Devon Spier is a rabbinical student at the Academy for Jewish Religion, expected to graduate in 2022, and committed to radical compassion that catalyzes Jews and non-Jews to show up for each other. Devon’s experiences at Solel Congregation, in NFTY-NEL, URJ Kutz Camp and Newman illuminated her passion for Jewish encounter. Her gap year in Israel further prepared her to work as needed among minority populations through social support work alongside Ethiopian and Russian Jewish olim. Upon her return, Devon worked with a small community to develop a JCC, refugee action committee and a Reform Jewish experiential education program. A graduate of the University of Waterloo, Devon integrated her Bachelors in Religious Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies into two careers in interfaith program coordination and non-profit management. She directed an interreligious Peace Camp and the first Halal student breakfast program in Canada that created the first connections of its kind in Canada between religious non-profits, a local human services organization, local farmers, student entrepreneurs, neighbours who experience food insecurity and a municipality. A poet-blogger-ritualist, Devon writes for the Jewish Women’s Archives, and is featured on Ritualwell, Jewcer, Hevria.com. She is a member of Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom and co-directs a Cohort for Jewish Social Entrepreneurship for Hillel Waterloo in Canada, where she emphasizes the importance of student-driven narratives of meaning and well-being. Devon weaves Jewish text to form a moral centre and amplify the most vulnerable. Her first book, a contemporary and pastoral book of psalmist and liturgical poetry on Jewish ancestors, is scheduled to be released in March 2018. She loves music and is a midnight dance party aficionado.
