On Friday, our Stephen Wise Temple Shabbat Evening Services will honor the contributions of Rabbi Karen Strok, who will be stepping down as Director of the Stephen Wise Temple Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning.

We hope you will join us for the in-person outdoor service on Nahmias Plaza (or streaming live online at WiseLA.org/Online), as we pay tribute to Rabbi Strok for her tireless 12 years of service to the Melton program. You can RSVP here, and leave a special message for Rabbi Strok.

Combining her gift for helping create and foster caring communities with her passion for adult Jewish education, Rabbi Strok became the founding director of the Wise Melton School in 2010. She looks forward to continuing to facilitate Mussar learning communities through Stephen Wise Temple in the future.

In 2016, under Rabbi Strok’s direction, our Wise Melton School received the prestigious Florence Melton Award presented by Judy Mars Kupchan, CEO of the worldwide Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning. In her remarks, Mars wrote that, “Among our 50 schools, this is a very coveted recognition in tribute to the outstanding model that you have created at Stephen Wise Temple.”

A passionate educator, Rabbi Strok has worked with HUC alumni and professional organizations, teaching and mentoring the next generation of Jewish professionals for over 20 years. Though she will be stepping aside as Director of the Melton School, we look forward to Rabbi Strok’s continued involvement with our Stephen Wise community.