Rabbi Aaron D. Panken, Ph.D., president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), will award Steve Berman with the Doctor of Jewish Nonprofit Management at graduation ceremonies in Los Angeles on May 16 at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills. Berman, executive director of Congregation Ohev Sholom, will be honored for 35 years of distinguished professional service as an alumnus of HUC-JIR.
President Panken stated, “We honor Steve for his dedicated service to the Jewish people and the larger world by fostering learning, community, social justice and continuity of our heritage.”
Prior to his current position at Ohev Sholom, which he has held for the past five years, Berman served the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City for 16 years in the positions of director of administration, director of Jewish community programs and BBYO/teen director. In addition, he previously served as executive/youth director for the Empire & Southwest Regions of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
He holds an MSW from the University of Southern California and a MA of Jewish Communal Services (MAJCS) from HUC. Professional affiliations include membership in the North American Association of Synagogue Administrators.
“I am extremely honored to receive the doctorate from HUC-JIR. The Jewish education and professional knowledge and skills I acquired as a student has been an incredible foundation throughout my career and personal life. My MAJCS provided me the knowledge and understanding of how the Jewish community works. It was this background that enabled me to understand the structure of organized Jewish life, communal decision-making, respect for all aspects of the Jewish community and therefore the ability to work with institutions and individuals across the spectrum of the Jewish community,” Berman said.
Founded in 1875, HUC-JIR is North America’s leading institution of higher Jewish education and the academic, spiritual, and professional leadership development center of Reform Judaism. HUC-JIR educates men and women for service to North American and world Jewry as rabbis, cantors, educators, and nonprofit management professionals, and offers graduate programs to scholars and clergy of all faiths.
HUC-JIR will bestow 125 degrees at graduation and ordination ceremonies in Cincinnati, Los Angeles and New York on the Class of 2016’s cadre of new Jewish professional leaders for the Reform movement. Distinguished communal and civic leaders and alumni will be awarded honorary degrees and prizes in recognition of their service to Reform congregations and North American Jewry, and in honor of their humanitarian work.