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PsalmSeason: A Playlist for a Time of Upheaval
In response to the unfolding global pandemic, The Miller Center is partnering with the Interfaith Youth Core to launch a major initiative on the Book of Psalms. The multifaceted project seeks to provide people with a creative context in which to explore their swirling thoughts and feelings through the prism of this ancient and beloved collection of prayer-poems.
"For centuries, countless seekers from different walks of life have turned to the Psalms in times of joy and thanksgiving, and in times of sadness and lament," said Rabbi Or Rose. "In the current crisis people around the world are searching for ways to express and share their grief, fear, yearning, hope, and solidarity."
PsalmSeason will open with a concert on June 8 from 7:30-9 pm featuring performers and poets from several countries, representing different styles and traditions. This will be followed by the launch of the PsalmSeason digital platform—an eighteen-week exploration of the Psalms focusing on one psalm each week. Featured contributors include: Rev. Jennifer Bailey; Rabbi Sharon Brous; Neshama Carlebach; Dr. Jerome Groopman; Father James Martin; Rev. Brian McLaren; Ruth Messinger; Alicia Ostriker; Dr. Eboo Patel; and Krista Tippett.
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Welcoming Shelton Oakley Hersey to Our Team!
We are excited to announce that Shelton Oakley Hersey will be joining our team as the Program Director for a new program we are launching called the Dignity Project (see below for more details). Shelton has sought out, participated in, and facilitated groups working toward reconciliation over the past decade. This includes experiences in Los Angeles, South Africa, and Boston. Shelton earned a Master's degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, where she focused her studies on Intercultural/Urban Studies and Youth At Risk. She has worked as a community development specialist, social entrepreneur, and pastor. Shelton is a certified Spiritual Director, leading and designing retreats for contemplative reflection. She also serves as a consultant to non-profit organizations. Most recently, Shelton served as the Program Director for Boston's Interfaith Youth Initiative. Over the past three years she has worked to create more spaces in which young leaders can play active roles in learning, unlearning, and relearning that which divides and unites us.
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State of Formation
Our Boston Bridges (emerging professionals) and BILI (undergraduate) fellows continue to reflect on their experiences in their respective programs and as interreligious leaders. We post new pieces on an ongoing basis, so be sure to visit our website at stateofformation.org.
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FOURthought
The FOURthought column, which we introduced in our last newsletter, is a regular monthly column on the State of Formation blog platform. We will feature different members of our expanding Hebrew College-Boston University School of Theology interreligious community. This includes students, fellows, scholars, educators, and activists. In each column, we ask our guest four questions about their leadership journeys. Check out our second interview with Dr. Celene Ibrahim, scholar of Islamic Studies and Women’s Studies, and an educator at the Groton School (above).
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Journal of Interreligious Studies
The most recent issue of the Journal of Interreligious Studies—Issue 29—is now available. Featuring articles from the 17th Annual "Engaging Particularities Conference" of the Boston College Theology Department. This publication has become an annual collaboration between the Journal and Boston College. The issue features the work of Dr. Michelle Voss Roberts; Dr. Catherine Cornille; Dr. Alan Race and Dr. Paul Knitter among others. JIRS is a digital and free scholarly publication.
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The Dignity Project: Youth Leadership Institute
This new fellowship program will train 14-16 outstanding high school sophomore and juniors annually from Greater Boston to serve as interreligious and cross-cultural leaders. The initiative "seeks to cultivate a network of thoughtful and skilled emerging leaders," says Shelton Oakley Hersey, Program Director, "who will build bridges of understanding and cooperation and stand up to bigotry and hate." The youth fellows (including Hebrew College Prozdor students) will be mentored by gifted graduate students and youth educators from different religious and spiritual traditions.
The program is being developed by the Miller Center team in collaboration with leaders and educators from various houses of worship, schools, and civic organizations throughout the city, and will launch in late August. We wish to thank several generous donors for their support of this new initiative, and Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries for its ongoing collaboration.
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BILI students at the Febraury retreat held at MIT Endicott House in Dedham
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Boston Interfaith Leadership Initiative (BILI) for Undergraduate Students
After months of diligent planning, in February the BILI fellows hosted a memorable retreat for 40 students from across the Boston Area that included individual and small group study and dialogue, panel discussions with civic and educational leaders, and music and artistic reflection. The MIT Endicott House in Dedham, MA provided a beautiful pastoral setting for the retreat.
Because colleges and universities required students to leave their campuses, the BILI program held its final session online. Despite the hurdle of communicating across several time zones, fellows were able to continue learning, sharing, and preparing to serve as communal leaders. We want to thank the BILI fellows and program staff—Tom Reid and Katie Owens—for their resilience throughout this challenging time.
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Boston Bridges Fellowship for Emerging Professionals
The 10 Boston Bridges fellows who journeyed together over the course of the year continued to meet monthly by Zoom (see above) after the pandemic required us to shift to distance learning. During each Zoom meeting participants shared spiritual practices that help them find strength and comfort in this difficult time and consulted with one another about various professional challenges they face as leaders. We wish our outgoing fellows well and are excited to welcome them into our expanding alumni network. We are currently recruiting our next cohort for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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SAVE THE DATE: PsalmSeason Concert
June 8 at 7:30-9 pm EST (Online)
Join us for this online concert that will feature performers and poets from several countries, representing a range of artistic styles and traditions. Visit our website for the most up-to-date list of our featured contributors.
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On March 27, 2020, The Miller Center co-hosted the third annual event, “Preparing Our Hearts for Passover & Easter.” Our partners in this special program were the Boston University School of Theology and the Boston College School of Theology & Ministry, with support from the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium. Approximately 100 students, faculty, staff, and invitees from the three schools and broader community joined us for this Zoom program. The morning included exploration of theological, ritual, and vocational commonalities and differences to help people prepare for these holidays. Special emphasis was placed on the challenges of leading services and rituals in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic.
Read a reflection by Rabbi Rose on the poignancy of this gathering during the global crisis.
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On April 13, The Miller Center joined forces again with the Boston University School of Theology and the Boston College School of Theology & Ministry (with support from the Boston Theological Institute), to cohost a virtual evening concert. The focus of the event was on was on freedom songs from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions and from the “American Songbook.”
Featured artists included Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, Director of the Hebrew College Innovation Lab; Rev. Teddy Hickman-Maynard, Associate Dean at Boston University School of Theology, and Hebrew College rabbinical student Leah Carnow.
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About the Betty Ann Greenbaum Miller Center of Hebrew College
The Miller Center was established in 2016 through a generous gift from Dan Miller, a former member of the Hebrew College Board of Trustees and husband of the late Betty Ann Greenbaum Miller (of blessed memory), MAJS’05.
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