By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

CLIFTON - Andrea "Andie" Cosnowsky was on her way up in the world of country music in Nashville, even working for Garth Brooks' management team as a songwriter.

Then, five years ago, she decided to become a rabbi.

"Even with the success I was finding as a songwriter and a singer, I felt there was something missing. I felt the need to be of service," said Cosnowsky, 36. "I realized I could still sing and write and be serving the Jewish people."

On Saturday, Cosnowsky will be among 12 people ordained as rabbis by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion at the Plum Street Temple.

The school offers more than 500 courses and 20 advanced degree programs to Jewish and non-Jewish students. More than 900 Reform synagogues are served by alumni or current students.

Cosnowsky, who has worked while in college at Temple Israel in Dayton, Temple Shalom and Wise Temple in Amberley Village, will be assistant rabbi at Congregation Beth Adam, an independent synagogue in Loveland.

Hebrew Union College will also present three doctor of philosophy degrees and 10 master of philosophy degrees at a separate graduation ceremony Thursday at Wise Temple.

After nearly 10 years of study at HUC, Daniel Watson, 37, will be among the three receiving a doctorate in Hebraic and Cognate studies at that ceremony.

Watson, the son of a Baptist minister, is teaching the Old Testament to Christian students at Bethel Seminary, a San Diego institution affiliated with the Baptist General Conference.

"Being a Christian (at the Jewish college) was a lot about realizing how much the Christian tradition is indebted to the Jewish tradition," Watson said.

He was inspired to learn more about the Old Testament while studying at seminary, and the Indianapolis native chose to teach religion rather than preach it.

"You can't do better than to come to HUC. It's not just academic. This is their life, their culture, their faith," Watson said of his Jewish classmates and professors. "Being able to see it through their eyes is really enlightening for my own faith."

HUC sponsors many inter-religious programs, and encouraged him to study at the University of Notre Dame for a time.

Cosnowsky also earned a master's in education in Jewish studies from Xavier University.

"I've always felt that the best long-term defense against anti-Semitism and hate is to promote this kind of cross-cultural and cross-religious learning," said Watson. "And that's one of the greatest things I take away from Hebrew Union."

If you go

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion will have commencement for its graduate students at 8 p.m. Thursday at Isaac M. Wise Temple, 8329 Ridge Road, Amberley Village. Professor Bill T. Arnold, an HUC alumni, of Asbury Theological Seminary, will deliver the address.

The 121st ordination for the college will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Plum Street Temple, Eighth and Plum streets downtown. Jonathan Sarna, one of the foremost commentators on American Jewish history, religion and life, will deliver the ordination address.

Both events are free to the public.

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E-mail kvance@fuse.net