Local relationships between Christian clergy and rabbis have been strained since the events of October 7, 2023. Many clergy feel unsure of how to navigate relationships with Jews in this complicated, intense period. And yet, these relationships are more important than ever. With ongoing political polarization, increasing antisemitism in the public square, and rapidly changing events in Israel/Palestine and the region, rabbis and Christian clergy need to renew their connections.
The Shalom Hartman Institute is offering a unique learning series for Christian clergy to study, discuss ideas and questions about Israel and Palestine with colleagues, and work together to renew relationships with local rabbis.
Christian-Jewish Clergy Partners: Re-engaging after October 7 and Gaza
The program consists of:
- Five virtual learning sessions between March and May 2025 with world-renowned Hartman faculty in the US and Israel, including Christian and Palestinian faculty. Sessions are designed to be joined in real-time; recordings will be made available.
- Coffee date with a local rabbi. If there are no rabbis in a particular area, or help is needed in identifying a rabbi, assistance will be provided.
This program is intended for Christian clergy serving communities. Participants are expected to attend all five sessions (in real-time or watch a recording) and must commit to making arrangements for a coffee date. There is no fee for this program.
Session Dates
All sessions are virtual from 11:30 am-1:30 pm ET and are subject to change.
- March 18 – Encountering Judaism as Christian Clergy: Being and Becoming
Elana Stein Hain, Rosh Beit Midrash and Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, and Peter Pettit, Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa and former Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute. - April 8 – From No Homes to Two Homes: Israel as a Jewish State
Faculty TBD - April 22 – Power and Vulnerability
Faculty TBD - May 6 – Palestinian Voices
Rana Fahoum, Director of the Institute’s Center for Shared Society, and Rula Hardal, Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute - May 20 – Solidarity and Critique
Masua Sagiv, Senior Faculty and Koret Visiting Assistant Professor of Jewish and Israel Studies at the Helen Diller Institute, U.C. Berkeley
For more information and registration, click here