Rabbi Michael Ragozin’s work as a teacher and as a faith leader at Congregation Shirat Hayam has earned him a national fellowship that will make his voice heard during academic debates on Jewish history and culture.
Rabbi Ragozin was invited by the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies to join its “America’s Jewish Questions” discussion in conjunction with The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL).
The Katz Center is based at the University of Pennsylvania, where the motto for its academic fellowship is LEAP, which stands for leverage, expand and popularize.
“In this extraordinary time, I am honored to be a 2020-2021 LEAP Fellow and eager to join my colleagues in learning about and discussing this year’s theme, America’s Jewish Questions,” said Rabbi Ragozin.
As a Rabbi Samuel T. Lachs Fellow for 2020-2021, Rabbi Ragozin will participate in conference discussions into some of the most pressing debates within US history and Jewish history, according to a statement provided by the Katz Center.
“Scholars will direct their attention to the diversity of Jewish practices, politics, and peoples, reconsidering many of the basic assumptions and concepts that have shaped the study of American Jews.
This theme provides the perfect opportunity for rabbis, already in positions of leadership and influence, to more effectively and meaningfully serve the thousands of people in their networks,” the statement read.
Rabbi Ragozin began his tenure at Congregation Shirat Hayam in July 2015, according to the Congregation website. He previously led Congregation Sha’are Shalom in Leesburg, Va., where membership increased by 32 percent and religious school enrollment by 80 percent during his seven-year tenure.
Rabbi Ragozin was a baker as a boy and taught mathematics among his work experiences before embarking on rabbinical life. The rabbi and his wife, Sarah, have three children.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is a change accelerator. Trends that may have taken years to materialize have been foisted upon us overnight,” said Rabbi Ragozin.
“We are deeply proud to have launched this boundary crossing initiative which brings together leading rabbis from across the nation and outstanding academics from around world, empowering all of them to contribute, lead, and serve ever more widely; and we are especially proud that Rabbi Ragozin will be joining us in this year’s cohort as he is one of the nation’s outstanding congregational rabbis,” said Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, CLAL President.
