Chancellor Schwartz: Engaged Globally and Honored Locally

May 20, 2025

Chancellor Schwartz has had a busy month strengthening partnerships and engaging with the community.

Earlier this week, she had the pleasure of reconnecting with H. E. Prof. Dr. Nasaruddin Umar, Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs and Grand Imam of Indonesia’s national mosque, over dinner. Grand Imam Umar studied at JTS last year as part of a six week “Fellowship in Judaism and Interreligious Relations” sponsored by the American Jewish Committee.

During this moving dinner, Grand Imam Umar reflected on how the fellowship has impacted his work. He shared insights into his current priorities, expressing hope for future partnerships and emphasizing the importance of finding ways for small groups of Muslim clergy to gain an appreciation for religious pluralism and our common humanity by spending time studying and experiencing the United States.

Earlier in the month, Chancellor Schwartz was inducted into the Manhattan Jewish Hall of Fame by the Manhattan Jewish Historical Initiative. Founded in 2010, MJHI documents the history of Manhattan’s Jewish community. The Hall of Fame, launched seven years ago, honors individuals who have lived or worked in Manhattan and made extraordinary contributions throughout their lifetimes.

This year’s honorees include Ari Ackerman, Robin Bronk, Sylvain Cappell, Jack Kliger, Frank London, Rabbi Roly Matalon, David L. Picket, and Stephanie Simon.