After nearly four decades as a controversial national figure on the Christian religious far right, the Reverend Dr. Rob Schenck has made an unusual move to join the faculty of Hebrew College as a visiting scholar. The once prominent anti-abortion activist has since repudiated his radical conservative positions and has dedicated himself to promoting racial justice, reducing gun violence, and fostering religious inclusion. His hiring as Visiting Scholar of Christianity & Religious Leadership at Hebrew College reflects the institution’s commitment to training Jewish and other religious leaders for service in an interconnected world. 

“Rev. Schenck is a brave and wise leader, who has been engaged in significant efforts to make our country a more just and compassionate society for several years now. I am profoundly inspired by his personal journey and his moral and religious leadership," said Hebrew College President Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld.

Hebrew College rabbinical student Jessica Spencer had a very busy summer. After all, co-founding a yeshiva takes a lot of work. Spencer, who is originally from Scotland, spent the summer break helping to found Azara, the first-ever organization to offer deep inclusive Jewish text learning in Scotland.

“There’s nowhere else in Europe where you can do a month of full-time learning in a co-educational context, outside of rabbinic training,” said Spencer. “We wanted to make a program substantial enough for participants to build real skills (not just a week or weekend) while being open to people of all backgrounds.”

Read more.....

Over the past few weeks, Hebrew College CET hosted professional development sessions at Hebrew College and online, offering 110 teachers from 12 states and four countries new strategies and effective learning approaches to teaching Hebrew language.

“Hebrew is a critical component to Jewish education and a vital part of Jewish identity building, especially in communities outside of Israel where Hebrew can be a second or even third language,” said Hebrew College Vice President, Dr. Susie Tanchel. “CET is providing an invaluable service to the global Jewish community through their robust and excellent second language programs. Hebrew College is proud to partner with CET on the advancement of Hebrew, and Jewish education more broadly, in North America.”  

Read more...

Still feeling the power of Tisha B’Av and just beginning to feel the pull of Rosh Chodesh Elul and the Yamim Noraim (High Holidays), questions of presence and relationship are deeply connected to this moment in our communal calendar—even in the specificity of a parent-child relationship. For example, in the aftermath of the destruction of the Temple, the Talmud imagines Gd like a father in mourning after banishing his son from his table (Berakhot 3a). And as we approach the liturgy of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, appealing to Gd as “Avinu Malkeinu/Our father, our king” is familiar to many of us.

So how might these questions call us forward toward the potential of a New Year? 

Read 70 Faces...