Hashpa’ah, ALEPH’s Program for training and ordaining a Mashpia/Jewish Spiritual Director, graduated its third cohort Saturday evening, January 11, 2014. The role of the mashpia/h is to serve as spiritual counselor and guide to those seeking deeper closeness with the Sacred. Blessings were given to the ordinees by our Rebbe, Rabbi Dr. Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, as well as by the Program’s Founder, Director and Rosh Hashpa’ah Rabbi Dr. Shohama Wiener; Associate Director Nadya Gross; and the Mashpia Faculty.

The new spiritual directors are Rabbi Aura Ahuvia, David Aladjem, Rabbi Ilan Glazer, Rabbi Cynthia Joy Hoffman, Nalini Indorf-Kaplan, Evan Krame, Eliana Nadyne Lee, David Evan Markus, Shira Michael, Rabbi Sue Morningstar, Rabbinic Pastor Stephanie Tivona Reith, Rabbi Dr. Leslie Schotz, and Lori Shaller. In addition, Rabbi Dr. Steven Silvern honored Rabbi Dr. Leslie Schotz as the first HASHPA’AH ordinee to earn a D.Min. in Spiritual Direction through ALEPH’s joint program with New York Theological Seminary.

The ceremony was inspirational to all, especially to those who had just begun Cohort IV under the leadership of Rabbi Nadya Gross, Director, and Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Associate Director.