music of Conservative congregations throughout America.
Rabbi Bernard Zlotowitz ‘ Hebrew, Bible, Rabbinics
Professor of Bible and Rabbinics, The Academy for Jewish Religion; Rabbi, D.H.L., D.D., Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion; M.A., Columbia University; B.A., Brooklyn College; Senior Scholar, UAHC; faculty, JACS; former Regional Director, New York Federation of Reform Synagogues; Author: Drugs, Sex & Integrity (teens) and Abraham’s Great Discovery (children); Co-Author: The Book of Psalms: A New Translation and Commentary; and editor and contributor to Reform Judaism.
