(Pictured left to right) Contributor Jennifer Howe Peace, editors Rabbi Or Rose and Elinore J. Pierce, and contributor Preeta Bannerjee.

By Marilyn Stern

On February 28, Hebrew College’s Miller Center’s “Oys and Joys of Interreligious Engagement: A Conversation and Book Launch” brought together many of the educators and practitioners who have developed the field of Interreligious Studies over the past decade or so.  

The event featured co-editors Dr. Lucinda Mosher, Elinor (“Ellie”) Pierce, and Miller Center Director Rabbi Or Rose, discussing their recent releases, With the Best of Intentions: Interreligious Missteps and Mistakes and Pluralism in Practice: Case Studies of Leadership in a Religiously Diverse America, both published by Orbis Books. 

Rose opened the evening by acknowledging that even at this gathering of seasoned interreligious professionals, “We are likely to make more mistakes, but we will do so together!”

Rabbi Or Rose, Director of the Miller Center, will teach a Hebrew College adult learning course  about interreligious engagement. 

Based on the 2012 award-winning collection by the same name–and including materials from the 2023 follow-up volume, With the Best of Intentions–this course offers students the opportunity to explore narratives of transformative encounter across lines of difference. With wisdom, wit, courage, and humility, the writers—Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc.—share their experience of border-crossing and the lessons learned from their interreligious and cross-cultural adventures.

The hybrid course will meet on Thursdays 7-9 p.m. in person at Hebrew College and on Zoom: April 11 & 18; May 2, 16, 23 & 30

Course fee: $270, financial aid available

Beacons of Hope: Our Interreligious S/Heroes

By Adam Zemel

Each month, we honor an individual whose commitment aligns with the bridge-building efforts of the Miller Center. For March, we shine a light on Bob Stains, founder and principal of Bob Stains and Associates Conflict Transformation, as our Beacon of Hope. 

In the midst of the extreme polarization we are experiencing across the country and around the world, the importance of empathy and a willingness to see and understand one another is painfully evident and urgently needed. How to engage in difficult or “courageous conversations” is a core interreligious leadership skill that we seek to cultivate within all of our programs. And that is where this month’s Beacon of Hope comes in. Bob Stains is a wise facilitator and trainer who has worked with all of our interreligious leadership cohorts—high school, undergraduate, graduate, emerging professionals—introducing them to the science and art of engaging across difference.  

How did you choose your work as a facilitator and trainer? 

I really understand my work as helping people become more fully human to one another. 

I started out as a therapist. My first work was in short term mental health facilities. As I was working there I noticed what my colleagues and I referred to as a "revolving door syndrome". People would come in and begin to heal, and then return to their environment, which was supporting their dysfunction rather than their healing. This moved me toward studying systems, looking at how to shift environments. 

The Dignity Project fellows completed their fellowship year with courageous vulnerability and celebration. During our final retreat, fellows shared their group projects to enthusiastic applause, facilitated small group dialogues with respect and curiosity, danced, sang, shared favorite potluck dishes, and reflected on their experiences in the Dignity Project by writing letters to their future selves. Fellows reflected that they had learned: "How to build relationships not only on similarities but also on our differences"; "To have powerful and meaningful dialogue"; and that what keeps them hopeful is, "That more than 20 high schoolers of totally different background all chose to confront who they and those around them are, and learn how to lead."

Applications for the 2024-2025 Dignity Project cohort are now open! Please encourage outstanding high school students to apply here, or send your nominations to Liz at laeschlimann@hebrewcollege.edu

The Dignity Project fellows marked the end of their experience with a closing celebration at Hebrew College's campus in Newton on March 3rd. Fellows presented projects, including writing, dance, and musical performances. Joined by family and Miller Center stakeholders, these high school fellows shared insights from their interreligious and cross-cultural journey together. Look for more in-depth coverage of this event in next month's newsletter!

In the fall of 2023, Rev. Rob Schenck joined the Hebrew College faculty as a visiting scholar of Christianity and Religious Leadership, and brought with him a cohort of religious leaders and theologians previously known as the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Fellows. Rev Schenck selected these individuals from his former organization, The Bonhoeffer Institute, because "They possess scholarly and professional expertice in areas related to the World War-II era church leader and Nazi resister's approach to ethics and moral theology, or are, like Bonhoeffer, engaged in ecumenical and interfaith work aimed at social justice.” The Miller Center is honored to have this accomplished group of religious leaders join our newest interreligious cohort as Senior Leadership Fellows. 

On Wednesday, February 21, the group convened virtually, along with members of the Miller Center staff and advisory committee, to hear from scholars Dr. Ghaith al-Omari and Dr. Ned Lazurus on the political, historical, and humanitarian dimensions of the current war. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Celene Ibrahim, with responses by Rabbi Or Rose and Dr. Ibrahim. 

“Our guest presenters modeled for us the power of thoughtful, informed, and humble engagement in contentious conversation,” says Rabbi Rose. “Dr. al-Omari and Dr. Lazarus helped us open our minds and hearts as we explored the horrific events in Israel and the Palestinian territories. This led us to consider how we might support peace and justice efforts from our respective locations in North America." 

Senior Leadership Fellow Bishop Van Gayton shared these words following the discussion: “I was so elated to be a part of the Hebrew college colloquy last night. I was blessed to witness a dialectical narrative between Jewish and Arab [Muslim] brothers and sister, with the goal of reconciliation. What a display of humility, courage, love and long-suffering. As a Christian I long to see this posturing in America between the Black and White church, which is the vision of being the beloved community." 

Rev. Rob Schenck

Ghaith al-Omari

Ned Lazarus

Celene Ibrahim

Pictured left to right: Chaplain Najiba Akbar, Rabbi Or Rose, Dr. Angela Kim Harkins in conversation; visitors and hosts at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center

On Friday, March 1st, over 50 students, professors, religious leaders, and community members gathered for the 7th annual spring event hosted by Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI) and several member schools. The event, which took place on the campus of the Boston College Clough School of Theology & Ministry, focused on the subject of “Fasting & Feasting in Our Faith Traditions.” BTI director, Dr. Stephanie Edwards, moderated a panel that included Rabbi Or Rose, Miller Center Director, Chaplain Najiba Akbar of Tufts University, and Dr. Angela Kim Harkins of BC. The panelists spoke about their personal and vocational approaches to a season rich with contrasting ritual observances in each of the Abrahamic traditions. This year's event also functioned as a pledge of interreligious solidarity in a time of extreme polarization with shared prayers, a shared meal, and honest and heartfelt conversation. The event concluded with an afternoon visit and tour of the largest Mosque in New England, The Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC) in Roxbury, where participants were greeted warmly by ISBCC staff, given a tour of the facility, and invited to attend Jummah — the Friday prayer service. Special thanks to BC graduate students Jess Navarete and Kyle Deroisers (also a Miller Center staff member) for their leadership on this special program.

The Miller Center staff and advisory committee wish all of our Muslim colleagues and loved ones a Ramadan Mubarak! 

May this be a time of meaningful personal, interpersonal, and communal observance.

Taught by Dr. Alan Avery-Peck, Me'ah faculty and Professor of Judaic Studies at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester 

Jesus, the Christian messiah and son of God, was also a first century Galilean Jew who stood firmly within the Judaism of his day. As much as the New Testament tells the story of Christian origins, it thus reflects deeply on first century Judaism. What can the New Testament teach us about the period that yielded the Judaism we still practice today?  

This course well meet on Wednesdays 7-9 p.m. on Zoom:  April 3, 10, 27, May 1, May 8