Shalom Hartman Institute

Fostering Spiritual Pluralistic Jewish Thought and Education and Moral Growth in Israel and the World

Since 1986, the Russell Berrie Foundation has invested in the Shalom Hartman Institute’s (SHI) efforts to promote pluralism in Israeli society and throughout the world. SHI was founded in 1976 in Jerusalem by Professor and Rabbi David Hartman, a philosopher of contemporary Judaism and an internationally-renowned Jewish author. SHI is a leading innovator in the field of pluralistic Jewish thought and education.

The Russ and Angelica Berrie Family Study Hall and Auditorium at the Shalom Hartman Institute

Through its research and educational centers as well as its long distance learning programs, the Institute is training both the current and next generation of rabbis, scholars, educators and lay leaders to re-examine traditions and nurture its vision of spiritual and moral growth in Israel and the world. The Institute envisions a Jewish community and larger world where religion serves as a force for decency and morality, where passion and pluralism co-exist, and where religious diversity is celebrated.

Recently the SHI, in partnership with the Russell Berrie Foundation, has launched Melamdim: The Russ Berrie School for Teacher Training, which has the goal of building a new generation of top notch Jewish studies educators for Israeli and North American high schools of all religious denominations. The two-year Masters program brings together distinguished graduate students from Israel and North America representing the spectrum of religious positions. The program, which encourages a variety of ideological perspectives and approaches to Jewish texts, is designed to produce broad-minded, outstanding and creative Jewish educators who can invigorate and bring a pluralistic approach to Jewish education. This year, 21 graduate students have been accepted into the program.

http://www.hartmaninstitute.com/