Hebrew College

06/01/2026

“The measure of Jewish leadership is not the brilliance of what you can accomplish alone, but the beauty of what you can build with others.” – Hebrew College President Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld

On Sunday, May 31, 2026, Hebrew College celebrated our 2026 graduates at Commencement & Ordination Ceremonies on the College's shared campus, conferring 6 Master of Jewish Education degrees, awarding 6 Graduate Certificates, and ordaining 16 rabbis – the largest cohort in the history of the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College. These new rabbis will transition into an array of roles across the spectrum of Jewish life, from congregational to campus life, community engagement to Jewish camping — securing positions across the country, from Atlanta to San Franciso to our own “neighborhood”, enriching the Jewish community of Greater Boston and beyond with their vision and leadership.

The College awarded two honorary degrees, to Gerald Chan, pioneering medical technologist, and Robert Bank, who most recently served for ten years as President and CEO of American Jewish World Service. In addition, Dr. Abigail Gillman received the Hillson/Bronstein Award for Promotion of Hebrew Language and Literature for her work in the fields of Bible Studies and Comparative Literature, and Dr. Sharon Feiman-Nemser received the Benjamin Shevach Award for Excellence in Jewish Educational Leadership for her groundbreaking scholarship on teacher learning.

Mazel tov to our graduates and ordainees!

05/31/2026

We look forward to celebrating our 2026 honorees, award recipients, graduates, and ordinees starting at 11:45 am EST today!

Join us on the livestream:

Celebrating our Graduates! We look forward to you joining us for Hebrew College Commencement and Ordination on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at our collaborative campus in Newton, MA. Bookmark this page to learn about our honorees, award winners and graduates. Ceremonies Graduate Jewish Education Stud

05/15/2026

Last night was an outstanding celebration of community members and honorees as we gathered for Hebrew College’s spring gala, “Sacred Sparks!”

Thank you to all who joined us to illuminate this event with gratitude and generosity!

05/14/2026

Temple Beth Sholom - The Place To Be will host the Norman H. Finkelstein Memorial Lecture on Saturday, May 30, featuring Professor Michael Hoberman's presentation on the stories of rural New England Jews! Register using the following google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfD6w9ZIa4WjumKGlObDZmmruz2z6pi1CoBf2Ua4DjxfCorfg/viewform

05/12/2026

"I'm lucky that I get to do Jewish art education. Whatever I do, I'm doing something that's helping people connect to their Judaism and get into a creative rhythm. Because I have the tools that I've been gaining from the semesters in the MJED, my teaching is stronger than ever."

David Ratz, 2026 MJEd Graduate

Now accepting applications for Fall 2026.
Think the MJEd might be right for you? visit https://hebrewcollege.edu/mjed
Or contact Susan Morrel [email protected]

05/12/2026

We are looking forward to celebrating "Sacred Sparks" at the Hebrew College Spring Gala later this week.

Grateful to be part of the shared campus community and very excited to announce next year's Hebrew College rabbinic interns. Stay tuned to learn more about them in the fall.

04/28/2026

Hebrew College’s online Ulpan is open the summer of 2026. Learn Hebrew with a cohort of dedicated students, featuring small class sizes and top notch instructors! Whether you starting from scratch or looking to build on your existing skills, courses are available to meet your needs. Register today! www.hebrewcollege.edu/ulpan

04/24/2026

This June 4th, Professor of Rabbinics and Dean of Faculty Rabbi Dr. Jane Kanarek will appear on a panel discussing religious law and ethical foundations at a conference hosted by the Jewish Theological Seminary, “When the Law Falls Short: Empathy and the Work of Civic Repair.”

The program will examine how moral responsibility, empathy, and civic norms can supplement legal frameworks when law alone is insufficient. Across traditions, professions, and lived experience, participants will consider how individuals and institutions act when legality and justice diverge.

Learn more and find a link to register: https://hebrewcollege.edu/blog/dr-rabbi-jane-kanarek-speaking-at-conference/

04/17/2026

When you give a rabbinical student a lunch co-op.... anything is possible! Since its creation in 2022, the Shul Lunch Cooperative has become a staple of Hebrew College culture and an additional place of learning outside the Beit Midrash at 1860 Washington Street. The Shul Lunch Co-op serves delicious, affordable meals made with local ingredients throughout the academic year! This allows students to build community and put their learning into practice in and outside of the kitchen. This spring, will you help ensure that the Shul Lunch Coop continues nourishing students and community members for the next year to come?

Please donate here: https://hebrewcollege.edu/shul-lunch-coop-donation-form/

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The Shul Lunch Co-op is a group of over 50 students, and faculty, and community members at Hebrew College in Newton, Massachusetts building a model for sustainable, equitable, and delicious Jewish food practice and community engagement.

04/16/2026

We offer a hearty “Mazel tov!” to LilyFish Gomberg, who is pursuing a Masters in Jewish Education at Hebrew College, on her new role as Director of Congregational Learning at Kerem Shalom in Concord!

“LilyFish is currently communications manager and Hebrew high teacher at the Society Hill Synagogue in Philadelphia. She is also pursuing a master’s in Jewish education at Hebrew College. A native of Newton who grew up in and later worked at Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, LilyFish, who received her BA from Brandeis University, says she’s “’excited to return to Massachusetts and to partner with the Kerem Shalom community to build a warm, thoughtful, and intergenerational culture of Jewish learning.’”

Earn a Masters degree or specialized Graduate Certificate in Jewish Education at Hebrew College! Our Graduate Education Programs combine academic rigor, field experience, and a network of contacts to help you grow professionally and navigate the complexities in the current Jewish educational landscape: https://hebrewcollege.edu/mjed

Read more at JewishBoston:

Kerem Shalom welcomes LilyFish Gomberg as our new director of congregational learning.