How Germany Produced Modern Judaism–Lessons for today
On March 15, from 6:30-7:30, Professor Rabbi David Ellenson will give the Elie Wiesel Center’s third annual Leo Trepp Lecture. Now Director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis, Rabbi Ellenson is a past president of Hebrew Union College and a scholar of German Jewish neo-Orthodoxy.
In his lecture, Professor Ellenson will review the emergence of Reform, Orthodox and Positive Historical (Conservative) varieties of Judaism in 19th century Germany and explain the ongoing relevance of their beliefs and structures for an understanding of Judaism today.
The lecture with be preceded by a festive reception, starting at 5:30, in honor of the Trepp Torah scroll, which Mrs. Gunda Trepp, who sponsors the Lecture series, has generously donated to be permanently housed at the Center.
Professor Ellenson, who has written on the importance of studying both text and context, is also Visiting Professor of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University, as well as Chancellor Emeritus at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIIR).
He is internationally recognized for his publications and research in the areas of Jewish religious thought, ethics and modern Jewish history. His twelve-year tenure as president of the seminary of the Reform Movement was distinguished by his devotion to sustaining HUC-JIIR’s academic excellence. He received an honorary doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2014.
This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required, as there is limited seating.