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Temple Beth El hosts the
58th annual Glazer Institute
for education and
ecumenical dialogue.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
StaffWriter
hen Dr. David Ellenson
prepared to speak to 200
local clergy on Feb. 11,
he had to keep in mind
that all but his three Temple Beth El
hosts would be attending from non-
Jewish congregations.
Invited by Temple Rabbis Daniel
Syme, David Castiglione and Sheila
Goloboy, he addressed the 58th
annual Rabbi B. Benedict Glazer
Institute on Judaism for the Catholic,
Eastern Orthodox, Muslim and
Protestant Clergy.
Following the theme, "Other
Religions in Jewish Eyes: Classical
JN
2/18
2000
58
Shelli Liebman Dorfman can be
reached at (248) 354-6060, ext. 246,
or by e-mail at
sdorfinan@thejewishnews.com
tin g brings new
ndshzp s,
•
understand what Jewish text says" by
Exclusivity, Modern Tolerance," Dr.
offering insight and providing the
Ellenson, also a rabbi, spoke first on
opportunity for dialogue among guests,
"Talmudic Sources, Medieval Tolerance"
said David Blewett, executive director of
and later on "Modern Issues."
Reaction to his talks
on how religions view
one another continued
amongst the guests, casu-
ally at a luncheon, and
then in a formal discus-
sion period moderated
by the Rev. Richard
Singleton, executive
director of the Christian
Communication Council
of Metropolitan Detroit
Churches.
. "I thought the rabbi's
style was portrayed with a
good deal of candor and
honesty," he said,
remarking on the open
approach of the speaker
to a subject stressing a
need to see the common- Bishop Grover L. Wmbley of New Day Church of
Deliverance in Detroit with Dr. David Ellenson.
ality among the guests.
Many of those attend-
the Ecumenical Institute for Jewish-
ing have done so for many years, but
Christian Studies in Southfield.
this year's Institute was a first for the
"The very fact that people come
Rev. Craig Drummond and his wife Pat.
already starts the process of under-
"Dr. Ellenson gave me an opportuni-
standing more about the idea of fellow-
ty to learn some things about the Jewish
ship and sharing," said Jessie Stern,
faith that I didn't know," said Rev.
Institute co-chair with her husband Dr.
Drummond of the Central United
Sheldon Stern for the second year. She
Church in Windsor.
stressed the program's focus on "how
"He did a lot to help Christians
much more we have in common than
differences," heeding Dr. Ellenson's
words regarding the behavior that God
expects of human beings, not only Jews.
"We all engage in the communal task
of recognizing the Creator of heaven
and earth," said Dr. Ellenson. "I try to
talk about different areas of communali-
ty, different theologies."
Temple Beth El president Marion
Freedman sees the Institute as a place
that "brings us together to celebrate
what we share."
Dr. Ellenson is the I.H. and Anna
Grancell Professor of Jewish
Religious Thought at Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion
•
in Los Angeles.
Holding a doctorate from Columbia
University, he was ordained at the
HUC-JIR in New York. He is an author
and lecturer on modern Jewish history,
ethics and thought.
The Institute was founded by the
late Rabbi B. Benedict Glazer of
Temple Beth El to promote under-
standing and respect among members
of varied religions. Following his 1952
death, the Institute was renamed in
memory of the man who Rabbi Syme
describes as "the champion of interre-
ligious dialogue."
The Glazer Institute is sponsored by
the Merton J. and Beverly Segal and
Marvin and Peggy Novick Heritage
Endowment for the Glazer Institute. ❑