Shalom Hartman Institute
Aim
Be a centre of transformative thinking and teaching that addresses the major challenges facing the Jewish people and elevates the quality of Jewish life in Israel and around the world; Realise the significance of Jewish ideas, the power of applied scholarship, and the conviction that great teaching contributes to the growth and continual revitalisation of the Jewish people.
History
In 1971, Rabbi Professor David Hartman bid farewell to his congregation in Montreal and, along with his wife Bobbi and their five children, made aliya to Israel. Rabbi Professor David Hartman, Shalom Hartman Institute, Jerusalem Congregants from Rabbi Hartman's synagogue recall their young rabbi speaking of his vision to establish an institute in Israel, a place where Judaic studies scholars would address the critical contemporary challenges facing the Jewish people. Rabbi Hartman's new home in Jerusalem quickly became a beit midrash for young scholars who were attracted to Rabbi Hartman's unique philosophy. By 1976, the rapidly growing group moved to a local synagogue, and the Shalom Hartman Institute was born - named for the memory of Rabbi Hartman's father.
IRD Activities
- Academic Conferences
The Hartman Institute's academic conferences bring together leading scholars from around the world for deep textual exploration based on the notion that a multidisciplinary community of scholars can achieve shared understanding and new discourses for addressing contemporary challenges. One of those conferences is the International Theology Conferences. The International Theology Conference convenes leading Jewish, Christian, and Muslim theologians for a week of interreligious study. Unlike other interfaith encounters, the aim of the conference is not to search for points of commonality among the three religions, but to create a forum where each can learn from the other
- Muslim Leadership Initiative
The Muslim Leadership Initiative (MLI) was launched in summer 2013. The programme invites North American Muslims to explore how Jews understand Judaism, Israel, and Jewish peoplehood. The programme also encourages participants to experience how Palestinians, both inside and outside Israel, identify themselves, while exploring the issues of ethics, faith, and practice. Conducted over the course of a 13-month period, the curriculum comprises an orientation session, two 12-day seminars held in Jerusalem during consecutive years, two mid-year retreats in North America, and monthly long-distance learning. Participants travel to various cities in the West Bank, as well as to northern Israeli Arab communities, where they interact with Muslim religious leaders, educators, students, and activists. Hosted at the Hartman Institute's campus in Jerusalem, the programme provides participants with the opportunity to visit religious and historic sites, as well as to engage with local residents of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith traditions
- Christian Leadership Initiative
The comprehensive, year-long Christian Leadership Initiative (CLI) study programme, run in partnership with AJC, introduces prominent Christian leaders and change agents from North America to the central ideas of Jewish ethics and faith, the diverse ideologies and practices of contemporary Jewry, the meaning of Israel for world Jewry, foundations of religious pluralism, and interreligious study. The curriculum, uniquely shaped for Christian leaders, focuses on central ideas of Judaism in the areas of ethics, faith, and politics, canonical Jewish texts, the challenges of modernity and the State of Israel, diverse ideologies and religious practices of contemporary world Jewry, intellectual foundations of religious pluralism and interreligious studies, and practical methods for Christian engagement with Jews. The programme, conducted over 13 months, comprises year-round long-distance learning and two 10-day seminars held in Jerusalem in consecutive summers. The Jerusalem seminars enable fellows to encounter Jewish life in Israel and facilitates encounters with Israelis of different backgrounds who represent diversity and challenges inherent in modern Judaism
- Min HaBe’erot Jewish-Arab Shared Society Education
The Min HaBe’erot Initiative for Jewish-Arab Coexistence Education promotes coexistence in Israel by bringing together Jewish and Arab educators to address issues related to their shared background as citizens of the State of Israel through the study of common values based on traditional Muslim, Christian, and Jewish texts.
Main Focus Countries of Activities
Jerusalem, Israel - USA - Israel - State of Palestine - USA - Israel - Israel