Fall 2020 | Heshvan 5781

Book Cover - Deep Understanding for DIvisive Times

Book Launch:
Deep Understanding for Divisive Times

We are proud to announce the publication of Deep Understanding for Divisive Times: Celebrating a Decade of the Journal of Interreligious Studies. The anthology offers original essays by scholars, activists, and educators who specialize in interreligious/interfaith studies and grassroots efforts.

We will be celebrating the publication of the special volume at an upcoming virtual event featuring contributors and friends of the Journal on November 30.

See details below under events.

The 2020 Miller Center Student Interns

The cultivation of interreligious leadership is central to the mission of the Miller Center. Our annual internship program provides a rare “learning-by-doing” opportunity for participants who, as members of the Miller Center team, gain experience, build skills, and receive mentorship in the field of interreligious engagement. Our center is greatly enhanced each year by the unique gifts and perspectives the interns bring to the work.

This year we have expanded the program to include four interns. We are pleased to introduce our 2020-2021 Interns (pictured above from left to right):

Josh Greenberg is a fourth year rabbinical school student at Hebrew College and a current Boston Bridges fellow.
Yang Dai is a third year M.Div. student at the Boston University School of Theology.
Kim Bress is a third year M.Div. student at the Boston University School of Theology and a current Boston Bridges fellow.
Shruti Gupta is an undergraduate student at Boston University and was a 2019-20 BILI fellow.

We look forward to the many ways we will learn from one another and further the mission of the Miller Center in the coming year.

Journal of Interreligious Studies

Since our last update the Journal of Interreligious Studies (JIRS) has published two new issues:

Issue 30 (published on August 25th) features the work of alumni of the Russell Berrie Fellowship program in Interreligious Studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas – Angelicum in Rome, Italy. These articles were originally papers presented at the international conference “Education for Action: The Urgency of Interreligious Leadership for the Global Good.”

Issue 31 (published on October 31st) is a rolling submissions issue. Articles cover a broad range of topics from graduate teaching in Indonesia, Hindu chaplaincy in North American higher education, to a Benagli mystic, poet, and activist.

Both issues also include book reviews of recent works in the growing field of interreligious studies.

Be sure to check out the new content on our website: irstudies.org.

State of Formation

State of Formation has been busy since our last update publishing more than a dozen blog posts (and one podcast!) by our fellows from last year’s BILI and Boston Bridges fellows. Below is a list of the most recent posts:

“Bringing BILI Back to Campus” by Shruti Gupta (Boston University)
“What qualifies as interfaith work, and what are its purposes?” by Ione Heigham (Brown University)
“A Patchwork I Am Proud to Embody” by Shruti Gupta (Boston University) “Building Communities to Mobilize in Times of Crisis” by Husna Ellis (Northeastern University)

Boston Bridges Fellowship for Emerging Profesionals

The Boston Bridges Fellowship provides a much-needed context for the development of sustained relationships with peers in leadership roles in their respective communities. In our first (monthly) session held in early October, fellows were asked to prepare for two related conversations: the first was to consider their names (linguistic and cultural meanings of them, etc.). They were also asked to bring one item to share (over Zoom) with others that expresses something meaningful about their identities. We look forward to sharing more moments of genuine dialogue and building bridges (as the name of the fellowship suggests) with new friends and colleagues!

Boston Interfaith Leadership Initiative (BILI) Fellowship for Undergraduate Students

The Boston Interfaith Leadership Initiative (BILI) welcomed its 2020-21 cohort of eleven undergraduates from universities and colleges throughout New England, for the first time hosting a fellow from Olin College of Engineering. Thus far, the fellows have participated in Zoom meetings and offline activities such as paired letter-writing. They also began drafting their fall blog posts! We are grateful to be engaging in meaningful forms of dialogue and learning necessitated by the “BILI-from-home” experience. Reflecting on her experience thus far in BILI, Boston University fellow Simran Singh said, “BILI provides a space for open communication without the fear of being judged by increasing understanding and education.”

Dignity Project Fellowship for High School Students

A core part of the Dignity Project Fellowship is the leadership and hands-on training of five mentors, who work closely with the Program Director to plan and execute this unique initiative for emerging young leaders (ages 15-18). Abubakr Fakhry, Batya Ellinoy, Martin Mugerwa, and Preeta Banerjee are religious and community educators in the Greater Boston area and/or graduate theological students.

These talented and passionate mentors lead and facilitate various activities at each gathering for large and small groups. Kim Bress (see above) serves as both a mentor and Assistant Director of the Dignity Project for the 2020-2021 academic year. A practitioner of Zen Buddhism, Kim has shared her personal reflections on the impact of the Dignity Project in her blog post Nurturing Youth Leadership Development in Hard Times: The Hebrew College Dignity Project.”

Film Screening & Panel Discussion

Join us on Sunday, November 22nd at 2:00pm Eastern for a fascinating Zoom panel discussion and Q&A with Joe Lovett, director of the documentary film: Children of the Inquisition.

Please note that the film we be available online for registrants to view BEFORE the panel - from November 18-20. The film will NOT be shown during the panel discussion.

To learn more about the event, how to register, and how to access the film click here.

Tasting Hope:
Embodying the Messages of Hanukkah & Christmas

On Sunday, December 6, 2:00-3:30 pm join Rabbi Or Rose and Samir Selmanovic, Ph.D., founder of THE KITCHENHOOD, a cross-generational community dedicated to cooking, for an Interreligious & cross-cultural exploration of Hanukkah and Christmas with music, text learning, and a participatory culinary experience. To learn more and to register for this event which will take place on Zoom click here.

The Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership of Hebrew College

The Miller Center was established in 2016 in honor of Betty Ann Greenbaum Miller (of blessed memory), MAJS’05. Our mission is to provide current and future religious and ethical leaders with the knowledge and skills to serve in a religiously diverse society.

Please consider supporting this important work with a financial gift. Thank you!

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State of Formation

Boston Bridges Fellowship for Emerging Profesionals

Tasting Hope: Embodying the Messages of Hanukkah & Christmas

Tasting Hope:
Embodying the Messages of Hanukkah & Christmas