Myra’s Angels

Dr. Leonard Blank

Leonard Blank Psychotherapist, university faculty member, author, and noted figure in his field, 90 Leonard Blank, 90, of Princeton, N.J., passed away at home, surrounded by loved ones. Leonard Blank was a significant member of the professional psychological community. He was certified in psychoanalysis 1968, postdoctoral fellow in clinical psychology at Stanford University, 1955, Ph.D. in clinical research at N.Y.U., 1955, diplomate in clinical psychology, licensed MFT, and president of Princeton Association of Human Resources. Dr. Blank was an adjunct professor at Union Graduate School, Antioch College, associate professor at Rutgers University, assistant professor of psychology and chief of psychological services, Stanford Medical School. Dr. Blank was president of the N.J. Group Psychotherapy Association in 1974, and a longstanding member of the APA in New Jersey and New York. He authored innumerable publications, texts including "The Age of Shrinks, Psychology for Everyday Living, and Change: Components of Behavioral Modification," and novels including "The Diogenes Group and Chinese Paper." Dr. Blank was in private practice in New York City, N.Y., Kingston, N.J., and Princeton, N.J.

Published in Star-Ledger on Jan. 14, 2018

Rabbi Marcia Prager

Marcia Prager is a rabbi, artist, liturgist and therapist, living and working in the West Mt. Airy community of Philadelphia. She is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia where she received Rabbinic ordination and a Master of Hebrew Letters degree in 1989, and a D.Min honoris causa in 2014.  In 1990, she also received the personal smicha (rabbinic ordination) of her mentor and teacher, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi z”l, with whom she continued to work closely for over twenty years. In 2010, Rabbi Marcia was selected by the Jewish Daily Forward as one of the Top Fifty Female Rabbis.

Rabbi Marcia serves as rabbi of the P'nai Or Jewish Renewal Congregation of Philadelphia, the innovative congregation founded by Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi in 1973, and was the founding rabbi of a sister congregation, P'nai Or of Princeton, New Jersey, which she served for thirteen years.

After receiving smicha from Reb Zalman they began to deepen their professional and mentorship relationship and Rabbi Marcia began to work closely with ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, the national organization that grew out of Reb Zalman’s life-work to promote the renewal of Judaism as a spiritual path.  She was initially appointed a Pathfinder and Director of Professional Development for ALEPH and then in partnership with Reb Zalman, began to transition his private project of training and ordaining his inner circle of students into a formal seminary: The ALEPH Ordination Program, which she now serves as Director and Dean. The ALEPH Ordination Program is an innovative seminary that trains rabbis, cantors, rabbinic pastors and mashpi’im (spiritual directors) with a rigorous curriculum that combines distance learning and intnsive retreat-based courses and practica. There currently are over 80 students enrolled in these combined programs making the AOP the largest rigorous liberal seminary in America.  On Tikkun Magazine's 25th anniversary, Rabbi Marcia was awarded the Tikkun Prize in recognition for her work as director of this groundbreaking program.

Her groundbreaking book, The Path of Blessing (Bell Tower, Nov. '98, Jewish Lights 2004) is modeled on the style of a “hasidic sefer,” and is an exploration of the Jewish practice of blessing. Reform Judaism magazine (Fall 99. vol 28) called it “one of the best introductions to Jewish Renewal and its approach to Jewish learning and practice.”

Rabbi Prager's current work includes spiritual counseling and teaching, emphasizing the wisdom of  Jewish tradition and Jewish spiritual practice as a path to personal growth and world healing. She works with a wide range of students, teaching classes in Jewish spirituality in local programs, and at Isabella Freedman/Hazon Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut.  Here, along with Rabbi Shawn Zevit she co-directs The Davvenen' Leadership Training Institute, a two-year training program for rabbis, cantors and lay congregational leaders in the art of public prayer. Now entering its eighteenth year, this program has trained nearly 400 Jewish prayer leaders from across the Jewish denominational spectrum.

In 2009 Rabbi Marcia became a RWB Fellow when she joined the first cohort of the innovative program Rabbis Without Borders – the first interdenominational Rabbinic Network in America. The rabbis in the RWB Network are committed to serving people wherever they may be, and share their Torah in pluralistic, innovative ways grounded by a sense of service to all. She is the only rabbi to have attended and completed the Billy Graham week-long training program for evangelical, born-again Christian ministers which she attended in order to immerse in the world of this faith path and hone her interfaith dialogue skills.  Rabbi Prager also returns regularly to teach Jewish spirituality at Calling Lakes Christian Training Centre, a retreat center of the United Church of Canada.

Rabbi Marcia’s formal education has given her a broad background for her work. Her undergraduate work was in Cultural Anthropology with a specialty in Native American tribal traditions, and in Fine Art. She earned her B.A. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1972 and went on to study studio art at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she was awarded a Master of Fine Arts Degree in 1974, with specialties in Photography and Drawing.  As a professional artist, she worked primarily in black-and-white photography, exhibiting and teaching both in university and private gallery settings. Her work was described as “deeply affecting our opinion concerning the structure and meaning of visual experience.” She taught for five years at the International Center of Photography in Manhattan, before leaving that field to pursue full-time work in Jewish communal service and Jewish studies.

Rabbi Marcia lives with her husband, Hazzan Jack Kessler, a traditionally trained Cantor, JTS graduate, and active Jewish musician. He is the director the ALEPH Cantorial Program, teaches nusach and hazzanut to cantorial students, and is a master vocal coach. In addition, he directs two dynamic music ensembles: ATZILUT: Concerts for Peace, a nine-member ensemble that brings Arab and Jewish musicians together, and Klingon Klezmer, a high-energy Klezmer ensemble specializing in the celebration music of Jewish Eastern Europe.  They frequently lead workshops and programs together, enhancing Rabbi Marcia's blend of teaching and group process with Jack's musical accompaniment.  They raised four sons, and now have two gorgeous grandchildren.

From http://marciaprager.com/about-rabbi-marcia

Myra’s Children: Larry, Rebecca and Sarah

My children have been such a blessing to me and have added immeasurably to my joy throughout their lives. Lawrence or Larry as we call him, my son, was born in 1973; his sisters Rebecca Malka and Sarah Michelle followed in 1975 and 1979, respectively.  My memoir, Uprooting the Poison Tree, contains many stories of their accomplishments and challenges, as well as my own during the child-rearing years and beyond to adulthood.  Each brought their unique personality and gifts to our family and participated fully in rituals, family gatherings and milestones.

I am so very proud of my children and the wonderful, caring, ethical and compassionate adults that they have become.  Each has contributed to my pride, joy and sense of well-being as a mother. God bless you!

Betty Gurvitch and Laurie Dinerstein Kurs

Betty was the first true friend that I met when I moved to East Windsor in 1974. Her husband, Marty, was a coworker of Paul’s at his company and we quickly became friends. When I had to go to the hospital to give birth to my daughters, it was Betty and Marty who stayed with 2-year old Larry.  They were wonderful friends for over forty years. Though they are gone, I think of them often and miss them.

I met Laurie through mutual friends when she moved into the house next to our friends. Laurie and I quickly because good friends and have remained so to this day! When she was hospitalized for illness early in our friendship, I brought her my homemade apple crumb cake, which she devoured.  It is still a favorite that she loves to eat at my home. 

My Writing Friends

The completion of my memoir, Uprooting the Poison Tree, would not have been possible without the valuable help, support and critical review of my writing group friends.  In 2012 I joined the Hamilton, NJ Library Writing Group under the leadership of Rodney Richards. Each Monday afternoon, I looked forward to sharing my latest story at the Writing Group. Each author was given the opportunity to read a short (1000 – 2000 words) piece and receive feedback and critique from assembled members.  During my seven years in the Writing Group, my writing skills improved tremendously.  Thanks to Rodney and my dear writing friends. Celebratory lunch for recently published writers, above, Left to Right: Maria Sanderson, Myra Weiner, Gail Siggilakis with her book The Affirming Way of Life, Gilda Battaglia Rorro Baldassari with her book Gilda, Promise Me, Gillian Skeen-McKee with her book Sketches from Life, Nancy Jewusiak and Sherry Meyer.