News

Dr. Alan Mittleman Named Aaron Rabinowitz and Simon H. Rifkind Professor of Jewish Philosophy at JTS

Feb 11, 2016

Chancellor Arnold M. Eisen of The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) recently appointed Dr. Alan Mittleman to the position of Aaron Rabinowitz and Simon H. Rifkind Professor of Jewish Philosophy. Dr. Mittleman’s current work in progress-a book tentatively entitled The Holy and the Good: An Essay in Jewish Philosophical Theology-is supported by a major grant from the Herzl Institute’s Jewish Philosophical Theology Project. He succeeds Dr. Neil Gillman, Aaron Rabinowitz and Simon H. Rifkind Professor of Jewish Philosophy Emeritus.

Dr. Jeffrey Kress Appointed Dr. Bernard Heller Chair in Jewish Education at The Davidson School

Chancellor Arnold M. Eisen of The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) recently appointed Dr. Jeffrey Kress, associate professor of Jewish Education and academic director of the Experiential Learning Initiative at the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education, to the position of Dr. Bernard Heller Chair in Jewish Education. Dr. Kress’s work is focused on creating vibrant Jewish educational settings that inspire the next generation of Jewish leaders. Dr. Kress succeeds Dr. Carol Ingall, Dr. Bernard Heller Professor of Jewish Education Emerita.

JTS Institutes Policy on Paid Parental Leave

The Chancellor’s Cabinet of The Jewish Theological Seminary is pleased to present JTS’s newly instituted Paid Parental Leave Policy. This policy reflects our values as an institution and supports our faculty and staff members in both their work and personal lives. As this new policy is implemented, we will continue to explore other avenues for making JTS an even more caring and fulfilling place to work.

JTS Library Awarded Grant to Make Hundreds of Archival Collections Publicly Available

The Library of The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) has launched “Grounded in Wisdom: Expanding Access to Jewish-American Archival Collections,” made possible through a generous grant of more than $70,000 from the National Archives for the National Historic Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). This one year project will provide online access describing 418 archival collections—dating from the late 19th through the 20th centuries and encompassing multiple formats including documents, drawings, artifacts, photographs, slides, audio recordings, films, musical scores, and manuscripts—by enabling The Library to hire two archivists to collect and standardize all documentation and upload it to an archival management system that will allow it to be easily searched and shared with the scholarly community and the general public.

JTS Presents a Discussion about the Influence of Messianic Thinking in Israeli Politics

The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) will host “The State of Israel: Messianism Without a Messiah?” featuring speakers Dr. Hillel Ben Sasson, visiting assistant professor of Israel Studies at JTS, and Dr. Benjamin Gampel, Dina and Eli Field Family Chair in Jewish History at JTS. The program will be moderated by Dr. Barbara Mann, Simon H. Fabian Chair in Hebrew Literature at JTS. The speakers will explore what the messianic idea has meant for Jews through the ages—and in modern Israel, the role it plays in contemporary Israeli politics on both the right and left, and the dramatic and even revolutionary implications of messianic thinking in shaping the future and fate of the Jewish state.

JTS Board of Trustees Elects Two New Members

The Board of Trustees of The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) has elected two new members, Marc Gary and Lynette Perlman Koppel. “We are honored by the addition of these members to our Board of Trustees,” says Alan Levine, chair of the Board. “Each brings to JTS’s leadership deep insight, diverse experience, and commitment to its mission. We look forward to their contributions to the work of this distinguished team.”

Rabbi David Hoffman on “What Our Vulnerability Demands of Us”

Feb 10, 2016

“With the death of a loved one, the ground beneath our feet feels less stable. The truth of our deep vulnerability in the world seizes us. With great loss, we are often flooded with emotions that come so quickly they threaten to overwhelm us. The attack on Paris—and all that Paris represents—has shaken many of us because we are reminded of our profound vulnerability in a violent world.”

Craig Taubman Debuts Student Composition at JTS

H. L. Miller Cantorial School and College of Jewish Music of The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) presents Craig Taubman in Concert, at which singer-songwriter Craig Taubman will debut an original liturgical composition by JTS student Gil Ezring. The concert will be at JTS in New York City on Thursday, November 19, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $18, and free to students with a valid ID.

JTS and B’nai Torah Congregation to Honor Beatriz and Harold Jacobsohn at a Special Dinner

Beatriz and Harold Jacobsohn are presented with the prestigious JTS Community Service Award.

JTS Hosts Discussion about Disabilities, Inclusion, and Jewish Education

How does the Jewish community help individuals with disabilities participate meaningfully in Jewish education and Jewish life?