Jewish Group Endowing 48 Resident Lectureships at Catholic Colleges

The Jewish Chautauqua Society, sponsored by the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods, filled requests for rabbinical speakers at 182 Catholic colleges last year, it was reported by Society Chancellor Morton L. Kemper of Baltimore. Kemper, who was awarded a plaque by the National Catholic Educational Association, at a dinner meeting of the Society, also reported that the Society is endowing 48 resident lectureships–accredited courses in Judaism–at Catholic colleges this year.

In the metropolitan area they are on the curricula of Fordham University, New York; Manhattan College; Marymount Manhattan College; Marymount in Tarrytown; the College of New Rochelle; Molloy Catholic College for Women, Rockville Center; St. Peter’s College, Jersey City, N.J., and Caldwell (N.J.) College for Women.

“We welcome this new ecumenical exchange,” Kemper said. “Until recently, we never thought it would have been possible. Catholics have a lot to learn about Jews and Judaism. Jews also have a lot to learn about Catholics and Catholicism. Our understanding of each other suffers from false stereotypes of the past.” The Rev. Michael P. Walsh, president of Fordham, said: “It is this continuing emergence of the spirit of collaboration that leads us to hope that something similar might permeate all segments of our society.”

The citation Thursday night to Kemper, “a token of recognition and gratitude for the Chautauqua Society’s vision and ecumenical spirit,” declared; “Over the years, the Society has funded resident lectureships, supported rabbis to conduct lectures and seminars on Catholic college campuses and donated Jewish reference books to college libraries. These are but a few of the positive steps the Society has taken to share the profound insights of the Judsic tradition with its spiritual children.”