A FAMILY TREE VIDEO -
The First Hundred Years
ne of the main events contributing
to the founding of the Jewish
Theological Seminary in 1887 was
a convention of the Reform rabbinate,
two years earlier in Pittsburgh, during
which the Reform group decided to
make a firm break with traditional
Judaism. They announced a radical plat-
form in which, among other assertions,
all of the rituals, such as kashrut, were
pronounced to be dispensable
At the time, only 12 of the 200 syna-
gogues in America identified themselves
as other than Reform.
Greatly disturbed by this trend, Dr.
Sabato Morals began to urge his few
0
The Seminary logo honoring the
Institution's 100th anniversari
traditional colleagues to lielp him form a
rabbinical school dedicated to . the
"knowledge and practice of historical
Judaism" The Seminary opened its doors
to eight students at the beginning of
,
Following are a few highlights of the
first hundred years.
In 1894, Joseph Hertz was ordained as
the first Seminary-trained rabbi. He later
became chief rabbi of the British Empire,
In 1902, Solomon Schecter came from
England to direct the. Seminary, which
merged into a new corporation with Dr.
Cyrus Adler as chairman of the board and
Louis Marshall chairman of the executive
committee. The Seminary moved to its
building on West 123rd Street, provided
by Jacob Schiff. -
In 1904 the Jewish Museum was
established.
under Cyrus Adler's leadership
(19154931), the Seminary established its
-first great library and its undergraduate
programs. Louis Ginzburg, Louis Finkel-
stein and Mordecai Kaplan produced
great scholarship during this period.
With. Dr. Finkelstein at its helm
(1940-1972), the Seminary carved out a
more prominent- role in American reli-
gious and cultural life. Notable initiatives
included production of the "Eternal
Light" radio program and creation of the
Ramah camps — half the applicants to
Seminary graduate schools are Ramah
alumni. The eminent European theolo-
gian Abraham Joshua Heschel joined the
faculty. The Cantors Institute-Seminary
College of Jewish Music was established,
as was a high school program and a
center to develop curricula for Jewish
afternoon achools. In 1961 the Seminary
built its Jerusalem campus,- Neve
Schechter.
Four major developments distin
guished Dr. Gerson Cohen's chancellor-
ship (19724986): extension of graduate
Jewish studies programs, stimulating
development of Jewish studies depart-
mente across the nation; renovation of the
Manhattan campus and reconstruction of
the library after a major fire in 1966; in-
itiation of adult education programs for
college-educated laity; and the.decision to
admit women to the rabbinical school,
after a ten year debate, in 198C
Schorsch was named
Dr
chancellor in 1986 as the Seminary was
about to enter its second century.
.
word of God eschews any . application of
Conservative leaders, long sensitive to
modern historical methods to the Jewish
the perception that their movement is
exPerienc-e-
more a reaction to Reform Judaisra than
Even with all• the outreach programs,
an ideological pathfinder, have forfired a
fund raising, organizational debate and
commission to prepare the first positive
responsibilities to the greater Conservative
'statement of Conservative Jewish
Jewish community, JTS remains, first and
ideology- Chaired by Dr. Robert Gordis, the
group reflects a broad range of Conser- , foremost, a ,center of learning. The school's
alumni are a prestigious group of com-
vative opinion and.expects to complete its
munity and religious leaders, and J'I'S
work in a-year and a half. The ConserVative
claims to have graduated more Ph.D.s in
ideologists characterize their approach as
Jewish Stirdies than any other institution.
"positive historical Judaism" -- "positive"
For its high standing in the educational
.because they believe the - Referm used
.,history, to justify change and reject. tradi- , community, JTS owes a great deal to Dr.
tion, and ."historical" becaurie they feel the , Solomon Schec.hter, the world-class scholar
who left his post at Cambridge nniversi-
Orthodox concept - of 'Ibrali as the explicit
FEATURE THE SENIOR MEMBER 'OF YOUR FAMILY, IN A .
FAMILY TREE VIDEO. ITS DONE JUST UKE A TELEVISION
TALK SHOW. WE WILL PROFESSIONALLY INTERVIEW THE
OLDEST•MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY TO TALK ABOUT THE
YEARS PAST. THIS ONE-HALF HOUR RECORDED VIDEO
INTERVIEW REQUIRES NO PREPARATION TIME ON YOUR
PART. WE WILL TRAVEL TO THE LOCATION OF. YOUR
CHOICE. CALL RANDY CARR AT 478-0369.
THE BRIGHT IDEA
THE JEWISH NEWS,
send
as a gift
354-6060
MAKE YOUR
BROWN EYES BLUE
D.O.0 hanthe only soft contact lenses you can buy
that Will change the color of your brown eyes ... no
matter hoW dark ... to blue, green or even aqua.
With. Puragoft° Colors, you can now change the
color of your,brovin eyes as easily as you Change
your clothes or make-up. In fact, the darker your
eyes, the more natural the lens looks. And, this high
quality lens is more tear-tesistant and durable than
most others: Whether you wear pregeription lenses or
even if you don't, come in for a free demonstration.
Maybe; you weren't born with biue eyes,
but Only.your D.O.0 OPtometrist knows for sure.
,
Southfield Plaza
Southfield Road
at 121/2 Mils
443.5440
Dr. Dan Steki, O.D.
;
West Bloomfield Plaza
Orchard Lake Road •
south of Maple
626.0200
Dr. Howard Bogner, 0.D.
c.1986
D.O.0 Optics Corp.