The Jewish-Christian Relations Initiative at Belmont University 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.
Recents Events & Activities
- Weekly Jewish-Christian Dialogue – Held weekly over Zoom, this on-going conversation involves around 30 Jewish and Christian leaders who examine the intersection of culture and faith. (This group has hosted over 150 weekly conversations.)
- Sacred Text Studies led by Rabbi Schiftan and Dr. Roebuck
- Winter of 2021: The Sermon on the Mount drawn from the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7.
- Winter of 2022: Words of Comfort, Courage, and Hope – a look at three Psalms – Psalm 23, 51, and 121
- Hidden History – The Story of the Rosenwald School Project – Community-Wide evening event held on Belmont’s campus, led by Andrew Feiler, author of A Better Life for Their Children. – April 5th, 2022
- Witness at the Cross: How Gospel Stories Reveal Jewish History – A 3-week study led by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine – February 1, 8, & 15, 2022.
- Second Seder Meal – Participants in various JCRI activities were invited by The Temple to Celebrate the Passover. – April 2022
- Habitat for Humanity – The Jewish-Christian Relations Initiative helped to sponsor a Habitat for Humanity community building project in North Nashville during March of 2022. Twenty participants were on-site to work shoulder-to-shoulder on the effort.
- Rabbi-Reverend Dialogue Retreat – In May of 2023, 5 local Rabbis and 5 local Christian Pastors met in Charleston for a 3-day dialogue and relationship-building event. The purpose was to provide greater perspective, insight, and encouragement between faith communities.
- Tennessee Loves Children – A day-long conversation with Author John Cox of the Washington Post to examine the layering effect of gun violence on school-age children. Cox’s book entitled, Children Under Fire, provided insight and reflection for this difficult societal ill.