Each summer, members from the JTS senior leadership team spend time at Ramah camps. They study and learn with campers and staff and have the opportunity to engage in informal conversations on such topics as their own personal Jewish journeys, career opportunities in the Jewish world, and the various programs and courses of study at JTS.
Throughout the summer, JTS students, staff, and faculty, as well as many alums, contributed to the dynamic Jewish living and learning environments at Ramah camps.
Several members of JTS’s administration visited camps, where they shared information about JTS’s undergraduate and graduate programs, taught, and enjoyed getting to know campers and staff. Many members of our senior leadership team shared their reflections and wrote in-depth about their experiences. Read more here.
Both Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz and Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Vice Chancellor for Religious Life and Engagement, had wonderful and meaningful visits to Camp Ramah New England.
Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz, who spent three formative summers there, had the opportunity to see “the wise ways in which the camp has evolved over the decades” as well as “how much has remained the same.”
Rabbi Gordon Tucker led an informative session about studying at JTS and a limud session for some of the older campers.
Rabbi Joel Seltzer, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, and Randy Michaels, Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, merged their new and past professional experiences through their visits.
Rabbi Joel Seltzer observed how today’s young people are adding the holiness of Judaism into their lives at Camp Ramah in the Poconos, his “forever home,” where he was previously executive director.
Randy Michaels returned to Camp Ramah in California, where he served for nearly 18 years as the Chief Operating and Financial Officer. He also visited several Ramah camps throughout North America, including Camp Ramah in Canada, Ramah Day Camp in Nyack, Ramah Berkshires, and Camp Ramah in Wisconsin.
Faculty members brought the JTS classroom to camp:
As professor in residence at Camp Ramah in the Poconos, Professor Robbie Harris, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages, spent a memorable summer teaching campers and staff a variety of topics, visiting with family, and playing Shabbat afternoon softball games.
Professor Benjamin D. Sommer, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages, united with JTS alum Cantor Steven Walvick and Rabbinical School student Maddie Herrup at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires.
Dr. Shira Billet, Assistant Professor of Jewish Thought and Ethics, taught “The Politics of Friendship” to a young group of campers at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack.
Professor Yitz Landes, Assistant Professor of Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures, also visited Camp Ramah in Nyack, where he taught a Limmud session about where Jews are at home.
JTS students served as JTS Ramah ambassadors this summer at almost every Ramah camp! From Northern California to Ramah Darom, ambassadors shared Jewish learning with campers and represented JTS throughout the summer.
JTS in the Berkshires
During our annual JTS in the Berkshires series in Lenox, MA, Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz and Vice Chancellor Rabbi Gordon Tucker led inspiring learning sessions. Presented in partnership with Knesset Israel and in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, their insightful sessions at Shakespeare & Company brought JTS learning to the Berkshire mountains.
Chancellor Schwartz’s session, “Jews and American Politics: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly,” focused on the unique role of Jews in American politics. Jews have participated in American politics as voters since its inception—a source of pride and distinction. During her lecture, Chancellor Schwartz considered what we can learn from our history about Jews and American politics as we contemplate an uncertain future.
Rabbi Tucker’s session “Finding Truth (and God), Without a Doubt” covered the many aspects of the quest for certainty in a world that is structured to make that goal elusive. He explored the roles of doubt and certainty in our aspirations for a spiritual life of faith.
During her visit to the Berkshires, Chancellor Schwartz also spoke at a reception hosted by Letty Cottin Pogrebin and served as Scholar-in-Residence at Knesset Israel in Pittsfield, MA.
Read more about Chancellor Schwartz’s visit to New England.
Faculty Happenings this Summer
From Germany to summer camps to professional development workshops, JTS’s faculty have had one busy summer! Here are a few highlights:
Professor Eitan Fishbane was selected for the Posen Library Digital Curriculum Development Fellowship. The fellows will be working to create teaching modules on Jews and citizenship; Middle Eastern and North African (MENA), Sephardic, Maghrebi, and Mizrahi Jewish experiences; rabbis and the emergence of Judaism in antiquity; and life-cycle, ritual, and observance around the world.
Professor Yitz Landes, as part of his responsibilities teaching young people in the Bronfman Fellowship, welcomed a group of teenagers to experience JTS’s Rare Book Room. The fellows looked at items that touched upon various topics they had studied over the course of the summer—including ancient Torah scroll fragments from the Cairo Genizah, important Kabbalistic manuscripts from Safed and Italy, Hebrew Bibles from Spain, the decisions of the Napoleonic Sanhedrin, and the poetry of Emma Lazarus.
Professor Shira Billet delivered several lectures throughout the world, sharing her scholarship with new audiences. Lecture titles included:
Maimonides on Love and Humility in Hermann Cohen’s Anti-Eudaimonian Ethics
Hermann Cohen’s Hermeneutics of Holiness
From Vienna to Haifa to New York City: Shalom Spiegel’s Remarkable Scholarly Career in Hebrew Literature, Liturgy, and Legal Philosophy
Philosophical and Jewish Ethics Between the Universal and the Particular: Hermann Cohen on Truthfulness and the Categorical Imperative
Shared Traditions of Parental Grief and Comfort Across Islamic and Jewish Sources
Der Historiker sei Philosoph: Hermann Cohen on the Relationship between Philosophy and Philology in Neo-Kantian Philosophy and the Study of Judaism
Read about the Paleography Workshop that Professor Marjorie Lehman attended at the University of Toronto’s Fisher Library.
Professor Robbie Harris, JTS Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages, spent a meaningful and memorable summer at Camp Ramah in the Poconos. As the professor in residence, he taught campers and staff a variety of topics, including the story of Cain and Abel. He also had the opportunity to publish three articles: “From פשטי דקרא to פשוטו של מקרא: The Origins of Peshat Commentary in Eleventh and Twelfth Century Rabbinic Exegesis,” “Speaking to and About the Other: Terms for Christians and Christianity Among twelfth century Rabbinic Exegetes,” and “Rhetoric and Polemic in the Twelfth-Century Renaissance: Literary and Religious Interpretation in R. Yosef Kara’s Commentary on Isaiah.”
Alumni Donors 2024–2025
Each year, JTS alumni around the world make generous contributions to support the next generation of students. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for these gifts. Thank you, and we hope you’ll consider supporting JTS again as you plan your future giving.
A special thank you to the JTS alumni who have included JTS in their estate plans. They are esteemed members of the JTS Tzaddikim Society who care deeply about the Jewish future and have made a commitment to leave a lasting legacy at JTS. For more information on how you can become part of this special group, or if you have already included JTS estate plans, please contact us at plannedgiving@jtsa.edu.
Albert A. List College
Rachel Ain Vadim Avshalumov Audrey Beerman Hezi Ben Sasson Nicole Berman Erin Beser Shachar Binyamin Eliav Bock Talya Bock Deborah Bromberg Seltzer Sara Bucholtz Robbie Cohen-Millstein Yonina Creditor Max Daniel Isabella Dayani Alisha Deluty Jamie Diamond Daniel Dorsch Katie Doscher Margeaux Dressner-Wolberg Zoe Dressner-Wolberg Benjamin Ehrlich Shoshana Farbman Jessica Fisher Rebecca Galin Ilana Garber Rachel Gildiner Reena Glazer Miriam Greenblatt-Weidberg Rebecca Hiner Corey Hirsch Jodi Hirsch-Rein Jaime Horowitz Joshua Joseph David Kalender Matthew Kalin
Eliana Katz-Seltzer Toby Kerekes Daniel Kestin Danielle Klapper Orly Klein Amy Kogon Albert Kohn Helene Kornsgold Talia Kovacs Yakira Kress William Krieger Judith Krinitz Miriam Kutcher Dana Lande Elie Lehmann Chavie Lescher Shoshi Levin Goldberg David Levy Joshua Lieberman Michael Lippman Daphne Logan Anya Manning Lucille Marshall Sarina Maurice Benjamin Metsch Rebekah Monson Uri Monson Yohnatan Nadiv Leah Penkava Lily Penn Ari Perten Rebecca Perten Joshua Pilchik Jonah Rank Jessica Rezak-Schwab Pauline Rose
Ariella Rosen Leora Rosenblum-Holzer Lisa Rosen-Metsch Elaina Rothman Robin Rubenstein Ariel Russo Matthew Russo Ari Saks Rachel Saks Evan Schaffer David Schnitzer Yoni Schwab Yehezkel Segal Evan Serpick Ethan Shapiro Ellen Shaw Erez Sherman Dina Shtull-Leber Tyler Silver Miriam Singer Noah Small Jason Sokol Arielle Solomon Hannah Solon Sarah Steinmann Marissa Sterling Todd Surden Rebecca Walker Tzvi Waxman David Wise
The Gershon Kekst Graduate School
Elizabeth Baron Joshua Bender Kenneth Berger Mitchell Berkowitz Dina Bernat-Kunin Ariel Berry Tahlia Bliss Deborah Bromberg Seltzer Joshua Cahan Ellen Cahn Nina Cardin Margaret Cella Geoffrey Claussen Ruth Corson Debbie Cosgrove Judy Craig Ronald Daitz Anina Dassa Jack Dermer Eliezer Diamond Stephanie Dickstein Alisa Doctoroff Ryan Dulkin Alan Edelman Debra Edelman Charles Edelsburg Chaim Eliezer Edelstein Amy Eilberg Judith Eisenberg Danielle Eskow
Laurie Farber Nathaniel Fintz David Fishman Martin Flashner Edna Friedberg Alex Friedman Baruch Frydman-Kohl Hillary Gardenswartz Deborah Geller Henry Glazer Benjamin Goldberg Linda Golding Megan GoldMarche Pamela Gottfried Alyssa Gray Ariel Greenberg-Platt Susan Grossman Sonia Herzenberg-Kleinman Marcie Jonas Naomi Kalish Amy Kalmanofsky Karen Kaplan Annette Kasle Emily Alice Katz Lawrence Katz Eliana Katz-Seltzer Jan Kaufman Pamela Kekst Allan Kensky Melissa Kerbel
Shelley Kniaz Jonathan Kremer Sarah Krinsky Paul Kurland Alisa Kurshan Bryna Kurtz Gail Labovitz Barbara Lerner Melanie Levav Judd Levingston Benjamin Levy David Levy Adele Lobel Jonathan Lopatin Paula Mack-Drill Mitchel Malkus Ruth Margolin Rachel Mikva-Rosenberg Deborah Miller Brian Mono Lawrence Moss Yohnatan Nadiv Luciana Pajecki Lederman Shay Pilnik Aiden Pink Isaac Pollak Jonah Rank Mark Raphael Esther Reed Steven Rein
H. L. Miller Cantorial School
Nancy Abramson Roseanne Benjamin Rachel Black Arianne Brown Hazzan Adalah Caplowe David Childs Jennifer Cohen Farid Dardashti Joshua Diamond Elisheva Dienstfrey Joanna Dulkin Edwin Gerber
Arthur Giglio Ethan Goldberg Israel Gordan Jesse Holzer Shoshi Levin Goldberg David Lipp Erica Lippitz Brian Mayer Justin Pellis Gedalia Penner-Robinson Paula Pepperstone Elliot Portner
Henry Rosenblum Jacob Sandler Neil Schwartz Linda Shivers Max Silverstone Jeremy Stein Stephen Stein David Tilman Eliot Vogel Lorna Wallach-Kalet Elaine Zimmerman
The Rabbinical School
Jonathon Adler Rachel Ain Daniel Alder Morris Allen Robert Alpert Joel Alter Noah Arnow Toba August Shaina Bacharach David Baum Joshua Bender Joshua Ben-Gideon Rebecca Ben-Gideon Alfred Benjamin Kenneth Berger Mitchell Berkowitz Gordon Bernat-Kunin Ariel Berry Mark Bisman Jacob Blumenthal Eliav Bock Geoffrey Botnick Daniel Boyarin Harry Brechner Joseph Brodie Sass Brown Joshua Cahan Debra Cantor Ariana Capptauber Nina Cardin Margaret Cella David Chapman Joel Chernikoff Geoffrey Claussen Alan Cohen Miles Cohen Rafi Cohen Moshe Corson Elliot Cosgrove Tirza Covel-Schmelzer Deena Cowans Yonina Creditor Melissa Crespy Anina Dassa Alexander Davis
Jack Dermer Mark Diamond Stephanie Dickstein Robert Dobrusin Elliot Dorff Daniel Dorsch Ryan Dulkin Moshe Edelman Chaim Eliezer Edelstein Amy Eilberg Richard Eisenberg Bernard Eisenman David Eligberg Danielle Eskow Murray Ezring Edwin Farber Charles Feinberg Shawn Fields-Meyer Lawrence Fine Jessica Fisher Lyle Fishman Alex Friedman Edward Friedman Baruch Frydman-Kohl Rebecca Galin Ilana Garber Stephen Garfinkel Lisa Gelber Henry Glazer Benjamin Goldberg Nechama Goldberg Megan GoldMarche Michelle Goldsmith Nason Goldstein Israel Gordan Pamela Gottfried Daniel Graber Sarah Graff Michael Greenbaum Ariel Greenberg-Platt Miriam Greenblatt-Weidberg Susan Grossman Jarrod Grover Mayer Gruber Nicole Guzik
Richard Hammerman Eliezer Havivi Joshua Heller Sherre Hirsch Ronald Hoffberg Howard Hoffman Jonathan Infeld Ronald Isaacs Ari Isenberg Alan Iser Allen Juda David Kaiman David Kalender Naomi Kalish Jeremy Kalmanofsky Elana Kanter Louis Kaplan Alvin Kass Michael Katz Herbert Kavon Stuart Kelman Allan Kensky Paul Kerbel Jason Kirschner Shelley Kniaz Randall Konigsburg Helene Kornsgold Joseph Krakoff Harold Kravitz Jonathan Kremer Sarah Krinsky David Krishef Paul Kurland Neil Kurshan Vernon Kurtz Gail Labovitz Jay Lapidus William Lebeau Alan Lettofsky Melanie Levav Shoshi Levin Goldberg Hillel Levine Morton Levine Judd Levingston Chai Levy
David Levy Sheldon Lewis Daniel Liben Micah Liben Steven Lindemann Alan Lucas Jacob Luski Paula Mack-Drill Mitchel Malkus Jonathan Maltzman Howard Mandell Richard Margolis Frederic Margulies Andrew Markowitz Barry Marks Jonathan Medows Joel Meyers Michael Meyerstein Clifford Miller Raphael Miller Victor Mirelman Jack Moline Steven Morgen Leonard Muroff Beth Naditch Yohnatan Nadiv Daniel Novick Luciana Pajecki Lederman Lee Paskind Micah Peltz Andrew Pepperstone Ari Perten Aaron Philmus Aiden Pink Michael Pont Jama Purser Joshua Rabin Amy Rader Jonah Rank Perry Rank Mark Raphael Esther Reed Steven Rein Avram Reisner Michael Resnick
Lara Rodin Kayley Romick Carnie Rose Paula Rose Ariella Rosen Elliott Rosen James Rosen Gilbert Rosenthal Francine Roston Joel Roth Ronald Roth Alicia Rothamel Steven Rubenstein Robert Rubin Arthur Rulnick Ariel Russo Marc Sack J.B. Sacks Michael Safra Ari Saks Neil Sandler Craig Scheff Robert Scheinberg Ray Scheindlin George Schlesinger Jonathan Schnitzer Ismar Schorsch Rob Schumeister Joel Schwab Michael Schwab Amanda Schwartz Marcus Schwartz Steven Schwartz Daniel Schweber Laurence Sebert Ahud Sela Bruce Seltzer Joel Seltzer A. Shalman Erez Sherman Claire Shoyer Sanford Shudnow Ronald Shulman Diana Siegel Melvin Sirner
Jonathan Slater Mark Smiley David Soloff Abigail Sosland Raphael Spitzer Harvey Spivak Murray Stadtmauer David Starr Daniel Stein Kenneth Stern Sholom Stern Ari Sunshine Kara Tav Daniel Teplitz Malcolm Thomson Jeffrey Tigay Mervin Tomsky Abigail Treu Anne Tucker Gordon Tucker Danielle Upbin Daniel Victor Burton Visotzky Michael Wasserman Jonathan Waxman Abigail Weber David Weiner Samuel Weintraub Simkha Weintraub Miriam Weisel Raysh Weiss David Weizman Bryan Wexler David Wise Ethan Witkovsky Jeffrey Wohlberg David Wolpe Herbert Yoskowitz Deborah Zuker
Seminary College–Teachers Institute
Nancy Abramson Robert Alpert Fredda Bisman Elizabeth Bloch-Smith Anne Bonowitz Annette Botnick Geoffrey Botnick Joseph Brodie Miriam Brous Joel Chernikoff Alan Cohen Aryeh Davidson Stephanie Dickstein Marlynn Dorff Risa Doris David Eligberg Edwin Farber Charles Feinberg Donna Fishman Stephen Freed Alyssa Gray Richard Hammerman Eliezer Havivi Sheila Hecht Rita Herskovitz
Howard Hoffman Carol Ingall Ronald Isaacs Allen Juda Harold Kasimow Alvin Kass Stuart Kelman Vicky Kelman Paul Kerbel Francine Klagsbrun Shoshana Joy Knapp Alisa Kurshan Joel Laitman Susanna Levin Cheryl Magen Richard Magidson Sherwood Malamud Robert Manstein Richard Margolis Sandra Meyers Michael Meyerstein Jeannette Miller Raphael Miller Leonard Muroff
Aaron Nussbaum Nina Ostrovitz Celia Platek Ellen Rank Perry Rank Avram Reisner Judith Rohn Marvin Rosen Sandra Rosen Judith Rosner-Berman Arthur Rulnick Yaffa Schlisserman Jonathan Schwartz Rhea Schwartzberg Melvin Scult Mark Silk Priva Simon Kenneth Stern Esther Stern-Bloom Daniel Teplitz Helene Tigay Karen Vogel Leonard Wasserman Sherry Werb-Leffert
The William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education
Rachel Ain Michele Alperin Joel Alter David Baum Eliav Bock Talya Bock Harry Brechner Arianne Brown Randall Brown Ian Cohen Rafi Cohen Treasure Cohen Yonina Creditor Lynn Cutler Alexander Davis Jamie Diamond Daniel Dorsch Ilana Garber Hillary Gardenswartz Ethan Goldberg Israel Gordan Wilhelmina Gottschalk
Daniel Graber Miriam Greenblatt-Weidberg Amy Greenfeld-Dorsch E. Griminger Wendy Heller Eliana Katz-Seltzer Yonah Kirschner Helene Kornsgold Micah Liben Mitchel Malkus Andrew Markowitz Orlea Marlin Lucille Marshall Deborah Miller Beth Naditch Yohnatan Nadiv Daniel Novick Sarah Ossey Luciana Pajecki Lederman Micah Peltz Andrew Pepperstone Ari Perten
Michael Pont Joshua Rabin Amy Ripps Kayley Romick Rhonda Rosenheck Ariel Russo Sharon Safra Ari Saks Barbara Saunders-Adams Michael Schwab Amanda Schwartz Jeremy Stein Adrian Strizhak Joshua Troderman Anne Tucker Daniel Victor Judith Weiner Joel Weissglass Bryan Wexler Michael Wikes Dori Wolgel
Senior Software Application Engineer
Reports To: Director of IT Position Status: Full-time Weekly Hours: 35-hour work week Probationary Period: 3 months Pay rate: $75,000–$85,000 per year
Description of the Position:
This position is responsible for the development, configuration, installation, troubleshooting and maintenance of existing and new systems, and storage resources on the JTSA campus. Working closely with other members of the IT team.
Duties/Responsibilities:
The Senior Software Applications Engineer will administer and engineer all aspects of critical infrastructure applications and services (e.g. ERP, application servers and .NET applications on the servers, data storage backup, etc…). Design and develop and improve solutions using the software development cycle. Document software programs with diagrams and other documentation. Must be able to create and maintain API with different vendor applications. This position will provide assistance to and serve as backup for other members of the IT team.
Participate in the development, installation, configuration, deployment, monitoring and maintenance of the Donor database and ERP LAN/Wan network environments
Research, recommend and participate in implementation efforts for infrastructure services as they pertain to both technology solutions as well as internal processes and procedures.
Minimum Requirements:
BA Degree
Minimum 5+ years of professional experience in a similar role
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
Knowledge of Microsoft OS
Familiar with an ERP and SQL
Knowledge of Active Directory, Azure and Microsoft O65
Must have ability to identify, diagnose and troubleshoot systems and network problems.
Knowledge of networking and TCP/IP protocols
Advanced knowledge of .NET and all its services
Ability to work with a variety of software applications includeing APIs
Familiarity with and Dell VM servers
Experience working in a fast paced environment
Must be able to lift 50 lbs
Application Instructions:
Please e-mail your resume and cover letter to hrdept@jtsa.edu.
Reports To: Chief Communication Officer Position Status: Full-time/35-hour work week Pay Rate: $75,000 per year
Description of the Position:
The Marketing and Multimedia Manager reports to the Chief Communications Officer and is part of the communications team responsible for implementing JTS’s marketing and communications strategy in order to build institutional awareness, engagement, and financial support.
As the Marketing and Multimedia Manager, you will manage the creative vision and execution of projects and transform marketing and communication strategies into impactful, engaging visuals that advance JTS’s mission.
Primary responsibilities include managing visual communications, creative media, video, social media creative, and storytelling for the institution’s programs. Specific responsibilities include graphic design, video production, website support, creation of event marketing materials, and maintaining brand standards.
The ideal candidate for this position is a motivated self-starter who understands marketing and is fluent in using digital technology in the service of marketing goals; is comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, managing tight deadlines, and overseeing projects from idea to completion.
Duties/Responsibilities:
Produce high-quality graphics for digital, web, social, email, and print.
Design flyers, brochures, ads, social media graphics and other promotional materials as needed
Video Production: Create and produce promotional videos, trailers, event highlights, interviews, reels, and other creative video content. Find fresh and innovative ways to tell JTS’s brand story. Serve as the project lead for video assignments from concept through dissemination.
Website support: Manage visual content on institutional website
Responsible for managing photo shoots, photo editing, and maintaining the photo archive.
Serve as institutional brand steward, ensuring brand standards are followed.
In collaboration with Chief Communications Officer, develop social media strategy, campaign visuals, and day-to-day implementation across a variety of platforms.
Work with various stakeholders to assist with communications needs and improve visual marketing elements.
Contribute to JTS’s overall marketing and communications strategy and implementation of the strategic plan.
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual communication, or related field
Strong portfolio showcasing a range of creative work, including marketing campaigns, fundraising materials, digital and print design, and brand collateral
Experienced and skilled with digital design and video software
5 years of experience in marketing, communications, or related fields.
Outstanding written, verbal, editorial, and interpersonal communication skills
Working knowledge of email campaign tools, online content marketing, social media management, and content management systems for websites.
Basic HTML knowledge is useful.
Attention to detail and a high degree of professionalism.
Ability to handle multiple projects, work well under pressure, prioritize, meet deadlines, and produce quality results on schedule.
Strong skills as a project manager and team player who can collaborate well with peers and senior management.
Knowledge of the organized Jewish community is not required but is helpful.
Last week, Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz spent several inspiring days in New England, surrounded by natural beauty, engaged in thoughtful conversations, and energized by the joyful spirit of both children and adults. The extended weekend was filled with meaningful connections and dynamic discussions.
She began her trip at Camp Ramah in New England where she reunited with family, JTS alumni, and enthusiastic campers. While there, she led a stimulating shiur, adding depth and spirit to the camp’s vibrant Jewish learning environment.
Next, Chancellor Schwartz attended a warm reception hosted by author Letty Cottin Pogrebin. Together, they delved into a range of timely topics, including JTS’s new MFA in Creative Writing, the recent convening Israel at a Crossroads: Navigating Religion, Democracy, and Justice, and the future of JTS and Judaism. The evening concluded with a Q&A, with guests posing insightful and thought-provoking questions.
The following morning, she headed to Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, MA, where she led a compelling session titled “Jews and American Politics: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Speaking to a packed room, Chancellor Schwartz offered historical reflections and contemporary insights, urging the audience to consider how the Jewish American experience can help us navigate an uncertain political future.
Later that day, she joined the community at Knesset Israel for spirited Kabbalat Shabbat services, followed by a special Shabbat dinner. There, she offered reflections on the evolution of Conservative Judaism, exploring how the movement captured the imagination of 20th-century American Jews and helped shape modern Jewish identity.
On Shabbat morning, Chancellor Schwartz returned to the bimah to present “Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Women and the Reimagining of American Judaism.” Together with the congregation, she explored the transformative impact of women’s leadership in Jewish life—how their increasing presence in ritual, scholarship, and communal leadership has opened new paths toward inclusion and creativity.
Chancellor Schwartz’s visit to New England was a powerful celebration of Jewish learning, leadership, and connection.
