HEBREW COLLEGE LAUNCHES HEART-TO-HEART

NEWTON CENTRE, Mass., June 21, 2016 -- In response to numerous inquiries from Christian seekers over the past several years requesting intellectually rigorous and spiritually enriching materials on Jewish thought and practice, Hebrew College announces the launch of a new online educational resource called Heart-to-Heart: An Exploration of Jewish Spirituality for Christians (H2H).

"Our goal is to provide participants with compelling and informative Jewish materials that will aid them in their journeys as Christians. We also believe that in the process of learning about various Jewish concepts and practices, students will gain a deeper understanding of the similarities and differences between Judaism and Christianity, and the beauty and vitality of each of these rich and complex traditions," commented Rabbi Or Rose of Hebrew College, who leads this new initiative.

The Heart-to-Heart curriculum seeks to help participants deepen their understanding of Jewish religious life, exploring both similarities and differences across Jewish and Christian traditions. The first course, "Foundations of Jewish Spirituality," is inspired by the work of Rabbi Arthur Green, rector of the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College, and his recent book Judaism's 10 Best Ideas (Jewish Lights Publishing). The opening lesson, available free of charge, is dedicated to an exploration of the Sabbath.

Heart-to-Heart will release a new lesson every 10 days throughout the summer for a modest fee. In addition, participants will receive occasional complementary sources—spiritual reflections, musical meditations, and scriptural commentaries—between the release dates. Participation is entirely self-paced, and can be started at any time.

Heart-to-Heart is informed by Hebrew College's extensive experience working with Jewish and Christian adult learners over the last two decades. It is further enriched by the generous insights offered by several Christian leaders, scholars, and educators from across the United States and Canada. The Rev. Dr. Peter Pettit, Director of the Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding at Muhlenberg College, and an advisor to Heart-to-Heart, notes that, "This invites Christians to learn about Jews and Jewish life in terms that emerge organically from within. It can help us set aside off-center judgments determined by using Christian categories and explore the valuable differences that enrich our understanding of the human spiritual project in diverse communities."

Heart-to-Heart is a project of the Betty Ann Greenbaum Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership at Hebrew College. Founded in 2016, the Miller Center was established through a generous gift from Dan Miller, a member of the Hebrew College Board of Trustees and husband of the late Betty Ann Greenbaum Miller, MAJS`05. The Center promotes dialogue, study, and joint action across religious and cultural communities.

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Hebrew College, founded in 1921, promotes excellence in Jewish learning and leadership within a pluralistic environment of open inquiry, intellectual rigor, personal engagement and spiritual creativity. Its programs include a Rabbinical School, a School of Jewish Music, a School of Jewish Education, and graduate degrees and courses in Jewish studies; community education for adult learners; and a supplemental Hebrew high school and middle school. For more information, visit www.hebrewcollege.edu.

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