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Dear JTS Community,
I write today filled with a deep sense of gratitude and heartfelt reflection. At this morning’s Board of Trustees meeting, I announced that I will be stepping down as Chancellor of JTS at the end of the 2025–2026 academic year.
For close to thirty-five years, I have been privileged to be part of this extraordinary institution, working alongside our esteemed faculty, devoted staff, talented students, accomplished alumni, and committed supporters. Serving as Chancellor over the past five years has been the highlight of my professional life, an opportunity that has filled me with immense fulfillment and pride.
When I began this role, it was from my apartment on Zoom, in the early days of COVID-19. In the years that followed, we faced incredible challenges. First, the pandemic: adapting to virtual learning and developing new ways to meet the needs of our community. Then, escalating threats to civil discourse, the search for truth, and liberal education. And finally: the tragic events of October 7 and its aftermath, which sparked an alarming rise in antisemitism especially on college campuses—most visibly for us at universities in our own neighborhood—and broader threats to academia. These past five years have shaken us to the core as Americans and as Jews, and have, undeniably, been among the most turbulent in the higher education landscape in 50 years.
These crises have sharpened our sense of purpose and affirmed JTS’s pivotal role as a religious institution of higher education in fostering critical thinking, curiosity, and civil discourse in a community guided by unwavering Jewish values and an unshakable moral compass. At the same time, we set in motion a strategic plan designed to invest in the core strengths that define our institution, expand our educational reach, deepen our impact on the Jewish community, and secure a vibrant, sustainable future for JTS.
We've made remarkable progress towards achieving our goals. We launched the Division of Lifelong and Professional Studies, expanding our reach with new degrees and initiatives such as the MA in Spiritual Care, the Emerging Leaders Fellowship, the certificate program in Biblical Hebrew, and the MFA in Creative Writing. Our public convenings have established JTS as a generator of nuanced conversation on an array of important topics—something we have always been known for, but that we reimagined in the context of the pressing issues of our day. Enrollment in the Division of Religious Leadership has grown, thanks to several innovative pipeline programs. We have strengthened institutional partnerships, laying the foundation for future growth. Perhaps most rewarding to me is that we welcomed several outstanding new faculty members, each with tremendous potential to emerge as a leader in their field, and a broad team of dedicated and gifted professionals who are engaged across JTS. All of these individuals, along with cherished, long-standing members of our community, inspire me daily, and I know that all will continue to lead us forward to new heights.
I am energized by the year that lies ahead. With our strategic plan extending through 2027, I look forward to continuing our positive momentum over the next twelve months to further advance our goals. When the time comes, I also look forward to facilitating a smooth and successful transition, thus ensuring that our beloved institution is in a strong position to thrive in its next chapter.
While this announcement has been in development for some time, I want to acknowledge the events currently unfolding in Israel, which are weighing heavily upon us. In the spirit of resilience shown by Israelis, who insist on continuing to live as normally as possible, I decided it was right to share this news with you today as planned. Know that in the midst of it all, our thoughts and prayers are firmly with Israel and all its people.
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