Jewish Studies Professors and the Community: A Response

I am indebted to Zev Garber and the editors of Shofar for inviting me to respond to Hal Lewis’ powerful vision of “The Jewish Studies Professor as Communal Leader.” I had the privilege of spending several days with Dr. Lewis and his colleagues at Spertus College last year, and I was immediately struck not only by his personal warmth and quick intelligence but also by his obvious practical administrative abilities and the broad range of his experience in both communal and educational work. His plea to “restore the crown of scholarship to the Jewish people” makes many important points that deserve fuller treatment than is possible in this limited context. I will therefore not so much respond as I will try to raise a few “debating points,” hoping that others will take over where Dr. Lewis and I have left off.