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. 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