Meet Rachelle Fox
AJRCA Class of 2026 Cantorial Ordainee
“As a cantor I hope to bring people together in the joy of singing, no matter their ability, and to help them realize that we’re more alike than we are different.”
With the ceremony approaching, what emotions are you feeling?
I’m SO excited to be finishing after 9 years in school while working full time. There will always be more to learn, but I’m excited about what will open up for me in “just” doing the job and not also being in school.
What is one lesson from your Academy experience that you will take with you after graduation?
To never underestimate one’s capacity to learn, no matter what age. To never be afraid to say, “I don’t know” and be open to learning.
Is there anything you learned at AJRCA that truly surprised you?
That I like writing and delivering sermons, (even though they still scare me).
If you could go back in time and tell your pre-AJRCA self one thing, what would that be?
You’re going to be better at this than you think is possible and you’re going to love this work more than you can imagine.
Meet Dr. Eliyahu Krigel
AJRCA Class of 2026 Rabbinical Ordainee
“As a rabbi graduate, I aspire to be there in mind, body, and spirit for all those I’m honored to serve with patience and understanding as I continue on my own Jewish journey of self-discovery and awakening.”
With the ceremony approaching, what emotions are you feeling?
I’m really excited to graduate. I’m filled with gratitude as the ceremony approaches. A few weeks ago, I was feeling very ready to complete this incredible program but now with graduation only a few weeks away, I’m now savoring every last minute of being enveloped in this community as a student. I’m so thankful for all I’ve learned and feel prepared to take this next step in my journey.
What is one lesson from your Academy experience that you will take with you after graduation?
There are many lessons and experiences I will take with me after graduation. I will remember Rabbi Serr and his teaching about the letters of Emet (Truth) being mixed up in the first three words of the Torah and then only coming into alignment when Shabbat is given in the last three words of Genesis 2:3.
Is there anything you learned at AJRCA that truly surprised you?
Many lessons and experiences truly surprised me during these past 8 years. At first, I was reluctant to attend the retreat in person. After Covid I thought I could get the same kind of experience if I just participated online instead of in person. Traveling was expensive and it didn’t seem worth it to travel to LA just for 3 days when the first and last day were basically traveling days. I was wrong. I’m so glad I started going to the in-person residency retreats in 2022. I have learned so much from being in the same space as my colleagues and teachers. I’m so grateful for the retreats because they make the whole experience come together in a powerful way.
If you could go back in time and tell your pre-AJRCA self one thing, what would that be?
I would tell myself to start taking Hebrew my first year instead of waiting until I was in the middle of the program to start taking Hebrew. Breaking the “Sefer Barrier” is so critical in our work. I’m grateful to be able to now read and study the sources in the primary language.
Meet Maayan Lev
AJRCA Class of 2026 Rabbinical Ordainee
“As a rabbi, I hope to bring light to people who feel like the odds are stacked against them.”
With the ceremony approaching, what emotions are you feeling?
I am feeling very relieved that my ordination is approaching. I know that the learning is never really complete, but it seems there have been obstacles to my ordination at every turn. AJRCA has been very generous and patient with me in helping me overcome these obstacles, but the outcome was often in doubt for me. Now that I know I have completed all of the requirements, I am very proud to have weathered the storm and come out a rabbi on the other side.
With the ceremony approaching, what emotions are you feeling?
I am feeling very relieved that my ordination is approaching. I know that the learning is never really complete, but it seems there have been obstacles to my ordination at every turn. AJRCA has been very generous and patient with me in helping me overcome these obstacles, but the outcome was often in doubt for me. Now that I know I have completed all of the requirements, I am very proud to have weathered the storm and come out a rabbi on the other side.
What is one lesson from your Academy experience that you will take with you after graduation?
The best position to seek is not always the one that pays the most, the one closest to home, or even the one closest in spirituality to your own personal Judaism. It is the one that is most accommodating to your needs and gives you the biggest chance to make a difference.
Is there anything you learned at AJRCA that truly surprised you?
I am very big on details. Regardless of my personal practice, I always want to learn all of the standard details and all of the halachot surrounding an issue. It surprised me however, that I found it so rewarding to be given the opportunity to personalize several prayers while at AJRCA. I doubt I will use these prayers at work, but I did not go to rabbinical school just for professional purposes. AJRCA gave me a greater sense of personal spirituality.
If you could go back in time and tell your pre-AJRCA self one thing, what would that be?
Don’t be in a hurry to finish. Nothing meaningful happens overnight. Just because you did not get ordained a certain year does not mean you had nothing to show for that year. Do it the meaningful way, not the fast way.
Meet Chaplain Ian Perry
AJRCA Class of 2026 Rabbinical Ordainee
“As Rabbi and teacher, I intend to help others find belonging and understanding through engagement with Torah and Jewish community. The tent of my rabbinate will be like Abraham and Sarah’s, open on all sides, welcoming those who seek meaning and connection.”
With the ceremony approaching, what emotions are you feeling?
I feel excitement, anxiety, gratitude, and some sadness. Excitement at anticipating this momentous occasion, anxiety about finishing everything that needs to be done before the big day, and a bit of sadness at this chapter of my life coming to an end.
What is one lesson from your Academy experience that you will take with you after graduation?
Being at a transdenominational institution has definitely taught me the value of religious pluralism, and how much we can learn from people who approach Judaism from different perspectives than we do.
Is there anything you learned at AJRCA that truly surprised you?
I think what surprised me is how much I have come to love learning Torah, in the broadest sense of the word. When I was in the chaplaincy program at AJRCA, I was intimidated by the idea of someday entering the rabbinic program and thought the depth of study would be beyond me, but I have found that the last five years have been full of engaging, nourishing, and exciting learning experiences.
If you could go back in time and tell your pre-AJRCA self one thing, what would that be?
You are supposed to be a rabbi. You might not feel ready yet, but someday you will.
Meet Rabbi Eve Rothstein
AJRCA Class of 2026 Chaplaincy Graduate
“As a chaplain, rabbi, and spiritual counselor guided by Hasidic thought, I hope to continue accompanying others from darkness to light — offering comfort, spiritual nourishment, and renewal — reconnecting them with the divine sparks within and around them, as they rediscover the joy, love, and wisdom their souls remember. Along the way, I love creating joyful, creative opportunities for that connection to come alive — whether through wonder-filled, color-drenched Holi-inspired events, Kirtans, or deep mystical conversations that open the heart. I’m here for the conversations we don’t always know how to begin — about our souls, the afterlife, and the connections that continue across worlds. I hope to keep holding space for the spiritual dimensions of life we don’t often name — and I’m always here for those who feel called to explore them.”
With the ceremony approaching, what emotions are you feeling?
I feel a mix of excitement to venture out into the world and see what the next chapter holds for me post-graduation. I’m also deeply grateful for my studies, and I know I’m going to miss being a student. It’s been a tremendous honor to learn such sacred subjects from teachers who really pushed me to grow.
What is one lesson from your Academy experience that you will take with you after graduation?
I’ve learned that there’s a lesson in everything. Sometimes the lessons are obvious, but sometimes it’s through frustration, pressure, struggle, or discomfort that the biggest growth happens. I’ve learned to look for the reshimu — the residual trace of divine light that lingers even after darkness sets in — because no moment is ever truly empty of meaning. If we look hard enough, there is always something there.
Is there anything you learned at AJRCA that truly surprised you?
I was surprised by how much I came to appreciate and love studying the Talmud. I arrived thinking it was the writing I connected with the least, because I didn’t believe it had mystical content — boy, was I wrong. Now I make it a goal to see what the Talmud says about the issues I care deeply about. It pushes me to think differently, outside the box — to ask, to question, to see things from different perspectives. What a tremendous gift.
If you could go back in time and tell your pre-AJRCA self one thing, what would that be?
You’re on the right path.
Thank you to share all your stories.
I will take all the information and learning from it as well as it will help me to prepare for my future with AJRCA.