We are thrilled to be welcoming two Rabbinic candidates to visit the OJC for respective Shabbatot: Rabbi Anina Dassa on February 14-16 and Rabbi Claire Shoyer on February 21-23.

We will distribute detailed schedules and opportunities to RSVP in advance of their visits, but each visit will include the following.

FRIDAY

(February 14 & February 21)

5:45 PM - EKS service for families with young children, during which the candidate will read a story to our preschool-3rd graders, followed by dinner

6:30 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Services, during which the candidate will share a D’var Tefillah with the congregation

SATURDAY

(February 15 & February 22)

9:30 AM - Shabbat Morning Service, during which the candidate will chant the seventh/maftir aliyah and share a D’var Torah with the congregation

Kiddush Luncheon following Services

1:00 PM - Teen Tisch, during which the candidate will lead our teens (8th-12th) in an activity or discussion

5:30 PM - Family program, during which the candidate will lead our older Kulanu students (4th-7th) and their parents in an interactive program

6:20 PM - Havdalah, during which the candidate will lead our congregation

SUNDAY

(February 16 & February 23)

10:30 AM - Adult Education Class, during which the candidate will facilitate learning on a topic of their choice or parashat ha’shavuah over coffee and light snacks

Rabbi Anina Dassa

February 14-16

Anina Dassa is a rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary and a recipient of the Nachshon Graduate Fellowship. Anina grew up in Los Angeles, where she attended and worked at Camp Ramah in California for a total of 14 years. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2018 with a BFA in Interarts Performance, an interdisciplinary degree from the School of Art & Design and the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Anina has studied as a year-long fellow at Yeshivat Hadar and was a preschool teacher at the Chabad of Tribeca. Since starting rabbinical school, Anina received the Slifka-Nadich Fellowship and served as the Rabbinic Intern at Princeton University. She also served as the Chaplain Intern at JASA Geriatric Mental Health Clinic. Currently, Anina serves as the Rabbinic Fellow at B’nai Jeshurun in NYC.

Rabbi Claire Shoyer

February 21-23

Claire Shoyer is a fifth-year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary pursuing her MA in Midrash. Originally from Massachusetts, Claire received her BA in Communications from the University of Pennsylvania. She is in her second year as the rabbinic intern at the Westchester Jewish Center in Mamaroneck, NY, with a focus on adult education. She has worked with youth of all ages at Camp Ramah New England, and she has supported Jewish students as a rabbinic intern at the University of Maryland, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Virginia. Claire is a trained Mikveh guide and recently became the first woman to receive certification for the kosher slaughter of fowl and cattle.