Ezra Spicehandler
Encyclopedia
Ezra Spicehandler is an American Rabbi
, writer, editor and educator specializing in modern Hebrew literature.
He was born in Brooklyn
, New York
, the son of Abraham Spacehandler, an editor of the Hebrew periodical Hadoar. In 1946 he was ordained and awarded a masters of Hebrew letters. He earned a Ph.D. in 1952. He spent a year studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
, then received the National Defense Education Fellowship in Oriental Languages, 1960–1961. In 1961 he was the recipient of a Fullbright grant
for research in Iran.
He is a Rabbi from Temple Emanu-El
in Westfield, New Jersey
. He became associate professor and then professor of Hebrew Literature at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. From 1966–1980 he was director then dean of the Jerusalem branch of the Hebrew Union College and later Professor Emeritus. He was a visiting professor of Modern Hebrew Literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
, 1969–1971, then a visiting fellow at the Oxford Centre
for Post-Graduate studies, 1973–1975 and visiting professor at the Oriental Institute of the Oxford University in England, 1983–1984. In 1982, he became president of the Labor Zionist Alliance of America. In 1989 he was visiting professor at São Paulo Judaice Department in Brazil, August 1989. From 1990–1991, he was Skirball Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Post-Graduate studies.
He is the author and editor of numerous books and essays. He
was awarded the Friedman Prize in 1990 for his work in Modern Hebrew Letters. In 1992 he received an honorary doctorate from the Hebrew Union College.
Ezra is married to Shirley (Horn) Spicehandler and has two daughters, Reena and Judith, who are both also rabbis. He is currently living in Cincinnati and working on his next book.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, writer, editor and educator specializing in modern Hebrew literature.
He was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the son of Abraham Spacehandler, an editor of the Hebrew periodical Hadoar. In 1946 he was ordained and awarded a masters of Hebrew letters. He earned a Ph.D. in 1952. He spent a year studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
, then received the National Defense Education Fellowship in Oriental Languages, 1960–1961. In 1961 he was the recipient of a Fullbright grant
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
for research in Iran.
He is a Rabbi from Temple Emanu-El
Temple Emanu-El
Temple Emanu-El of New York was the first Reform Jewish congregation in New York City and, because of its size and prominence, has served as a flagship congregation in the Reform branch of Judaism since its founding in 1845. Its landmark Romanesque Revival building on Fifth Avenue is widely...
in Westfield, New Jersey
Westfield, New Jersey
Westfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 30,316. The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract....
. He became associate professor and then professor of Hebrew Literature at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. From 1966–1980 he was director then dean of the Jerusalem branch of the Hebrew Union College and later Professor Emeritus. He was a visiting professor of Modern Hebrew Literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
, 1969–1971, then a visiting fellow at the Oxford Centre
for Post-Graduate studies, 1973–1975 and visiting professor at the Oriental Institute of the Oxford University in England, 1983–1984. In 1982, he became president of the Labor Zionist Alliance of America. In 1989 he was visiting professor at São Paulo Judaice Department in Brazil, August 1989. From 1990–1991, he was Skirball Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Post-Graduate studies.
He is the author and editor of numerous books and essays. He
was awarded the Friedman Prize in 1990 for his work in Modern Hebrew Letters. In 1992 he received an honorary doctorate from the Hebrew Union College.
Ezra is married to Shirley (Horn) Spicehandler and has two daughters, Reena and Judith, who are both also rabbis. He is currently living in Cincinnati and working on his next book.