A number of exciting events and programs are being planned for the first year of the newly announced, Jewish-Christian Relations Initiative at Belmont University. This initiative is a part of the work of the Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership and is made possible by the generous support of various community members, along with Belmont University. It seeks to provide shared sacred-text seminars, dialogues, conversations, retreats, materials, and other educational opportunities for students, clergy, and laity in the Nashville community. An important aspect of this endeavor is that of creating space for respectful dialogue and engaging perspective.
In it's inaugural year, the Initiative is sponsoring the following activities.
- The Temple & Belmont University’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center will co-sponsor a 3-week lecture seriestaught by Dr. Amy-Jill Lavine, Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University, on the topic: Witnesses at the Cross: How Gospel Stories Reveal Jewish History. These lectures, offered at The Temple, are scheduled for the evenings of Feb. 1st, 8th, and 15th at 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend. (Belmont University students will be offered WELLcore credit for attending.)
- Winter Bible Study – Drawing from the success of last winter’s study, Dr. Jon Roebuck and Rabbi Mark Schiftan will offer a three-week Bible study on Tuesday evenings, November 2nd, 9th, and 16th. The study, entitled, Words of Comfort, Courage, and Hope, will offer an in-depth look at three Psalms, Psalm 23, 51, and 121.
- In April of 2022, The Judeo-Christian Initiative will sponsor the first of an annual lecture series focused on the History of Judaism and Judaism’s Current Place in Contemporary Culture. (The First-Year lecture will focus on the difficulties and roadblocks to a peace settlement for Israel and the Palestinians.) These lectures, made possible by the Frank and Julie Boehm Endowment, will be held on the campus of Belmont University and will feature prominent scholars, authors, and political leaders.
- Belmont students are invited to enroll in a very special Maymester experience for the spring of 2022. The course is entitled: Hated, Segregated, and Eliminated: A look at religious oppression and marginalization of African-American and Jewish communities. The highlight of the experience will be a two week stay in Washington D.C. with week-long experiences in both the National African-American Museum and the National Holocaust Museum. Guest lecturers include Rabbi Mark Schiftan and Professor Michelle Shaw.
- Annual Leadership Retreat – The Jewish-Christian Relations Initiative will provide an annual over-night leadership retreat welcoming members of both the Jewish and Christian communities. This annual event, held each fall, will provide a time for fellowship, conversation, and contemplative study among leaders from the Nashville community.