The Center for Jewish, Christian, & Islamic Studies
For more than three decades, Chicago Theological Seminary’s Center for Jewish-Christian Studies, now expanded to include Islamic Studies, has supported academic and community-oriented programs that promote interfaith dialogue and collaboration among the “religions of the book.” Led by Professor Emeritus André LaCocque until his retirement and now directed by Rabbi Rachel S. Mikva, the Center has long embodied the Seminary’s pledge to work in partnership with Jewish and Muslim communities.
Recognizing the urgent and ongoing need for religious leaders who are knowledgeable about their neighbors of different faiths, and who are committed to working toward justice and mercy in a pluralistic world, Chicago Theological Seminary renews its commitment to interfaith engagement.
Learn more about our exciting Interfaith Just Peacemaking Workshop that happened on April 4 and learn about how you can get involved!
What’s new in 2011-2012….
- We welcome the Hyde Park Muslim Family Circle to CTS for its Friday religious school and community program!
- Fall 2011 Online Course: “Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Introduction to Interfaith Engagement” with Najeeba Syeed-Miller, Rachel Mikva, Susan Thistlethwaite.
- CTS goes gleaning during the Jewish festival of Sukkot and learns about models of food justice.
- “Dealing with Differences that Matter: Interreligious Engagement 3.0.”
- JCIS worship service featuring the Congo SWB band.
- New course! “Exploring the American Muslim Experience,” Dr. Rami Nashashibi, Spring 2012.
- New course! “Exploring Jewish Ethics,” with Dr. Rachel Mikva, Spring 2012.
- “Passover Seder of the Children of Abraham, Hagar and Sarah.”
- “Interfaith Just Peacemaking” Panel and Discussion.
- Rabbi Capers Funnye of Beth Shalom B’nei Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation.
- Lunchtime discussion tables for the Days of Awe and other topics.
- --and more!
Our work in the past year….
- Transformative study tour to Israel and Palestine, having raised $40,000 in CTS student stipends – to be repeated in January 2013.
- Develop Master of Arts in Religious Leadership for Interfaith Engagement.
- “Conflict Resolution and Interreligious Studies,” with Najeeba Syeed-Miller, Asst. Prof. of Interreligious Education, Claremont School of Theology.
- “Immigration Issues in the U.S.: Text and Context,” with Rachel Mikva and Jane Ramsey, Executive Director of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs.
- “Critical Issues in Israel and the Middle East,” with Naomi Chazan, President of the New Israel Fund.
- “Report from Israel and Palestine: Sharing our Study Tour with the CTS Community,” with students from the course.
- “Do Jesus and Paul Really Matter Judaically?” with Rabbi Steve Jacobs, University of Alabama.
- Community worship with multifaith themes.
- Organize interfaith conversations in the seminary community and beyond.
- Rabbi Herman Schaalman, Fall 2010 Guest Scholar.
- Celebrate Sukkot and create other worship opportunities for multi-faith experiences.
- Revise program objectives and curricular categories in light of our interfaith commitments.
- Multiply course offerings that address non-Christian religions or integrate comparative elements.
- Launch Facebook page, with followers growing by the week.
 Get involved!! We welcome everyone from the CTS community and beyond to share in our work on interreligious engagement and understanding. Come to our programs — or help plan them!! Help us think through and live into our commitments for advancing justice and mercy in our multifaith context.
If you are involved in a local group of any faith or interfaith nature, we would like to find out what you are doing and whether there might be any place for joint learning or action.
Questions or comments? Contact Rabbi Mikva
To support this work, give online or call 773.322.0245.
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