The Reb Sarah (Sandi) Cohen Hashpa’ah Scholarship Fund
For Emerging Spiritual Directors
About Reb Sarah (Sandi) Cohen
A visionary in psycho-spiritual care and spiritual direction, Reb Sarah has touched countless lives through her work at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, ALEPH Ordination Programs, and her private practice. Ordained by Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi as Mashpiah Ruchanit and Spiritual Director, and trained at The Shalem Institute, Reb Sarah (Dr. Sandra B. Cohen) has devoted decades to nurturing seekers and clergy alike with deep wisdom, compassion, and a generous heart. This fund honors her life of sacred service by supporting those following in her footsteps, ensuring her impact continues for generations to come.
Scholarship Overview: In honor of Reb Sarah—beloved teacher, spiritual director, and guide—a scholarship fund has been established to celebrate her profound legacy and mark the joyful milestone of her 90th birthday. This fund will help to carry forward Reb Sarah’s lifelong dedication to compassionate spiritual direction through supporting future students who can draw inspiration from her example.
Scholarship Benefits: Recipients of the Reb Sarah (Sandi) Cohen Hashpa’ah Scholarship will receive financial assistance to pursue their studies in the ALEPH Ordination Program’s Hashpa’ah Certification Program.
Donate to the Fund: We invite individuals who share Reb Sarah’s compassion to contribute to the scholarship fund. Your support will directly impact the lives of future spiritual companions who are committed to Hashpa’ah (Being in the Divine Flow or consciousness of God’s Presence). Your donation is not just an investment in education; it’s an investment in the continued growth and evolution of a vibrant Jewish community.
Join us in celebrating the life and guidance of Reb Sarah by supporting the Reb Sarah (Sandi) Cohen Hasapa’ah Scholarship Fund. Together, we can ensure that her legacy continues to shine brightly through the actions and contributions of emerging Spiritual Directors.
Reb Sarah, you have been absolutely essential in my healing and transformation to become a Renewal Clergy person. Your life path, and example, are inspiring. You have been kind, a great listener, insightful and most of all totally supportive of your students.
We, your mushpaim are, and I have such esteem, affection, and gratitude for the journey you have guided me/us through: to return to HaShem, and our authentic spiritual selves.
With you we have removed the roadblocks that stood in our hearts, the sky’s the limit! May you always be blessed, you are a blessing!
Reb Sandi, as I then knew her, was my first Mashpiah. She helped me find my footing as a new ALEPH rabbinic student, and her wisdom gave me solace, insight and new openings. I loved working with her, and grew to value hashpa’ah under her care.
Reb Sarah, may your life continue to be a blessing to us all!
Love,
My monthly meetings with you for six years changed my thinking from who I was to the possibility to who I might become. With your help through our discussions and your loving care I have become that person. Makes me very happy every day when I wake up and say Modeh Ani and thank you Sandi.
With much love,
Appreciation for Sandi Cohen:
Although I am many years out of the Hashpa’ah Program where Reb Sarah was one of my teachers, I continue to learn so much from this wise and wonderful woman. She reminds me to look for gratitude every day and say “thank you”, to live my life in service to others, and to remember that connection to community and to family is vital to well- being. By modeling a well-lived life into her nineties, Reb Sarah teaches me that even when our bodies begin to give us trouble, our minds and spirits continue to thrive. With gratitude, I wish her much happiness, wholeness, and healing
I so appreciated Reb Sarah’s wisdom when I was in the Hashpa’ah Program. She has a huge heart and also so much spiritual knowledge, which she shared freely. One of her gifts as a teacher was to make me feel confident in and to trust my own sensibilities in doing the work. I will always be grateful to her for that.
With loving blessings for a healthy and happy birthday. May the year bring joy and happy surprises!
Ordination Certificates
