To my dear students and colleagues, Trish Abrams, Renana Brooks, Steven Goldstein, Erica Lipp, Kelly Onickel, Yishai Paquin, Jen Rolnick, Aviv Siegel, Chana Stein, and Rebecca Van Wagner, rabbis, cantors, and teachers in Israel,
hk o, t h, jek ktrah hbc lu, n hk vnv ohb, b ohb, b hf
They are gifts to me from among the Israelite people— I have taken them to myself. Numbers 8:16
I have been so deeply impressed by your devotion, creativity, wisdom, spiritual presence, depth, and care for one another. Those whom you will serve are fortunate, and you are fortunate to have found this worthy calling. Mazal tov and abundant blessings on your ordination.
Much mazel to Cantor Robin Anne Joseph as she receives the P ' nei Torah Faculty Award
Mazal tov to Rabbi Maggid Justin Lewis, Rabbi Hanniel Levenson, Rabbi Cantor Jerry Blum, Rabbi Eve Eichenholtz, Rabbi Cantor Howard Nacht, Rabbi Eliana Falk, Rabbi Maralee Gordon, Cantor Rena Shapiro, Rabbi Julius Rabinowitz, Katie Kaplan, and Talia Werber.
Congratulations to the MA recipients, Bnei Mitzvah and Mehadrin classes, and all the honorees— what a credit you are to AJR!
With blessing, Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD
100 AJR 2026