Dr. Michael Zeldin to Address Symposium on Jewish Identity

Dr. Michael Zeldin to present keynote address on "Jewish Identity: The Story" at Symposium on Jewish Identity, which will take place on November 2-4, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario CANADA, immediately preceding the URJ North American Biennial Convention.

The Symposium on Jewish Identity invites lay, volunteer and professional educational leaders from across the Reform movement to engage in learning and conversation about Jewish Identity at all stages of life long learning. In the true spirit of a symposium we will seek to facilitate dialogue, challenge prevailing thinking and integrate a variety of perspectives.

Two of the questions that will guide our exploration are:

0.How is Jewish identity formed/created/developed/constructed and why?

0.In what ways can our understanding of Jewish identity impact our work?

By examining current research with leading scholars and engaging in lively dialogue, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of Jewish identity while considering the implications of that understanding for all of our work.

The Symposium on Jewish Identity is a Reform Movement-wide collaboration, jointly sponsored and planned by the Union for Reform Judaism, the National Association of Temple Educators, the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism, and the Progressive Association of Reform Day Schools, with partnership from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education of HUC-JIR, Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the American Conference of Cantors.

For more information: http://urj.org/learning/teacheducate/symposium/

Founded in 1875, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion is the nation’s oldest institution of higher Jewish education and the academic, spiritual, and professional leadership development center of Reform Judaism. HUC-JIR educates men and women for service to American and world Jewry as rabbis, cantors, educators, and nonprofit management professionals, and offers graduate programs to scholars and clergy of all faiths. With centers of learning in Cincinnati, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and New York, HUC-JIR’s scholarly resources comprise the renowned Klau Library, The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, research institutes and centers, and academic publications. In partnership with the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, HUC-JIR sustains the Reform Movement’s congregations and professional and lay leaders. HUC-JIR’s campuses invite the community to cultural and educational programs illuminating Jewish history, identity, art, and archaeology, and fostering interfaith and multiethnic understanding.