News Highlights Hebrew College Creates Vibrant Hub for Jewish Communal Leadership & Learning
FOR immediate release
Campus Partners to Join Together for Tu b’Shvat Dedication
NEWTON, MA (January 26, 2023) — With the doors officially open at Hebrew College’s groundbreaking shared campus in Newton, Massachusetts, the College will dedicate its new home at a Hannukat Habayit (building dedication) together with our campus partners on Tu b’Shvat, Monday, February 6.
With the move to the newly built and renovated campus, the College has joined with a local synagogue, Temple Reyim, to create a hub for Jewish learning, community, and creativity, at 1860 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02466. Through the creation of a unique Jewish space promoting partnership and collaboration, Hebrew College is pursuing its mission of reimagining Jewish learning and leadership for an interconnected world.
Joining Hebrew College and Temple Reyim on the collaborative campus are these dynamic local and national organizational partners: Jewish Arts Collaborative, Jewish Women’s Archive, Kesher Newton Jewish Afterschool Program, Keshet, the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis, Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh and Education Center, RUACH Community Health, and Zamir Chorale of Boston.
“As we dedicate our new home on Tu b’Shvat, we celebrate the seeds we are planting for a vibrant, pluralistic Jewish community filled with substance, spirit, beauty, imagination, and purpose,” said Hebrew College President Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld. “As conventional synagogue models struggle to respond to changing patterns of affiliation, this model of a diverse, multi-faceted Jewish communal campus – that is warm, gracious, and welcoming – opens many doorways to Jewish life, and creates new opportunities for learning, growth, and deeper connection.”
“It’s very exciting that Hebrew College and Temple Reyim are collaborating on a new shared campus, creating a vibrant hub for Jewish learning and life in Newton,” said Rabbi Marc Baker, the President and CEO of Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP). “This collaboration will allow them to grow as institutions, optimizing their resources to ensure their long-term sustainability, and enabling them to better serve the Jewish community throughout Greater Boston. CJP is proud to partner with Hebrew College and is excited about a future built on cooperation to enhance, enrich, and deepen our collective communal impact.”
The new building renovates 25,000 square feet of existing space and constructs an additional 16,000 square feet to create the two-floor, state-of-the-art Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Education Building dedicated to library, offices and program space. The design purposefully connects individuals across the campus and promotes creative togetherness with the stunning light-filled Mascott Beit Midrash, and a plethora of shared and collaborative spaces including the Fannie and Harry Nierman Academic Wing, the Musicant Cohen Center for the Performing Arts, the Mark E. Atkins and Family Atrium, and classrooms equipped with next-generation technology for remote and on-campus learning.
Hebrew College raised $13.3 million in its “Branching Out, Building Together” Capital Campaign last year to fund the new shared campus, and a dedicated group of donors have stepped up with a new challenge grant to help bring us to our final goal of $13.8 million. “This campaign has allowed us to move to our new campus with a balanced budget and no long-term bank debt,” said Andy Offit, Chair of the Hebrew College Board of Trustees. “So many people have worked tirelessly and generously to make the vision of this new campus a reality. Now we and our students are thrilled to fill it with life!”
“We are grateful for the generous support that Hebrew College has garnered for this effort from throughout the community. Knowing we have the support we need to look ahead with excitement and confidence positions the leaders of our partner organizations to approach our work together with creativity and intention,” said Temple Reyim Co-President Josh Langer.
“I’m so excited that the Jewish Women’s Archive is part of this forward-thinking vision of collaboration and community,” said the Jewish Women’s Archive CEO Judith Rosenbaum. It is energizing to reimagine Jewish life with creative and thoughtful colleagues. We are so pleased to be deepening our partnership with the students and faculty of Hebrew College and the other members of the shared campus.”
Hebrew College’s move to this collaborative learning space with a diverse set of Jewish communal partners creates a model has already begun to garner national attention, with the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation and the Jim Joseph Foundation supporting case studies of the shared campus project.
About Hebrew College
Based in Newton, Massachusetts, Hebrew College is reimagining Jewish learning and leadership for an interconnected world, making our lives more meaningful, our communities more vibrant, and our world more whole. Learn more at hebrewcollege.edu.