Dear Friends,

HUC has been profoundly moved by those “praying with their feet” – often our own alumni, students, faculty, staff, and lay leaders – raising awareness that we all have a responsibility to combat racism in our society, starting with ourselves. Inspired by these calls for justice, we are in a process of self-evaluation at all levels of our institution to ensure that we see, count, and hear people of color, whether those within our own HUC community or other members of our society. I share with you two previous messages I sent to our own community in the aftermath of the brutal killing of George Floyd: Let Us Not Be Silent Now and Alliance as a Force for Justice.

This is a hard road ahead and we look forward to hearing from you as we collectively address these urgent issues at this moment.

B'Shalom,
Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D.
President

HUC-JIR SUMMER SERIES:
RACE, RITUAL, RESILIENCE, AND RENEWAL

The Black-Jewish Alliance: Then and Now

Dr. Gary P. Zola
Executive Director of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center
of the American Jewish Archives and
Edward M. Ackerman Family Distinguished Professor of
the American Jewish Experience, HUC-JIR/Cincinnati

Dr. Cheryl Greenberg
Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of History, Trinity College

Rabbi Peter Berg
Senior Rabbi, The Temple, Atlanta

Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock
Senior Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta

Wednesday, June 24, 2020
1:00 - 2:00 pm ET

The study of history provides us with valuable perspectives on current events. This webinar will bring together four knowledgeable voices to examine the history of the Black-Jewish alliance in America and discuss its relevance to the dramatic events of the current day. Dr. Greenberg and Dr. Zola will discuss "The History of Black-Jewish Relations," and Reverend Warnock and Rabbi Berg will discuss "The Black-Jewish Alliance Today."

Register Today

Presented by The American Jewish Archives
in partnership with HUC-JIR, the National Underground
Railroad Freedom Center, and The Temple, Atlanta, GA.

What's Jewish about Jewish Political Thought?

Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D.
President, HUC-JIR

Moderated by Elana Rabishaw, MAJE '20
Rabbinical Student, Jack H. Skirball Campus, HUC-JIR/Los Angeles

Tuesday, June 30, 2020
12:00 - 1:00 pm ET

If Jewish thought is open to conflicting interpretations, and as Reform Jews we accept that individuals are the ultimate arbiters of moral meaning of our tradition, how do we make sense of others who claim to know what a “Jewish” position is on any particular policy or issue is, be it gun control or foreign policy? But if we deny the existence of any explicitly “Jewish” position about a policy or politics more generally, how do we account for the very real and important phenomenon of an identifiable “prophetic-tradition” within Judaism that demands justice in our world? In this session, we will look at the theoretical issues behind these questions and ask, what exactly is Jewish Political Thought?

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Presented in Partnership with jewishLIVE

The Archaeology of Hallucinogenic Substances
in the Ancient Eastern Mediterranean

David Ilan, Ph.D.
Director, Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology,
HUC-JIR/Jerusalem

Wednesday, July 8, 2020
12:00 - 1:00 pm ET


Ceramic kernos ring, early Iron Age Megiddo, ca. 1000 BCE,
possibly used for inhaling or imbibing psychoactive substances

The texts of the ancient Near East and eastern Mediterranean Bronze and Iron Ages hint at the use of psychotropic substances ("hallucinogens") in religious and shamanistic rituals. But the archaeological evidence for this is thin on the ground. This talk will itemize the available hallucinogens and reexamine a series of artifacts that are believed to be related to the consumption of psychotropic substances.

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Rebirth After the Holocaust:
The Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons Camp,
1945-1950

Jean Bloch Rosensaft
Director, Dr. Bernard Heller Museum,
HUC-JIR/New York

Wednesday, July 15, 2020
3:00 - 4:00 pm ET


Over 2,000 children of Holocaust survivors were born in the
Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons Camp; Kindergarten class, late 1940s.

The largest Jewish refugee camp in post-war Germany, this vibrant self-governed community’s political, cultural, religious, educational, and social activities renewed the survivors' return to life and played a pivotal role in the struggle for the creation of the State of Israel. Through archival film, photographs, and documents, learn how the survivors’ resilience and optimism offer us stories of hope and healing for our day.

Register Today

The Book of Job in Art:
From Byzantium to Blake and Beyond

Abby Schwartz
Director, Skirball Museum,
HUC-JIR/Cincinnati

Wednesday, July 22, 2020
3:00 - 4:00 pm ET


Archie Rand, Job, acrylic and marker on canvas, 1992. Collection of the artist.

From Byzantine manuscripts of the 9th century to paintings by Albrecht Dürer and Georges de la Tour, the Book of Job has inspired artists through the ages. Most notable is the cycle of illustrations produced by the nineteenth century English poet, painter, and printmaker William Blake. Also included will be representations of the Job story in works from the Skirball Museum's collections and temporary exhibitions.

Register Today

Curating Cantorial Education:
Breadth and Depth in Jewish Musical Life

Cantor Richard Cohn
Director, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music,
HUC-JIR/New York

Wednesday, July 29, 2020
12:00 - 1:00 pm ET


Cantor Richard Cohn and Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music
students in song.

The profusion of Jewish musical creativity over the last two centuries has only accelerated in our time, and the antecedents of that abundance date to antiquity. What music do cantors learn while studying at HUC-JIR, and how do those repertoires influence their leadership of contemporary communities? We’ll frame the foundational elements and explore emerging musical forms, while viewing and listening to selected examples in representative styles.

Register Today

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is pleased to offer online learning opportunities throughout the summer, and we invite you to share these offerings with your community. Please join us at upcoming sessions or watch the recordings.

Questions? Please contact Liza Sacks at lsacks@huc.edu.

Your Support Matters

COVID-19 has brought extraordinary changes to our lives and has placed unprecedented pressure on our students as they pursue their studies from remote locations around the world. In this time of physical isolation and economic distress, our work continues unabated. Please support HUC-JIR and ensure that we are able to train innovative and creative professional Jewish leaders for the global community.

Donate Today