91¿ì²¥ Hosts National Black-Jewish Clergy Symposium

On June 24–25, 91¿ì²¥ had the privilege of hosting the first National Black-Jewish Clergy Symposium, focused on the topic of “Building Beloved Community Through Lived Experiences.” Fourteen men and women—Jewish and Black clergy—studied, broke bread, and laughed together. Sessions included a Bible study on “Exodus 1: How Memory Shapes Our Experience,” led by Dr. Burton Visotzky, Appleman Professor of Midrash and Interreligious Studies Emeritus at 91¿ì²¥, and Reverend Edward Livingston, Pastor of Dryland United Church of Christ and Director of Religious Community Initiatives at Interfaith Philadelphia, and “The History of the Black-Jewish Relationship,” led by Dr. Stephen Ray, former president of the Chicago Theological Seminary. Participants also learned about 91¿ì²¥’s rare books and viewed the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s current exhibit on the Harlem Renaissance.


The group was co-founded by Dr. Mark Jones and Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, a 91¿ì²¥ Rabbinical School alum and Rabbi Emeritus of Herzl-Ner Tamid Congregation in Mercer Island, WA. Rabbi Rosenbaum and Dr. Jones hadconvened a Black-Jewish Clergy study group in Seattle, and in early 2020, he approached 91¿ì²¥ about expanding it nationally. Since then, 91¿ì²¥ has facilitated monthly Zoom study among some 40 Black and Jewish clergy. A partnership grant from the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue at 91¿ì²¥ allowed participants to meet in person for the first time. We’re looking forward to continuing this important dialogue.