Jewish Chautauqua Society (JCS)
Understanding Through Education
Thomas E. Wiener, JCS Chancellor
Since Rabbi Henry Berko
witz, of Philadelphia, founded the Jewish Chautauqua Society (JCS) in 1893, it has grown and changed to meet the needs of each era. Originally, JCS’ mission was to teach immigrant Jews about Judaism. During more than a century of service, JCS has achieved an enviable record of initiatives and successful programs which now teach non-Jews about Judaism. Over the last seven decades, JCS has been an important program of the Men of Reform Judaism. As chancellor, I have the challenge of continuing the programs developed by those who led JCS to its impressive achievements and grow these programs to support current contemporary life styles JCS is the interfaith education program of the Men of Reform Judaism.JCS must continue to support this important work and to seek new opportunities to promote the cause of understanding and acceptance. While JCS has a record of innovation and achievement, its role is primarily that of a funding institution and there too, it has a proud record. To continue that proud tradition JCS needs the support of our MRJ members and all who believe that Jews and all Americans should not fall victim to hatred bred of ignorance.
Your support of our funding goals is the way to achieve it. Give because it does make a difference.
There is clearly a need to bring greater interfaith understanding not only to students in formal educational institutions, but to promote it within thousands of local communities. With this in mind, in 2011 MRJ initiated the MRJ Congregational Interfaith Mini-Grant Program, whereby congregations can obtain financial support to engage in one or more interfaith programs within their own local community. A formal grant application in Word or Adobe Acrobat formats is available. We urge and encourage congregations throughout the Reform Movement to take advantage of this special opportunity.
Goal: To promote interfaith activity at the local congregational level throughout the Reform Movement.
Thank you.
Saul Kessler/JCS Interfaith Seder
The Saul Kessler/JCS Interfaith Seder is recognized as the model for interfaith seders throughout the United States. During these days of mistrust, misunderstanding and divisiveness, the Brotherhood of Temple Beth-El provides as event that looks to unify people of different faiths and traditions -> Read More
JCS NEWS
Congregational
Interfaith Mini-Grant Program
The Men of
Reform Judaism (MRJ) is proud to announce the introduction of its
Congregational Interfaith Mini-Grant Program. The grant program is open to all congregations
affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism and is made possible by the funds
of the Jewish Chautauqua Society (JCS), MRJ’s interfaith education project
since 1939.
Temple Israel of Omaha Scholar-in-Residence
Rabbi Steve Greenberg, Friday, March 30 - Sunday, April 1Rabbi Steven Greenberg received his B.A. in philosophy from Yeshiva University and his rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He is a Senior Teaching Fellow at The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership a think tank, leadership training institute and resource center in New York City. Rabbi Greenberg is an openly gay Orthodox rabbi and a founder of the Jerusalem Open House, the Holy City’s LGBT community center and home to World Pride 2006.
Rabbi Greenberg Poster Temple Israel Tidings Temple Israel Publicity
CUSH Immigraton Task Force Pilot Program
Temple Sinai, Cranston RI Publicity for
This I Believe - Interfaith Dialogue: Personal Values & Civic Ideals
View as PDF
Temple Chai
 |
 |
 |
Volunteers prepare the
community mea
|
A Temple Chai family
shares a vegetarian meal
at the Sikh Temple
|
We share tea at the
Sikh Temple
in Palatine
|
MRJ’s
Congregational Interfaith Mini-Grant Program Recipients
| State |
Name of Congregation/Location |
Program Title |
| CA |
Beth Shir Shalom - Santa Monica |
Muslim/Jewish Twinning |
| CAN |
Sharrei-Beth El Congregation of Halton - Oakville, Ontario |
Youth Interfaith Education and Leadership Development |
| CO |
Congregation Har HaShem - Boulder |
Stepping Stones at Har HaShem |
| FL |
Temple Beth Am - Pinecrest |
Interfaith Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Passover Seder |
| FL |
Congregation of Reform Judaism - Orlando |
Faces of Hunger |
| FL |
Temple Beth David - Spring Hill ** |
A View of the Gospels as Seen through the Eyes of the Old Testament |
| FL |
Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El - Plantation |
Interfaith Seder |
| IL |
Temple Chai - Long Grove |
Bridges of Understanding: Seeing the Face of God in the Other |
| IL |
Congregation Anshai Emeth - Peoria |
Beer and Bible |
| KS |
The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah - Overland Park |
Judasm: Doesn't It Look Funny Without the “I” |
| LA |
Touro Synagogue - New Orleans |
"Braided Candle" Interfaith Chavurah |
| MA |
Temple Israel - Boston |
The Red Tent Study Group and AMETI Group |
| MA |
Congregation B’nai Shalom - Westborough |
Understanding Each Other: Interfaith Dialogues |
| MD |
Temple Solel - Bowie |
Building Bridges: Learning About Ourselves by Learning About Others |
| MD |
Temple Shalom - Chevy Chase |
MLK Commemoration Interfaith service |
| MD |
Temple Beth Ami - Rockville |
Wellness, Health, Aging and Retirement Financial Freedom |
| MI |
Temple Beth Israel - Jackson |
Jewish Contributions to Jackson MI |
| MS |
Hebrew Union Congregation - Greenville |
Faith Bridges |
| NC |
Lake Norman Jewish Cong. - Davidson |
Temple Life for Mixed Marriage Families |
| NE |
Temple Israel - Omaha |
LGBT Inclusion Training for (Religious) Educators |
| NY |
Temple Sinai of Roslyn - Roslyn Heights |
Project Engagement: A Program of Growing through Learning and Service |
| NY |
Temple Shaaray Tefila - New York |
Inter-faith Café * |
| NY |
Temple Shaaray Tefila - New York |
At the Heart: New York-Haifa International Interfaith Connection * |
| NY |
Tikkun v'Or - Ithaca |
Sing a New Song - Spiritual Voices of Ithaca |
| NY |
Beth Elohim - Old Beth Page |
Old Beth Page Interfaith Thanksgiving Service |
| NY |
Temple B'rith Kodesh - Rochester |
Passover Pot Luck Model Seder |
| OH |
Congregation Kol Chadash - Solon |
Wednesday Night Live |
| PA |
Temple Emanuel of South Hills - Pittsburgh |
Journey Through Faith |
| PA |
Temple David - Monroeville |
Feel The Need |
| RI |
Temple Sinai - Cranston |
This I Believe Interfaith Dialogue |
| TX |
Temple Beth-El - San Antonio |
Interfaith Sukkot Series |
| TX |
Temple Beth Shalom - Austin |
Austin Interfaith Membership and House Meetings |
| VA |
Congregation Or Ami - Richmond |
Joint Mitzvah Day |
| WA |
Temple Beth El - Tacoma |
Sing a New Song: An Interfaith Musical Evening |
| WI |
Beth Hillel Temple - Kenosha |
Conversation Series: “Celebrating Diversity as We Build One Kenosha” |
| |
* Will share the award with the other program at their temple |
| |
**Slide show at various churches |
|
JCS Biennial Report June 2011
A number of continuing and new JCS activities and programs were conducted or funded in 2010-2011.
To enroll in the MRJ Affiliates group and have access to this page, register as normal, then send an email with your name and club affiliation to mrj@urj.org. Within 48 hours you will be added to the Affiliate Member group and have access to this page
NOTE: You MUST be logged in to access the download page.
For a full report presented at the 43rd Biennial Convention held in NYC, June 2011
> Read More
JCS SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE LECTURESHIPS
State
|
Name of School
|
City
|
Title of Course
|
AL
|
Spring Hill College
|
Mobile
|
Judaism
|
AZ
|
Arizona State University
|
Tempe
|
Hebrew Bible
|
CA
|
California State University
|
Chico
|
Basic Judaism
|
CO
|
Regis University
|
Colorado Springs
|
Jesus Within Judaism I
|
CT
|
Fairfield University
|
Fairfield
|
Jewish Interpretations of Scripture
|
CT
|
Hartford Seminary
|
Hartford
|
Holiness in Time and Space: A Jewish Approach to Spirituality
|
DC
|
Washington Theological Union
|
Washington
|
Judaism in N.T. Times
|
DC
|
Wesley Theological Union
|
Washington
|
Modern Judaism and Its History
|
FL
|
Stetson University
|
Deland
|
Introduction to Judaism
|
GA
|
ITC
|
Atlanta
|
Judaism Since the Time of Jesus
|
IL
|
Garrett Evangelical Theo. Sem.
|
Evanston
|
Judaism in the Early Christian Period
|
IL
|
Knox College
|
Galesburg
|
Time and Place in Jewish and Israeli thought
|
IL
|
Benedictine University
|
Lisle
|
|
IN
|
University of Evansville
|
Evansville
|
Introduction to Judaism
|
IN
|
Christian Theo. Sem.
|
Indianapolis
|
Dialogue between Christians and Jews
|
KS
|
Baker University
|
Baldwin City
|
The Torah/ Introduction to the Old Testament
|
KY
|
Bellarmine University
|
Louisville
|
History of Judaic Thought I
|
LA
|
Louisiana State
|
Alexandria
|
Study of Holocaust
|
MA
|
Boston College
|
Chestnut Hill
|
Introduction to Judaism
|
MA
|
Springfield College
|
Springfield
|
Introduction to Judaism
|
MD
|
St. Mary's Seminary
|
Baltimore
|
Judaism & Christianity: Two Types of Faith
|
MD
|
UMBC
|
Baltimore
|
The Jewish Great Books Since the Bible
|
MD
|
UMBC
|
Baltimore
|
Origins of Anti-Semitism
|
MN
|
College of St. Scholastica
|
Duluth
|
Women in the Hebrew Scriptures
|
MO
|
Univ. of Missouri
|
Columbia
|
Judaism
|
MO
|
Missouri State University
|
Springfield
|
Judaism
|
MO
|
St. Louis University
|
St. Louis
|
Jewish Life & Thought
|
NC
|
Univ. of NC
|
Asheville
|
Hebrew for General Ed 1
|
NC
|
Greensboro College
|
Greensboro
|
Introduction to Judaism
|
NC
|
Mars Hill College
|
Mars Hill
|
Introduction to Judaism
|
NH
|
Keene State College
|
Keene
|
Introduction to Judaism
|
NJ
|
Stockton College of NJ
|
Pomona
|
Current Issues in Judaism
|
NJ
|
Stockton College of NJ
|
Pomona
|
Heritage, Civilization and the Jews
|
NY
|
Canisius College
|
Buffalo
|
Development of Jewish Religious Thought and Practice
|
NY
|
Siena College
|
Loudonville
|
Judaism
|
NY
|
Marymount Manhattan College
|
New York
|
Faith After The Holocaust
|
OH
|
Baldwin-Wallace
|
Berea
|
Introduction to Judaism
|
PA
|
Cabrini College
|
Radnor
|
Introduction to Judaism
|
PA
|
Rosemont College
|
Rosemont
|
Foundations of Religious Belief
|
OH
|
John Carroll Univ.
|
Cleveland
|
Introduction to Judaism
|
TN
|
Memphis Theo. Sem.
|
Memphis
|
The Holocaust and Its Roots
|
TN
|
Rhodes College
|
Memphis
|
Judaism
|
TX
|
Texas Lutheran University
|
Seguin
|
Judaism
|
TX
|
University of St. Thomas
|
Houston
|
Introduction to Judaism
|
WI
|
Sacred Heart School of Theo.
|
Hales Corner
|
The Life of Holiness: An Introduction to Judaism
|
WI
|
Edgewood College
|
Madison
|
Jewish Life & Thought
|
WI
|
Cardinal Stritch
|
Milwaukee
|
Contemporary Judaism
|
WI
|
Ripon College
|
Ripon
|
Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures
|
WV
|
Marshall Univ.
|
Huntington
|
The Jewish Way of Life
|
|
-> Back to Top
