Looking Ahead; What I’m Bringing to JTS

In my first few months as The Jewish Theological Seminary’s (JTS) ninth Chancellor, I’ve had an opportunity to reflect on the journey that brought me here and on the lessons I hope to bring to this remarkable organization. Most recently, I spent three and a half years as the first-ever Chief Jewish Learning Officer at Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), where I had the honor of building Jewish learning and growth experiences with professional and volunteer leaders all across North America. That experience reinforced a conviction I now bring to JTS: In this moment of turbulence for the Jewish people, Jews across the spectrum of Jewish life are yearning to find sources of inspiration, resilience, belonging, and confidence in their connection to Jewish tradition and that the right kind of Jewish learning in community is the best tool we have to address this.

During my time at JFNA, we conducted surveys that proved that the desire for meaningful Jewish learning is far greater than many of us imagine. Our research found that 83 percent of Jewish leaders want Jewish learning to be part of their professional and personal development. They see it as a way of increasing their sense of confidence and belonging, and as a way of renewing and sustaining their passion for Jewish life during difficult times.

Not only is there high demand for this kind of learning, but we also figured out ways to meet that demand with rich Jewish content. In just over three years, we created more than 105,000 learning engagements among more than 78,000 unique learners from diverse backgrounds. Most importantly, the impact was measurable: more than 80 percent of participants reported our learning interventions increased their knowledge, confidence, resilience, and motivation to continue in Jewish leadership.

These results demonstrate that in a post-October 7 world, amid rising antisemitism, turbulent political and generational divisions, and profound questions about Jewish identity, many Jews are searching for ways to deepen their connection to Jewish ideas, develop their own voices, and find their own paths into the rich tapestry of Jewish text and wisdom.

I remain deeply grateful to JFNA and the Federation system for creating the platform that made this work possible. It also reinforced my thinking that an opportunity exists here at JTS.

Since beginning my tenure in July, I have already witnessed extraordinary Jewish learning in action. Our world-class faculty produce scholarship of remarkable depth and relevance. JTS creates hundreds of innovative ways for people to access Jewish learning on campus and around the globe. JTS has developed transformative Jewish learning experiences that have similar outcomes to what I saw at Jewish Federation of North America.

JTS has long been one of the world’s most trusted sources of Jewish scholarship, transcending the boundaries of denomination and politics. Our opportunity now is to bring the most dynamic, expert, and soulful expressions of Jewish knowledge to people all over North America and help build a brighter Jewish future. That opportunity extends far beyond professional and volunteer leaders. The desire for deeper learning, meaning, and connection exists across all facets of the Jewish community. As I begin my time as Chancellor of JTS, I see this storied, 140-year-old institution playing a central role in building that future.

I invite all of you to imagine that future with me.