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{{Short description|American rabbi and nonprofit executive}}
{{Advert|date=September 2019}}
{{Advert|date=September 2019}}

[[Rabbi]] '''Kerry M. Olitzky''' is an Associate at Mersky, Jaffe & Associates, a firm that specializes in financial resource development and executive search solutions for the nonprofit community. He was previously the Executive Director of Big Tent Judaism (formerly known as the Jewish Outreach Institute), a [[United States]] independent organization dedicated to bringing [[Judaism]] to [[interfaith]] families and the unaffiliated.
[[Rabbi]] '''Kerry M. Olitzky''' is an Associate at Mersky, Jaffe & Associates, a firm that specializes in financial resource development and executive search solutions for the nonprofit community. He has previously been the Executive Director of Big Tent Judaism<ref>{{cite web | last=Lewis | first=Meredith Kesner | title=Big Tent Judaism | website=My Jewish Learning | date=2007-10-09 | url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/2007/10/09/big-tent-judaism/ | access-date=2023-12-21}}</ref> (formerly known as the Jewish Outreach Institute), a [[United States]] independent organization dedicated to bringing [[Judaism]] to [[Interfaith dialogue|interfaith]] families and the unaffiliated.


==Education==
==Education==
He was born in [[Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania (1954). Heearned his B.A. (1974) and M.A. (1975) from the [[University of South Florida]]. He received his [[Master's degree|M.H.L.]] from [[Hebrew Union College]] in 1980, where he was [[semicha|ordained]] in 1981 and earned a [[doctorate|D.H.L.]] in 1985.<ref>[https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/olitzky-kerry-m OLITZKY, KERRY M], jewishvirtuallibrary.org</ref>
He was born in [[Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania (1954). He earned his B.A. (1974) and M.A. (1975) from the [[University of South Florida]]. He received his [[Master's degree|M.H.L.]] from [[Hebrew Union College]] in 1980, where he was [[semicha|ordained]] in 1981 and earned a [[doctorate|D.H.L.]] in 1985.<ref>[https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/olitzky-kerry-m OLITZKY, KERRY M], jewishvirtuallibrary.org</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Formerly, he served as vice president of the [[Wexner Foundation|Wexner Heritage Foundation]], an adult Jewish education and leadership program in North America. Previously, he was national Dean of Adult Jewish Learning and Living of the [[Hebrew Union College|Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion]] where he served on the faculty and administration for 15 years following his tenure at [[Congregation Beth Israel (West Hartford, Connecticut)|Congregation Beth Israel]] in [[West Hartford, Connecticut]].
Formerly, he served as vice president of the [[Wexner Foundation|Wexner Heritage Foundation]], an adult Jewish education and leadership program in North America. Previously, he was national Dean of Adult Jewish Learning and Living of the [[Hebrew Union College|Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion]] where he served on the faculty and administration for 15 years following his tenure at [[Congregation Beth Israel (West Hartford, Connecticut)|Congregation Beth Israel]] in [[West Hartford, Connecticut]].


Rabbi Olitzky is a leader in the development of innovative Jewish education, particularly for adults, he has shaped training programs for [[clergy]] of all faiths, especially in the area of pastoral care and counseling in the Jewish community. He has done pioneering work in the area of Jewish [[Twelve Step]] spirituality, as well as Jewish [[Gerontology]].
Rabbi Olitzky is a leader in the development of Jewish education, particularly for adults. He has shaped training programs for [[clergy]] of all faiths, especially in the area of pastoral care and counseling in the Jewish community. He has done pioneering work in the area of Jewish Twelve Step spirituality, as well as Jewish [[Gerontology]].<ref name="official-website">{{cite web | last=| first= | title=The Library and Studio of Kerry Olitzky - Background| website= | date=2007-02-26 | url=https://kerryolitzky.com/ | access-date=2023-12-21}}</ref>


==Commentaries==
==Commentaries==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=December 2023}}
Together with professor [[Leonard S. Kravitz]], Olitzky has authored a series of [[Jewish commentaries on the Bible|Tanakh commentaries]]. Their commentaries draw on classical Jewish works such as the ''[[Mishnah]]'', ''[[Talmud]]'', ''[[Targum]]s'', the ''[[midrash]]'' literature, classical Jewish bible commentators such as [[Gersonides]], [[Rashi]] and [[Abraham ibn Ezra]], modern-day rabbis, and [[Higher criticism|higher textual criticism]], but are not academic books using source criticism to deconstruct the ''Tanakh''. The authors claim that they do not follow either the path of classical Reform scholars or more secular projects such as the Anchor Bible series. These books are distributed by Behrman House. Commentaries in this series now include Ecclesiastes, Esther, Jonah, Lamentations, Proverbs, Ruth, and the Song of Songs. The Olitzky-Kravitz writing team has also done commentaries on Pirke Avot and Shemonah Perakim, along with a collection of source material on Teshuva called "Journey of the Soul."
Together with professor Leonard S. Kravitz, Olitzky has authored a series of [[Jewish commentaries on the Bible|Tanakh commentaries]]. Their commentaries draw on classical Jewish works such as the ''[[Mishnah]]'', ''[[Talmud]]'', ''[[Targum]]s'', the ''[[midrash]]'' literature, classical Jewish bible commentators such as [[Gersonides]], [[Rashi]] and [[Abraham ibn Ezra]], modern-day rabbis, and [[Higher criticism|higher textual criticism]], but are not academic books using source criticism to deconstruct the ''Tanakh''. The authors claim that they do not follow either the path of classical Reform scholars or more secular projects such as the Anchor Bible series. These books are distributed by Behrman House. Commentaries in this series now include Ecclesiastes, Esther, Jonah, Lamentations, Proverbs, Ruth, and the Song of Songs. The Olitzky-Kravitz writing team has also done commentaries on Pirke Avot and Shemonah Perakim, along with a collection of source material on Teshuva called "Journey of the Soul."


==Works==
==Works==
Olitzky is a former contributing editor for ''Shma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility'' and is also the author of over 75 books and hundreds of articles in a variety of fields.
Olitzky is a former contributing editor for ''Shma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility'' and is also the author of over 75 books and hundreds of articles in a variety of fields. Among his publications are:


*''The Littlest Candle: A Hanukkah Story'', with Jesse Olitzky (Kalaniot Books)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Children's Book Review: The Littlest Candle: A Hanukkah Story by Kerry Olitzky and Jesse Olitzky, illus. by Jen Kostman. Kalaniot, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-9988527-5-1|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-9988527-5-1|access-date=2021-11-24|website=PublishersWeekly.com|language=en}}</ref>
Among his most recent publications are:
*''The Candy Man Mystery (''Kalaniot Books)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-20|title=Children's Literature: The Candy Man Mystery|url=https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2021/05/20/childrens-literature-the-candy-man-mystery/|access-date=2021-11-24|website=San Diego Jewish World|language=en-US}}</ref>
*''The Littlest Candle: A Hanukkah Story'', with Jesse Olitzky (Kalaniot Books)
*''An Invitation to Passover'', written with Rabbi Debra Biden Cohen. (Kalaniot Books)[https://www.sydneytaylorshmooze.com/2023/03/review-invitation-to-passover.html?m=1]
*''Where is the Potty on this Ark?'' (Kar Ben Publishing)
*''Where is the Potty on this Ark?'' (Kar Ben Publishing)
*''Welcome to the Seder'', A Passover Haggadah (Behrman House)
*''Welcome to the Seder'', A Passover Haggadah (Behrman House)
*''The Book of Job: A Modern Translation and Commentary'' with Leonard S. Kravitz (Wipf and Stock)
*''The Book of Job: A Modern Translation and Commentary'' with Leonard S. Kravitz (Wipf and Stock)
*''The Rituals and Practices of a Jewish Life: A Handbook for Personal Spiritual Renewal'', with Dan Judson (Jewish Lights);
*''The Rituals and Practices of a Jewish Life: A Handbook for Personal Spiritual Renewal'', with Dan Judson (Jewish Lights);


Shorter articles include:
Shorter articles include:
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*''[http://www.bjpa.org/Publications/details.cfm?PublicationID=403 Synagogue: A New Concept for a New Age]'', Journal of Jewish Communal Service, Vol. 62/No. 1, 1985.
*''[http://www.bjpa.org/Publications/details.cfm?PublicationID=403 Synagogue: A New Concept for a New Age]'', Journal of Jewish Communal Service, Vol. 62/No. 1, 1985.
* [http://search.bjpa.org/search?client=default_frontend&output=xml_no_dtd&proxystylesheet=default_frontend&filter=0&getfields=*&q=Kerry++Olitzky&partialfields=author:Kerry.author:Olitzky&num=100&lind=0&ie=UTF-8&ip=128.122.242.154&access=p&entqr=3&oe=UTF-8&ud=1&sort=date%3AD%3AS%3Ad1 and more].
* [http://search.bjpa.org/search?client=default_frontend&output=xml_no_dtd&proxystylesheet=default_frontend&filter=0&getfields=*&q=Kerry++Olitzky&partialfields=author:Kerry.author:Olitzky&num=100&lind=0&ie=UTF-8&ip=128.122.242.154&access=p&entqr=3&oe=UTF-8&ud=1&sort=date%3AD%3AS%3Ad1 and more].

==External links==
* [https://kerryolitzky.com/ The Library and Studio of Kerry Olitzky]
* [https://www.bjpa.org/bjpa/search-results?search=Kerry+Olitzky Olitzky's article] at the [[Berman Jewish Policy Archive]]
* [https://mochajuden.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Ten-Principles-of-Big-tent-JudaIsm.pdf Ten Principles of Big tent JudaIsm], Olitzky's outreach organization (which has since closed)


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{BLP primary sources|date=August 2007}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Olitzky, Kerry}}
[[Category:American Reform rabbis]]
[[Category:American Reform rabbis]]
[[Category:Jewish American writers]]
[[Category:Jewish American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:21st-century American rabbis]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]

Latest revision as of 09:31, 22 June 2024

Rabbi Kerry M. Olitzky is an Associate at Mersky, Jaffe & Associates, a firm that specializes in financial resource development and executive search solutions for the nonprofit community. He has previously been the Executive Director of Big Tent Judaism[1] (formerly known as the Jewish Outreach Institute), a United States independent organization dedicated to bringing Judaism to interfaith families and the unaffiliated.

Education

[edit]

He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1954). He earned his B.A. (1974) and M.A. (1975) from the University of South Florida. He received his M.H.L. from Hebrew Union College in 1980, where he was ordained in 1981 and earned a D.H.L. in 1985.[2]

Career

[edit]

Formerly, he served as vice president of the Wexner Heritage Foundation, an adult Jewish education and leadership program in North America. Previously, he was national Dean of Adult Jewish Learning and Living of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion where he served on the faculty and administration for 15 years following his tenure at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Rabbi Olitzky is a leader in the development of Jewish education, particularly for adults. He has shaped training programs for clergy of all faiths, especially in the area of pastoral care and counseling in the Jewish community. He has done pioneering work in the area of Jewish Twelve Step spirituality, as well as Jewish Gerontology.[3]

Commentaries

[edit]

Together with professor Leonard S. Kravitz, Olitzky has authored a series of Tanakh commentaries. Their commentaries draw on classical Jewish works such as the Mishnah, Talmud, Targums, the midrash literature, classical Jewish bible commentators such as Gersonides, Rashi and Abraham ibn Ezra, modern-day rabbis, and higher textual criticism, but are not academic books using source criticism to deconstruct the Tanakh. The authors claim that they do not follow either the path of classical Reform scholars or more secular projects such as the Anchor Bible series. These books are distributed by Behrman House. Commentaries in this series now include Ecclesiastes, Esther, Jonah, Lamentations, Proverbs, Ruth, and the Song of Songs. The Olitzky-Kravitz writing team has also done commentaries on Pirke Avot and Shemonah Perakim, along with a collection of source material on Teshuva called "Journey of the Soul."

Works

[edit]

Olitzky is a former contributing editor for Shma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility and is also the author of over 75 books and hundreds of articles in a variety of fields. Among his publications are:

  • The Littlest Candle: A Hanukkah Story, with Jesse Olitzky (Kalaniot Books)[4]
  • The Candy Man Mystery (Kalaniot Books)[5]
  • An Invitation to Passover, written with Rabbi Debra Biden Cohen. (Kalaniot Books)[1]
  • Where is the Potty on this Ark? (Kar Ben Publishing)
  • Welcome to the Seder, A Passover Haggadah (Behrman House)
  • The Book of Job: A Modern Translation and Commentary with Leonard S. Kravitz (Wipf and Stock)
  • The Rituals and Practices of a Jewish Life: A Handbook for Personal Spiritual Renewal, with Dan Judson (Jewish Lights);

Shorter articles include:

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lewis, Meredith Kesner (2007-10-09). "Big Tent Judaism". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  2. ^ OLITZKY, KERRY M, jewishvirtuallibrary.org
  3. ^ "The Library and Studio of Kerry Olitzky - Background". 2007-02-26. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  4. ^ "Children's Book Review: The Littlest Candle: A Hanukkah Story by Kerry Olitzky and Jesse Olitzky, illus. by Jen Kostman. Kalaniot, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-9988527-5-1". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  5. ^ "Children's Literature: The Candy Man Mystery". San Diego Jewish World. 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
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