ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal and the ALEPH Ordination Program (AOP) Governors are delighted to announce the appointment of Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan-Kaplan as AOP’s new Dean. Rabbi Laura will assume her role on Sept. 8, 2025, ushering in an exciting new era for the seminary’s mission to cultivate spiritually vibrant, forward-thinking and inclusive Jewish leaders.

Following the visionary leadership of AOP’s retired founding dean Rabbi Marcia Prager, and two years of transformative direction by Interim Dean Dr. Charles H. Silverstein, the AOP Governors are pleased to welcome Rabbi Laura into this vital role.

“On behalf of the AOP Governors, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Rabbi Marcia Prager and Dr. Charles Silverstein for laying the groundwork that has made this transition possible,” said Rabbi Jeff Roth, Chair of the AOP Governors and member of the ALEPH Board of Directors. “We are excited to begin this new chapter with Rabbi Laura, whose extraordinary scholarship, teaching gifts and passion for Jewish Renewal will strengthen and inspire our community.”

A scholar, teacher and spiritual leader known for integrating mind and heart, Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan-Kaplan brings decades of experience in Jewish studies, interfaith dialogue and rabbinic education. Most recently, Rabbi Laura was Professor of Jewish Studies, Director of Inter-religious Studies, and Interim Academic Dean at the Vancouver School of Theology. Ordained by ALEPH in 2005, she has served as AOP faculty, a member of the Va’ad–the core administrative and organizational council that directs the seminary–and is Rabbi Emerita of Or Shalom Synagogue in Vancouver.

“I’m excited to deepen my ongoing relationship with Jewish Renewal, walk in the path of my teachers, share my lifelong love of education with ALEPH and find support in our strong spiritual community of faculty, staff and students,” Rabbi Laura said.

Rabbi Laura’s appointment reflects ALEPH’s continued commitment to excellence in Jewish leadership education and the cultivation of spiritual leaders equipped to serve diverse communities with wisdom, compassion and creativity.

Her many honors include the American Academy of Religion’s Katie Geneva Cannon Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Carnegie Foundation’s U.S. Professor of the Year Award. A prolific author and editor, she has published 10 books, most recently Mouth of the Donkey: Re-imagining Biblical Animals and The Infinity Inside: Jewish Spiritual Practice Through a Multi-faith Lens.

Born in New York City, Rabbi Laura is a dual Canadian-American citizen and lives in Vancouver with her spouse, musician and retired psychologist Charles Kaplan.

For more information about the ALEPH Ordination Program, visit https://aop.aleph.org.