Kerry Olitzky
Encyclopedia
Rabbi
Kerry M. Olitzky is the Executive Director of the Jewish Outreach Institute, a United States
independent organization dedicated to bringing Judaism
to interfaith
families and the unaffiliated.
, the premier adult Jewish learning and Jewish leadership program in North America. Previously, he was national Dean of Adult Jewish Learning and Living of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
where he served on the faculty and administration for 15 years following his tenure at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, Connecticut
.
Rabbi Olitzky is a leader in the development of innovative Jewish education, particularly for adults, he has shaped training programs for clergy
of all faiths, especially in the area of pastoral care and counseling in the Jewish community. He has done pioneering work in the area of Jewish Twelve Step spirituality, as well as Jewish Gerontology
. Rabbi Olitzky also serves as a fellow and consultant to Synagogue 3000 and is a partner with the Kalsman Institute on Judaism and Health at HUC-JIR.
. Their commentaries draw on classical Jewish works such as the Mishnah
, Talmud
, Targum
s, the midrash
literature, and also the classical Jewish bible commentators such as Gersonides
, Rashi
and Abraham ibn Ezra
. These commentaries take into account modern scholarship; while these books take note of some findings of higher textual criticism, these are not academic books using source criticism to deconstruct the Tanakh. Rather, their purpose is educational, and Jewishly inspirational, and as such do not follow the path of classical Reform scholars, or the more secular projects such as the Anchor Bible series. The books also add a layer of commentary by modern day rabbis. These books are published by the Union for Reform Judaism
. Commentaries in this series now include Jonah, Lamentations, Ruth, the Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs.
Among his most recent publications are:
Shorter articles include:
His new translations of the Book of Ruth and the Book of Jonah were co-authored with Leonard Kravitz (URJ Press). His most recent publication is a joint project with JOI's Associate Executive Director, Paul Golin, entitled 20 Things for Grandparents of Interfaith Grandchildren to Do (And Not Do) to Nurture Jewish Identity in Their Grandchildren.
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...
Kerry M. Olitzky is the Executive Director of the Jewish Outreach Institute, a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
independent organization dedicated to bringing Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
to interfaith
Interfaith
The term interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative, constructive and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels...
families and the unaffiliated.
Career
Formerly, he served as vice president of the Wexner Heritage FoundationWexner Foundation
The Wexner Foundation is a charitable organization designed to enhance Jewish leadership founded by Leslie Wexner, CEO of Limited Brands and his wife, Abigail Wexner in Columbus, Ohio...
, the premier adult Jewish learning and Jewish leadership program in North America. Previously, he was national Dean of Adult Jewish Learning and Living of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
where he served on the faculty and administration for 15 years following his tenure at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
.
Rabbi Olitzky is a leader in the development of innovative Jewish education, particularly for adults, he has shaped training programs for clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
of all faiths, especially in the area of pastoral care and counseling in the Jewish community. He has done pioneering work in the area of Jewish Twelve Step spirituality, as well as Jewish Gerontology
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
. Rabbi Olitzky also serves as a fellow and consultant to Synagogue 3000 and is a partner with the Kalsman Institute on Judaism and Health at HUC-JIR.
Commentaries
Together with professor Leonard S. Kravitz, Olitzky has authored a series of Tanakh commentariesJewish commentaries on the Bible
This article describes the first printing of the Hebrew Bible with major Jewish commentaries, notes concerning translations into Aramaic and English, lists some universally accepted Jewish commentaries with notes on their method of approach and lists modern translations into English with notes.-...
. Their commentaries draw on classical Jewish works such as the Mishnah
Mishnah
The Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
, Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, Targum
Targum
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
s, the midrash
Midrash
The Hebrew term Midrash is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible....
literature, and also the classical Jewish bible commentators such as Gersonides
Gersonides
Levi ben Gershon, better known by his Latinised name as Gersonides or the abbreviation of first letters as RaLBaG , philosopher, Talmudist, mathematician, astronomer/astrologer. He was born at Bagnols in Languedoc, France...
, Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
and Abraham ibn Ezra
Abraham ibn Ezra
Rabbi Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra was born at Tudela, Navarre in 1089, and died c. 1167, apparently in Calahorra....
. These commentaries take into account modern scholarship; while these books take note of some findings of higher textual criticism, these are not academic books using source criticism to deconstruct the Tanakh. Rather, their purpose is educational, and Jewishly inspirational, and as such do not follow the path of classical Reform scholars, or the more secular projects such as the Anchor Bible series. The books also add a layer of commentary by modern day rabbis. These books are published by the Union for Reform Judaism
Union for Reform Judaism
The Union for Reform Judaism , formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations , is an organization which supports Reform Jewish congregations in North America. The current President is Rabbi Eric H...
. Commentaries in this series now include Jonah, Lamentations, Ruth, the Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs.
Works
Olitzky is a contributing editor for Shma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility and is also the author of many books and articles in a variety of fields.Among his most recent publications are:
- The Rituals and Practices of a Jewish Life: A Handbook for Personal Spiritual Renewal, with Dan Judson (Jewish Lights);
- The Book of Proverbs with Leonard Kravitz(UAHC Press);
- A Successful Jewish Interfaith Marriage: The Jewish Outreach Institute Guide to Opportunities, Challenges, and Resources with Joan Peterson Littman (Jewish Lights), and
- My Faith and Community: The Jewish Outreach Institute Guide for the Christian in an Interfaith Marriage (Jewish Lights).
Shorter articles include:
- Public Space Judaism Contact: The Journal of the Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation. Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life. Fall 2009: 10--11.
- Keep Our Shuls Safe But Still Friendly, with Edward M. Feinstein, Jewish Journal, September 17, 2008
- Synagogue: A New Concept for a New Age, Journal of Jewish Communal Service, Vol. 62/No. 1, 1985.
- and more.
His new translations of the Book of Ruth and the Book of Jonah were co-authored with Leonard Kravitz (URJ Press). His most recent publication is a joint project with JOI's Associate Executive Director, Paul Golin, entitled 20 Things for Grandparents of Interfaith Grandchildren to Do (And Not Do) to Nurture Jewish Identity in Their Grandchildren.