Connect with Israel, Connect With HUC

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion faculty members will bring you inside Israel from our Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem, sharing their expertise and adding context to the ongoing crisis. To address a painful, confusing, and scary time with more questions than answers, HUC-JIR created a new special series, HUC Connect: Inside Israel. This series aims to give the public the opportunity to hear from the voices that are helping to meaningfully shape Jewish leaders and the world as this generation’s keenest crisis of global Jewish life unfolds.

When communities experience trauma and grief, we turn to our leaders for comfort, support, and guidance. However, who are the people who educate and prepare these leaders for times of crisis? And how is the work of developing leaders impacted by an educator’s personal experience? HUC-JIR is in a unique position to answer these questions with its renowned faculty, and in this special series, listeners delve into these topics and more with faculty members on the ground in Jerusalem during the Israel-Hamas War.

In the first episode of the series, Dr. David Mendelsson, educator, historian, author, and senior lecturer in Israel Studies and Modern Jewish History at HUC-JIR’s Taube campus in Jerusalem, sheds light on his experiences since October 7th as a father, mentor, and Israeli. Witnessing everything from shifts in both the literal and learning landscapes to moments inspired by Jewish peoplehood, Dr. Mendelsson offers perspective and wisdom on Israel today.

Upcoming guests include Rabbi Talia Avnon-Benveniste, Director of the Israel Rabbinical Program; Jeremy Leigh, M.A., Coordinator of the Richard J. Scheuer Israel Seminar; Rabbi Michael Marmur, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Jewish Theology, and others.

The interviews will be available to listen to through the College Commons Podcast and will be available for viewing on HUC Connect On Demand.