AJCommittee Launches Innovative Judaic Literacy Program

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 19 December 1997

The American Jewish Committee has initiated an innovative leadership training program for its lay leaders to facilitate Judaic study sessions.

The first seminar was held December 12 - 14 in Amelia Island, Florida, under the auspices of AJC's Hilda Katz Blaustein Institute for Leadership Development. The weekend Institute, which brought together more than fifty AJC leaders representing the broad spectrum of AJC constituency from twenty cities across the country, was based on the recently-published book "Understanding Jewish History," by Dr. Steven Bayme, AJC Director of Jewish Communal Affairs. The book also comes with an accompanying study guide.

AJC lay leaders will now bring their knowledge back to their local communities to plan study sessions for their own membership.

"Understanding Jewish History" is a volume designed as a core course in Jewish history. Its objectives include an understanding of the primary historical experiences of the Jews, the distinctive ideas which Jews and Judaism have advocated, and an exposure to the classical texts of Judaic heritage.

"Understanding Jewish History" has, to date, received reviews calling it "stimulating reading and an invaluable outpouring of learning (The Booklist). Jewish Book World said: "If one needs to select a book to use in an adult education course on Jewish history, THIS IS IT! If one needs a good Jewish history book for the home library, THIS IS IT! And for all public and institutional libraries and schools, THIS IS IT!" And Washington Jewish Week told readers to "think of this book as a gourmet feast…[a] delectable book."

Dr. Bayme, who led the 2 1/2 day study group along with professional facilitators, commented: "The study of Jewish history should be a common core curriculum for all Jews. It is the tradition that we all share, that unifies us as a people.

"The American Jewish Committee, through the introduction of such a study program, underscores its commitment to securing Jewish continuity and to strengthening the Jewish literacy of its membership. The program demonstrates our commitment to the study of the Jewish experience of the past as a prerequisite to understanding contemporary Jewish living and as a possible roadmap for shaping the Jewish future. It is a program clearly designed to bridge the gap between the secular attainments of American Jews and their attainments in Judaic heritage."

Shulamith Bahat, AJC 's Associate Executive Director, chaired the weekend event. She stated that this program is an embodiment of the agency's desire to "actively promote Jewish learning. As a Jewish organization that prides itself on the development of an active and committed leadership, the AJC has come to fully appreciate that participation absent a high level of understanding and appreciation of Jewish history and the wealth of Jewish texts does a great disservice to our leaders, our membership, and the Jewish community overall. AJC is exceptionally proud of this special initiative. The enthusiasm expressed by participants was heartening and encouraging, and we look forward to bringing this program to everyone in the American Jewish Committee who seeks a greater understanding of who they are and where they came from."

The 443-page volume is broken down into 34 units which examine topics including: Creation, Covenant, Redemption; Prophecy and Biblical Religion; Destruction and Exile; Rome and Jerusalem; Origins of Christianity; The Church and the Jews; Jewry and Islam; The Crusades and the Jews; Renaissance and Reformation; Hasidism; Reform Judaism; Neo-Orthodoxy; Modern Anti-Semitism; Modern Zionism; Jewish Settlement in America; Conservative Judaism and Reconstructionism; Jewry and the Soviet Union; The Holocaust; and Israel and World Jewry. Each unit includes source material and a suggested bibliography for further reading.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org