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Benjamin Ish-Shalom

Benjamin Ish-Shalom is Founder and Director of Beit Morasha of Jerusalem: The Academic Center for Jewish Studies and Leadership and is one of the world's leading proponents of Jewish unity and moderation. He is founding Chairman of the Institute for Jewish Studies – The Joint Conversion Institute, which was established by the State of Israel based on the recommendations of the Neeman Commission and combines Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform perspectives while meeting the requirements of Jewish law. The recipient of the prestigious 2004 AVI CHAI Prize for Leadership in Promoting Jewish Unity, he has served on the faculty of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Yeshiva University, and the Technion, and is currently on the faculty of Bar-Ilan University and Beit Morasha's Beren College. In November 2009, he was appointed by Israel's Minister of Education, Gideon Sa'ar, to chair the Ministry committee that is entrusted to develop a curriculum on "The Culture and Heritage of Israel." This new curriculum will be included as a first-time mandatory core subject in the Israeli public school system.

Globalization and the Challenge for Jewish Leadership

Identity and Responsibility, Israel

The erosion of Jewish identity, reciprocal responsibility, and resilience can be attributed, to a large extent, to globalization, which challenges the development of particularistic national identities. The Jewish future is in need of skilled, visionary leaders who can bolster Jewish identity and national resilience in communities in Israel and throughout the world.

Israel: A Jewish State or a State of the Jews?

Global History and Culture, Israel

Is Israel simply a state where the Jews live or is Israel a sovereign Jewish state with Jewish implications? Is there Jewish content in modern Israeli society? Does the Torah have anything to say about the economic and political challenges facing Israel?

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