Hebrew College's Mission Statement for the 21st Century
Posted by Evelyn Herwitz on Fri, Jan 15, 2010 @ 11:07 AM
As part of HC's self-study that we are undertaking this year, leading up to our 10 year accreditation review, the College community participated in a comprehensive process to rethink our mission statement. The following, enthusiastically ratified by the Hebrew College Board of Trustees, is the result of that work:Hebrew College Mission Statement
Hebrew College promotes excellence in Jewish learning and leadership within a pluralistic environment of open inquiry, intellectual rigor, personal engagement and spiritual creativity. We empower and inspire individuals to contribute their voices and vision to the Jewish community and to bring Jewish values to bear on the critical issues of our time.
Dedicated to building bridges between the academy and the community, we offer diverse educational and cultural programs for youths, adults and Jewish professionals, and seek to invigorate Jewish life through the following core values:
Ahavat Torah: A Love of Learning
At the heart of Hebrew College is our vibrant learning community. We share the conviction that education is the key to Jewish vitality, and we are devoted to rigorous study of the full breadth of Jewish religion and culture. Together, we foster lifelong Jewish learning that engages the whole person, challenging the mind and nourishing the soul.
Areivut: Embracing Communal Responsibility
Jewish leaders in the 21st century must assume responsibility for both the Jewish future and the future of our planet. Hebrew College promotes learning in a context of communal commitment and concern--for our own local community, for Israel and Jewish communities around the world, and for all inhabitants of the earth. Through education, activism, service and interfaith cooperation, we seek to bring healing to a world in need of repair.
Elu v'Elu: Engaging Diversity
As a pluralistic institution, we recognize and value human diversity. Within our own k'lal Yisrael community and in dialogue with people from other faith traditions, we actively engage a multiplicity of experiences and perspectives in an environment of mutual respect. The encounter with different points of view prompts us to ask honest and searching questions of ourselves and of one another, and to see this process as a source of wisdom and strength.
Yetzira: Fostering Jewish Creativity
Judaism, at its best, is a creative intellectual and spiritual encounter between the individual, the community and the received tradition. Hebrew College encourages and empowers learners to see themselves as both inheritors and innovators--active participants in the unfolding story of the Jewish people. We embrace music, literature and the visual and performing arts as sources of inspiration and as vital modes of Jewish discovery and expression.