An ecumenical movement within Judaism will have its beginnings at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America this fall when scholars representing the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox branches teach a course together on new developments in contemporary Jewish theology
Announcement of the joint teaching project was made yesterday by Dr. Louis Finkelstein, chancellor of the seminary which prepares rabbis for pulpits in Conservative synagogues. Dr. Finkelstein likened the project to the first stages of ecumenism in Christianity which involved Catholic and Protestant churches. Its purpose, he said, is to reverse the trend toward sectarianism in Judaism.
The course will be taught by Dr. Eugene B. Borowitz, professor of Jewish religious thought at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, representing the Reform branch of Judaism; Dr. Seymour Siegel, professor of Jewish theology at the Seminary, and Dr. Michael Wyschograd, professor of philosophy at the Bernard M. Baruch School of Business and Public Administration, who represents the Orthodox viewpoint.
The three teachers will alternate in giving lectures at the 90 minute sessions that will meet weekly beginning November 2 and will comment on each other’s presentation. The course is open to advanced rabbinical students.
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