Education and Other Experiences
In 1992 I received my Master's in Religious Studies from UC Santa Barbara where I studied language, symbolism and communication in the Hebrew Bible. 3 years later, I was ordained as a Reform Rabbi from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, first receiving a Master's in Hebrew Letters.
In addition to my student days in Arizona, I've been a Congregational Rabbi in Colorado and a College Chaplain at Grinnell College, Iowa. I've been a "Visiting Rabbi" in congregations in and around Iowa and I also work with those whose needs are not met within the congregational system. Currently I serve Temple Beth El in Dubuque, IA, and I teach Biblical Hebrew at the University of Iowa.
I received my B.A., with honors, in Folklore & Mythology from Harvard University and have since made the transition from studying tales to recounting them.
In addition to my student days in Arizona, I've been a Congregational Rabbi in Colorado and a College Chaplain at Grinnell College, Iowa. I've been a "Visiting Rabbi" in congregations in and around Iowa and I also work with those whose needs are not met within the congregational system. Currently I serve Temple Beth El in Dubuque, IA, and I teach Biblical Hebrew at the University of Iowa.
I received my B.A., with honors, in Folklore & Mythology from Harvard University and have since made the transition from studying tales to recounting them.
I am also
a graphic designer
a website developer and
a student of languages
both ancient and technical.
I am a mother of 4
a wife
and a master of logistics.
"Open to Difference"
Three alumnae rabbis help redefine an ancient calling.
Three alumnae rabbis help redefine an ancient calling.
by Elaine Yaffe
Harvard Magazine Sept/Oct 2008
the long version
I'm one of those people who could have stayed in school forever were it not for the need to produce papers on cue. It wasn't so much the writing or even the deadlines; it was my tendency to follow the questions long past the point where writing should have begun. As anyone who knows me will tell you, I operate on the basic principle that every good question deserves another good question.
During a graduate seminar one day the professor apologized for the quality of the book we were reading. That was the point when we realized that a primary purpose of the seminar was to give the professor an opportunity to read, think about, and discuss new books in the field. It was probably also the beginning of the end for me. My writing is infinitely better after reading, thinking, discussing, and arguing. And once I'm all argued out, I would rather move on to the next question than do it all over again on paper. It didn't take me long to figure out that teaching meant I could read, think and discuss to my heart's content without the need to produce papers on a regular basis.
Web design came about entirely by accident. My third child was born about the same time as it became ordinary to get pictures digitally. No surprise, I had pictures that our family was clamoring to see and this time they were in an interesting new format. I'm not a bad letter writer, but I'm an atrocious letter mailer so I decided to create an album that was accessible to the family and would not require me to dodge the calls of irate relatives all of whom were wondering where on earth the pictures were. Creating sites for friends and family kept my mind active while home with small children. One thing led to another . . . and here I am.