USCJ will Collaborate with MyJewishLearning.com and STAR in Ground-Breaking Online Course

The Joint Commission on Adult Education of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Rabbinical Assembly have announced that “Even Sheleimah Vatzedek: Completely Honest Weights,” the sourcebook on Judaism, business and ethics produced by the Commission this Spring, will soon be offered as an online course.Following the success of the printed publication, the United Synagogue and the Rabbinical Assembly – in collaboration with MyJewishLearning.com and STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal) – have developed a four-part online course.

The timely work was created by Rabbi Harlan J. Wechsler, spiritual leader of Congregation Or Zarua in New York City, and Marc Sternfeld, retired Wall Street analyst and current second-year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary and adjunct professor at Columbia School of Business. It has been widely acclaimed by Conservative synagogues currently using the publication in adult education programs and by students in learning programs at the Seminary.

According to Rabbi Perry Rank, co-chair of the Commission, “The bookhelps to clarify our moral roles in the contemporary marketplace, allowing us to help our congregants attain new ethical insights into their everyday activities at work and at home, by probing classical Jewish texts.” Rabbi Jan Caryl Kaufman staffs the Commission.

Dr. Robert Abramson, USCJ Director of Education, notes that “The partnership with MyJewishLearning and STAR offers the possibilityof extending the reach of this important guide, giving participants greater flexibility in probing texts and in interacting with fellow students and the instructor. Students will not have to be online at the same time because the course will be offered in non-real (asynchronous) time.” The online course will be taught by Marc Sternfeld.

The course combines accessible translations of the Mishnah with real-world business cases. Participants will be guided in applying Jewish concepts of business ethics to modern ethical dilemmas. A select group of distinguished business leaders will be invited to participate in the pilot program, to be followed by online offerings throughout North America. The starting date of the course is October 20.

Harry Bloom, Director of Partnerships at MyJewishLearning, and Rabbi Hayim Herring, Executive Director of STAR, point out that “the STAR-MyJewishLearning Partnership with United Synagogue and the Rabbinical Assembly is significant. It gives all parties a chance to use their strengths to support adult Jewish learning.” The course will be offered through MyJewishLearning’s website.

MyJewishLearning.com is a central, comprehensive Internet site for learning about Judaism. The site is relevant to adult audiences of diverse backgrounds and learning objectives—from beginning to experienced learners. STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal) promotes Jewish renewal through congregational innovation and leadership development. Its Synaplex Initiative focuses on creating diverse Shabbat experiences for a diverse Jewish community in synagogues throughout North America and its STAR PEER continuing education program for recently ordained rabbis develops innovative rabbinic leadership. MyJewishLearning and STAR partner with the synagogue community to enhance Jewish literacy.

MyJewishLearning.com is funded by the Samuel Bronfman Foundation, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, and the Abramson Family Foundation and is produced by Hebrew College and JFL Media. STAR is a philanthropic partnership of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation and The Samuel Bronfman Foundation.

For more information, contact Rabbi Robert Abramson, 212-533-7800, ext. 2501, Abramson@uscj.org.