Dear Chancellor Letters of Welcome Words
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At a pivotal moment for Conservative Judaism's institutional leadership, seven prominent Jewish scholars and community leaders penned candid letters of advice to incoming Jewish Theological Seminary Chancellor Arnold Eisen, revealing deep concerns about the movement's future. Their messages—contributed by Daniel Gordis, David M. Gordis, Arthur Green, Elie Kaunfer, Leon A. Morris, Iris Richman, and Art Spar—confront declining membership, eroding relevance in American Jewish life, and intensifying competition from Orthodox and Reform movements. The contributors propose diverse strategic solutions, from developing distinctive halakhic discourse that bridges tradition with critical scholarship to revolutionizing prayer education and modernizing Seminary governance structures. Central to their recommendations is redefining the chancellor's role to emphasize inspirational leadership over administration, while fostering interfaith dialogue and expanding digital outreach. Eisen's response to these letters, along with the collective wisdom they represent, illuminates Conservative Judaism's broader struggle to establish its identity and purpose in an increasingly post-denominational landscape, with the Seminary positioned as a crucial catalyst for renewal through its rabbinic training and intellectual leadership.

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Published 2006
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