Interreligious Dialogue at JTS

The Jewish Theological Seminary celebrates the spirit of community in our efforts to foster interreligious dialogue and grow our understanding of commonalities and shared goals.

Learn more about our interreligious programs and projects:

Judaism and Islam in American Today: Assimilation and Authenticity

On October 25, JTS hosted a landmark roundtable discussion "Judaism and Islam in America Today: Assimilation and Authenticity."

A Jack and Lewis Rudin Lecture, the participants included Arnold M. Eisen, chancellor of JTS; Sherman Jackson, professor of Islam at the University of Michigan; and Serene Jones, president of Union Theological Seminary. The moderator, Ingrid Mattson, serves as president of the Islamic Society of North America and director of the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary.

The panel discussed the shared challenges faced by Jews and Muslims who live in this country, focusing on the delicate balance between assimilation into a predominantly secular and Christian society and the desire to retain one's religious and cultural authenticity.

View the video podcast from this event. (QuickTime is needed to view)
See additional photos from the event.

Read "Seminal Moment at JTS for Muslim-Jewish Relations in America," an article from Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue about this groundbreaking recent two-day conference of Muslim and Jewish scholars and leaders held at JTS and the standing-room-only roundtable discussion.

Learn more about interreligious relations at JTS.

Why a Jewish Seminary Must Find Common Ground with Islam

"I believe, as a religious Jew, that there is no more urgent issue for individuals and communities of faith at this moment than to find our way to genuine cooperation, tolerance and mutual respect."

-Chancellor Arnold M. Eisen, in his article in The Huffington Post.

Read the entire article.

Learn more about Chancellor Eisen's previous dialogue with New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan and check the Louis Finkelstein Institute webpage for a second event featuring these two leaders.

The Louis Finkelstein Institute of Religious and Social Studies

Since 1938, the Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religious and Social Studies of The Jewish Theological Seminary has maintained an innovative interfaith and intergroup relations program that emphasizes conversation among diverse communities.

Explore upcoming events and see transcripts and podcasts of past events.

Dr. Burton L. Visotzky is the new director of the Louis Finkelstein Institute. Read the announcement that spotlights Dr. Visotzky's leadership in creating opportunities for interreligious dialogue.

See Dr. Visotzky's contributions to FaithWorld, Reuters' interreligious blog.

Slideshow of Interreligious Dialogue by Dr. Burton L. Visotzky

Read about Dr. Visotzky's visit to Doha as part of an interfaith conference.

Being Non-Jewish at JTS

The Jewish Theological Seminary is open to all races, religions, nationalities, and ethnicities. At JTS, we work to cultivate an environment in which every student, staff, and faculty member serves to bring their own experiences and perspectives to the benefit of the entire community.

Ryan Higgins of The Graduate School discusses being a Christian at JTS:

Learn more about The Graduate School's new interfaith partnership with Rome's Cardinal Bea Centre.