Jewish Chautauqua Society
for interfaith education
Sponsored by
The North American Federation of Temple
Brotherhoods
NFTB
The Jewish Chatauqua Society (JCS) sponsors accredited courses on Judaic topics on college campuses, organizes secondary school -- museum visitation programs, conducts interfaith institutes and produces educational videos to further this goal.
Since its inception, more than two million students in North America have participated in JCS programs.
The Society has donated over 120,000 books on Judaica to secondary schools, colleges and seminaries in the United States and Canada. For $150, you can sponsor the donation of 10 books to a school library so non-Jewish students can learn more about our people and our culture. please Contact us if you would like to make a donation.
-
IDENTITY
-
Founded in 1893, the Jewish Chautauqua
Society (JCS) is the interfaith educational arm of the North American Federation
of Temple Brotherhoods (NFTB).
NFTB is an affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism, the umbrella organization of the Reform movement, which is the oldest Jewish religious organization in the United States.
JCS is the oldest and largest interfaith
educational program within the Reform movement.
-
The Jewish Chautauqua Society was created
to disseminate knowledge about Judaism and its interrelationship with the
traditions of other faiths. Based on the belief that prejudice breeds on ignorance
born of stereotype, the Jewish Chautauqua Society seeks to reduce anti- Semitism
by providing non-Jews with opportunities to understand the culture, beliefs
and practices of the Jewish people. The Society pursues this mission by sponsoring
rabbinically-taught college level courses and secondary school programs, and
by supporting programs dedicated to interfaith cooperation and mutual respect.
The goal of the Jewish Chautauqua Society is "Understanding Through Education."
JCS believes that most of today's intergroup tensions are rooted in ignorance. First-hand information about Jewish religious practices and beliefs helps non-Jews gain respect for Jews as valuable members of America's multi-cultural society.
JCS sponsors accredited courses on
Judaic topics on college campuses, conducts interfaith institutes, supports
field trips to sites of religious interest, provides book grants and produces
educational videos.
The Jewish Chautauqua Society accomplishes its objectives through the following programs.
-
College Lectureships
- Over 130 accredited college courses on Judaism at colleges, seminaries and
theological institutes across the US and Canada will be sponsored this year
by JCS, including 30 minority colleges and 19 seminaries.
One Day Lectures - More than 50 presentations, on topics ranging from the Jewish holidays to Modern Israel, will be made by JCS rabbis at educational institutions throughout the country.
Book Grants - Institutions hosting JCS programs are provided shelves of books on Jewish topics. JCS has donated 120,000 books of Judaica to libraries to date.
Interfaith Institutes - JCS supported interfaith institutes held on the local level provide rabbis, priests, imams and lay leaders with opportunities to learn about the commonalities and differences amongst the different faiths. Over 25 interfaith institutes will be held this year.
Secondary School
- Museum Visitation Program - Initiated in 1996, in cooperation with major
Jewish museums around the country, JCS makes it possible for tens of thousands
of secondary school age children to visit these important cultural and educational
institutions.
If you would like to become more involved in Temple Emanu-El's JCS interfaith activities, please Click Here to contact the Brotherhood.
© 2008, Temple Emanu-El of San Jose, except as noted for additional content used with permission and/or as attributed to original author. All Rights Reserved.